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Literary Elements In Kate Chopin's Story 'The Storm'

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Introduction In Kate Chopin’s story “The Storm,” Chopin uses literary elements, such as symbolism, in a unique way to convey the overall theme. “The Storm” is a third person, narrative of tension, lust, and an actual storm, set in the late nineteenth century, in Louisiana. A storm is perceived as a type of violent disruption in the atmosphere. Chopin uses a storm as a symbol of many things in her story. The symbol of the storm creates the theme: the good outweighs the bad. Analysis The most noticeable way Chopin applies the storm as a symbol in her story, to convey the theme, is with the setting. The story takes place in Louisiana, while a thunderstorm rages. Chopin uses the storm to set the mood of the story. It creates a tense and suspenseful mood that carries on throughout the story. Calixta’s husband and son wait out the storm in a grocery store, while Calixta is at home, where they worry that she is worrying about them (85). Chopin disproves that Calixta is worrying about them by adding, “Calixta, at home, felt no uneasiness for their safety” (85). Chopin is conveying the theme through the setting, by the reason of a storm has good and bad effects; the good in the rain giving the Earth water outweighs the uneasy feeling the storm creates, which comes through in a metaphorical way when Calixta’s family arrives …show more content…

Titling the story, “The Storm,” Chopin ties all the different meanings she gave to a storm, together. Right from the start, before even reading the actual story, Chopin sets the mood, as a storm is not a joyful event, but a dangerous or exciting one. Furthermore, the title foreshadows that the mood is tense or exciting. It also offers a hint that the setting will be during a storm. Seeing the title is “The Storm,” gives potential thought for conflict arising. All of these things being tied together with the title, helps convey the theme by drawing emphasis on the

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In “The Storm,” storm itself plays an important role in the story. Changing phases of the storm reflect on what’s going on with the main character, Calixta. The weather pushes the plot along. First, when the storm is coming, we know that Calixta is home alone engaged in her activities, and we can sense that something is going to happen. When the storm begins, the atmosphere changes with arrival of main character old friend, Alcee.

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The weather or anything having to do with weather can change the atmosphere and mood of the story dramatically. For instance, in the story of Noah’s Ark, water brought the world back to life and played a restorative role. In Chapter 10 of “The Awakening” Edna finally steps into the water and is overcome with a feeling of empowerment. Her happiness while she in the water at Grand Isle gives her drive and peace. Chopin incorporated water into this scene because water is a form of purification and restoration.

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This theme is helping the reader understand that the death of her husband was not a bad thing. As the story hasn't even started to discuss the theme it starts to show that the theme isn’t as sad as it was from the beginning of the story. A different piece of evidence is in the quote “She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with the new spring life. The delicious breath of rain was in the air. ”(Chopin 1)

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Kate Chopin's controversial short story “The Storm” tells a story of infidelity, passion, and desire. Through brilliant use of foreshadowing, imagery, and symbolism Chopin’s short story gives the reader an understanding of the inner workings of passion and eroticism. The storm brewing on the horizon correlates to the built of sexuality inside Calitxa and creates suspense toward what follows. Chopin writes “Sobre clouds were rolling in with sinister attention from the West” (Chopin). This use of foreshadowing gives the reader an image that builds suspense.

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According to Kate Chopin, “The Storm”, usage of literary elements like symbolism, point of view, and setting reveal the author’s perspective on the theme of marriage and fulfillment. Kate Chopin uses the approaching storm as a symbol of reconciliation between the main characters. The main characters, Calixta and Alcee, are two former lovers who have had a flirtatious relationship in the past. They are each married to someone who is “more suitable” for them. The characters of Calixta and Alcee do not experience guilt by engaging in adultery because they feel freed from all the controlling emotions they experience with one another in marriage.

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Kate Chopin Wrote the Short Read called The Storm with this story you must read between the lines to truly see the symbolism in the story with what is happening and the storm. The mother is the one keeping a secret but is that the big storm that is coming or is it the storm that the father and son are in.? Calixta is the wife of Bobinot and the mother of Bibi, Calixta is a classic mother that stays home and does her motherly duties, Bibi is four years old, so she of course keeps up with him. Now there is a big storm coming to this town they live in the Dad Bobinot and son Bibi go off to the store but a big storm is coming “rolling with a sinister intention from the west accompanied by a threatening roar” they decide to stay at the store so the storm can pass while Calixta was at home.

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Everyone is happy. Kate Chopin uses two storms to convey the message of the theme and to rise passion between Calixta and Alcee. As the story opens the reader can see that the first storm is a horrifying storm that traps Bib and Bobinot inside of freidheimers store, and as the story prevails the second storm is a storm filled with deep emotions and passion which enters Calixta’s home. While the

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In “The Storm,” an extramarital affair takes place amidst a rainstorm involving Calixta, who is a mother to Bibi and the wife of Bobinot, and Alcee, who is married to Clarisse. The storm plays a significant role in the storyline by creating an opportunity for Calixta and Alcee to come together, providing them with a temporary escape from the outside world. Chopin introduces a

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It seems that they were both happily married. Chopin uses the storm to symbolize bringing the former lovers together. The apparent emotion, the scandal and infidelity that take place, are all products of this storm that Chopin says is underway. Chopin begins the story with Calixta’s husband Bobinot and small son Bibi stuck in town at Friedheimer’s store waiting for the storm to pass. This being the starting point of the story shows how Chopin is setting the storm up to move the story, Bobinot and Bibi are stuck in town due to the storm, while Calixta is home alone having no idea what is soon to come, “She was greatly occupied and did not notice the approaching storm” (Chopin 5).

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The Storm begins, Bobinot and their son, Bibi, are at the store when a storm approaches. They chose to await the storm's passing by staying in the shelter of the store. At this time, Calixta is at home occupied when the storm arrives. When she goes onto the lawn, she is approached by Alcee, who turns out to be an old lover from her past. There is an instant connection between the two and lustful thoughts begin to emerge.

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Use of Setting: Kate Chopin’s “The Storm” The interaction of the characters and the settings in Kate Chopin’s “The Storm” brings out two former lovers and various emotions and desires that have been absent between the two. Chopin will show how crucial the setting is to the characters and serves as a place of action for them as it creates an impeccable environment for an adulterous affair. Through the use of setting, Chopin creates not only a physical storm but a societal storm as well. Chopin uses the situation of the actual storm, the house itself, and the use of colors in order to reveal repressed feelings.

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Chopin does this throughout the story and it is a very good technique to use. As she describes the structure of the house you can tell that the houses made back then were severely poor to the great infrastructure we have today. So a storm of that caliber could cause a lot of damage. By informing us of this you can understand why “Calixta” who is the

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“The Storm” is a short story by Kate Chopin written in late 1800s. Story focuses on sexuality, human passion and desire. The main character Calixta is portrayed as typical housewife, where she sews and tends her family’s clothes. Although she is shown as

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“The Storm” (Kate Chopin) Kate Chopin was born in 8th February 1850 and known as Katherine O’Flaherty is a feminist writer in the 20th Century and first writer among other famous authors. Her venture into writing was because of the death of Katherine’s husband which had twist in her life and there are many short stories written that emphasis on the rights of women living the life as others especially man in all aspect. “ The Awakening” is a novel written by Katherine discussing the struggles and challenge that a woman need to go throughout the typical society with their culture and tradition because of her gender as a lady. Short stories such as “The Story of an Hour”, “Regret”, “Bayou Folk” and “ A Night in Acadie” symbolizes the true experience of Katherine’s life and the message that she wanted to convey to the society through her writing. In addition, “ The Storm” and “Desiree’s Baby” are the best short stories among others.

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