Directions: You are to thoughtfully and insightfully answer three of the questions below using textual evidence and comment thoughtfully and insightfully on at least one of your classmates' responses. This is worth 40 points. If you do not use textual evidence you will lose 5 points. If you do not put thought and insight into your answers and comment you will lose 5 points.
1. How does Zeena’s news about hiring Mattie’s replacement affect Ethan?
2. Why can chapter 7 be considered the climax of the novel?
3. In chapter 8, Ethan weighs his options. How is his decision to maintain status quo in keeping with his personality?
4. Why does Ethan not consider his obligation to Mattie? What will his decision to remain with Zeena do to Mattie? Is this fair?
5. How do Wharton’s descriptions mirror Ethan’s state of mind and foreshadow the end?
6. How is Zeena’s reaction to Mattie’s departure a contrast to Ethan’s?
7. Comment on the irony of Ethan’s defiance of her command to stay home and let Jotham drive Mattie to the station.
8. Why does suicide seem logical? Is this decision a solution or a “cop out”?
9. How is the reader surprised by the epilogue?
10. How does the Narrator deal with the story at the end of the epilogue?
1. How does Zeena’s news about hiring Mattie’s replacement affect Ethan?
2. Why can chapter 7 be considered the climax of the novel?
3. In chapter 8, Ethan weighs his options. How is his decision to maintain status quo in keeping with his personality?
4. Why does Ethan not consider his obligation to Mattie? What will his decision to remain with Zeena do to Mattie? Is this fair?
5. How do Wharton’s descriptions mirror Ethan’s state of mind and foreshadow the end?
6. How is Zeena’s reaction to Mattie’s departure a contrast to Ethan’s?
7. Comment on the irony of Ethan’s defiance of her command to stay home and let Jotham drive Mattie to the station.
8. Why does suicide seem logical? Is this decision a solution or a “cop out”?
9. How is the reader surprised by the epilogue?
10. How does the Narrator deal with the story at the end of the epilogue?