The Awakening--Part 2

Read and share your thinking about the following poem entitled "The Angel in the House" by Coventry Patmore (1854). Complete this assignment using these steps:

1. Identify words and phrases within the poem that speak to you or stand out to you the most and indicate why you felt this way.

2. Ask specific question(s) about the poem. Do NOT ask: What does it mean?

3. Relate a part of the poem to the novel The Awakening. Be specific.

4. Attempt to respond to a classmates' question from #2 OR respond to or extend a thought one of your classmates has had about the poem from #1.

The Angel in the House

Man must be pleased; but him to please
     Is woman's pleasure; down the gulf
Of his condoled necessities
     She casts her best, she flings herself.
How often flings for nought, and yokes
     Her heart to an icicle or whim,
Whose each impatient word provokes
     Another, not from her, but him;
While she, too gentle even to force
     His penitence by kind replies,
Waits by, expecting his remorse,
     With pardon in her pitying eyes;
And if he once, by shame oppress'd,
     A comfortable word confers,
She leans and weeps against his breast,
     And seems to think the sin was hers;
Or any eye to see her charms,
     At any time, she's still his wife,
Dearly devoted to his arms;
     She loves with love that cannot tire;
And when, ah woe, she loves alone,
     Through passionate duty love springs higher,
As grass grows taller round a stone.

The Awakening--Part 1

Please choose one of the following questions to answer. Then respond to one of your classmates' responses.

1. Give examples from the novel that exemplifies this quote: "it is the outward life that conforms, and the inward life that questions." Be sure to argue your point with specific references from The Awakening.

2. Edna struggles to establish an identity outside of her husband and children. Discuss how she is trapped by the confines of her gender and culture. Use specific examples from The Awakening.

Happy Valentine's Day. Do you love me?

We will be blogging about our reading then having academic conversations about the text that we read. Everyone is expected to participate and respond to the prompts and to each other! We will be learning and responding together to enhance our classroom experience and discussions. Welcome to the blog, I can't wait to see what you have to say!!