1. Throughout the novel, Edna feels caught between the way others see her and the way she sees herself.  Identify several moments in which this struggle is apparent, and write an essay that explains how the text portrays Edna's growing awareness of these contradicting views.  What is the significance of this perceived split between the "outer Edna" and the "inner Edna"?

2.  Some critics view Edna's suicide at the end of the novel as a failure to complete her escape from convention—an inability to defy society once stripped of the motivation of a man by her side. Others view her suicide as a final awakening, a decision to give herself to the sea in a show of strength and independence that defies social expectation. Which interpretation do you find more compelling, and why?  Use plenty of textual evidence to support your answer.

3.  A number of non-white women appear in The Awakening.  What does their presence and their treatment in the novel suggest about Edna's (and perhaps Chopin's) attitudes toward the humanity and potential for human development for nonwhite and poor women?

4. To what degree do you believe The Awakening is social criticism?  That is, do you believe that Chopin was trying to promote a particular social view?  If so, what is she criticizing or promoting?  Use specific examples to support your argument.

5. How does Chopin describe motherhood in The Awakening?  What does she suggest are the possibilities for women who engage in this traditional female role?  Choose at least two mothers who appear in The Awakening and discuss both of their attitudes toward motherhood as well as what Chopin seems to be saying about this supposedly sacred institution.

6. Consider the title of this novella—the story of one woman’s awakening.  What does Edna awaken from?  What she awaken to?  Compare Edna to one other female character we’ve read about so far this semester (Daisy Miller, Sylvia, Louisa Ellis, Sarah Penn) in terms of their respective “awakenings.”  What is the significance of these awakenings?