Story Of An Hour Tone

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Paying attention to small details is a crucial part of understanding “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin. By using small details to in the development of her story, Chopin is able surprise the reader at the ending. Kate Chopin creates a bright and optimistic tone in “The Story of an Hour” in order to create the illusion of a positive ending; however, the introduction of the story foreshadows a different ending.
Chopin creates a cheerful tone through her use of bright and lively imagery. A major example of this lively imagery is shown when she states, “She could see in the open square before her house the tops of trees that were all aquiver with new spring life” (Chopin 550). By describing the story’s environment in this way, Chopin creates a …show more content…

To reiterate, Chopin spends the whole story using small details to develop the story and convey her main character’s feelings. However, some readers may fail to notice the detail at the beginning of the story which foreshadows an unhappy ending. The first line of the story states, “Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death” (Chopin 549). By adding this detail, Chopin presents her audience with something that will ultimately be the reason the story comes to an end. This detail is the only real idea that the reader is given about a less than happy ending throughout the story, but it is the most important one to pay attention to. By creating a hopeful and happy tone in “The Story of an Hour,” Kate Chopin distracts readers from the grim ending that is foreshadowed at the beginning of the story. Paying attention to the small details is what truly gives away the ending to Chopin’s short story. This story may also be able to represent how attention to detail is important in every aspect of life and the real

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