Kate Chopin and the Nuturalism movement of the 19 th Century era

1. Kate Chopin and the Nuturalism movement of the 19th Century era Lauren Shull Priscilla Glanville W 2:00-4:50

2. Kate Chopin’s stories reflected naturalism. Kate Chopin’s stories were about normal everyday people living normal everyday lives. The character’s in her stories would realize how they truly thought and felt about their lives. After the characters in her stories would understand what they wanted as a person they felt a need to be free and to discover the world independently. In “The Awakening,” the protagonist Edna starts to understand what she really wants out of her life, and creates her own path for freedom and independence.

3. Kate Chopin’s early life • The family deaths in Kate Chopin’s life resulted her in being more interested in reading and writing. • In school Kate loved to read, especially poems. • Kate was born in St. Louis Missouri in 1851. • As a child Kate’s great-grandmother would tell her stories. • When Kate returned to school after her brother died she was known for being a creative storyteller.

4. “Emancipation. A Life Fable.” • This story was published about a year after Kate graduated from school. • The animal has enough food and water, but is trapped in a cage and feels a need to be free. • Freedom is far more important than a safe life in confinement. • Kate Chopin could’ve got the idea for this book from her own experiences in life.

5. The ideas for Kate Chopin’s stories. • Kate Chopin was similar to the characters in her stories. She would want to be free and understand her dreams as well. • Women during the 19th century were not treated fairly. Women were thought to be inferior to men. • Women could’ve felt trapped in a life that they didn’t want to accept. • Kate met a woman in New Orleans who, even though she was married, still held her identity.

6. Kate Chopin’s later life • Kate met her future husband, Oscar Chopin, in St Louis Missouri. • Kate was viewed as an unusual woman. • When Oscar’s business collapsed they moved with their six children to Louisiana. • It was in Louisiana where Kate got her ideas for her characters and settings for most of her fiction. • After her husband died, Kate moved back to St. Louis Missouri with her children to live with her mother.

7. Kate Chopin’s life as a serious writer. • When Kate’s mother died, she became more independent and took her writing more seriously. • Kate started a salon which would meet every Thursday, and talk about literature and politics. • Kate Chopin grew a-lot of fame and positive criticism for her short stories. • When “The Awakening” was published in 1899, Kate received a-lot of negative criticism. • Most people and critics would not accept how the protagonist of a story committed suicide.

8. Kate Chopin’s reputation as a writer after “The Awakening.” • Kate Chopin lost most of her good reputation as a solid writer after “The Awakening.” • Kate still continued to write stories. • Kate Chopin died in 1904 • Kate Chopin was remembered as a recreatorof Louisiana life • In the 1960’s-1980’s Kate Chopin and her writing, especially “The Awakening” was rediscovered and more understood than it was in the 19th century.