a pair of silk stockings

Essential Short Stories

Teaching Unit

A Pair of Silk Stockings

by Kate Chopin

Written by Katie Mitchell

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ISBN 978-1-60389-688-7 Item No. 303264

A Pair of Silk Stockings

ESSENTIAL SHORT STORIES TEACHING UNIT

A Pair of Silk Stockings Biography Kate (O’Flaherty) Chopin was born February 8, 1851, in St. Louis, Missouri. Before he died when Chopin was just a child, her father, Thomas, was a successful businessman who immigrated to the United States from Ireland. Chopin’s mother, Eliza, was of French Creole descent and raised Kate with the help of her mother and grandmother (Chopin’s grandmother and greatgrandmother). Chopin was an avid reader and writer, and she attended school at the Sacred Heart Convent. When she was 19, she married Oscar Chopin, a successful cotton farmer, and they settled in New Orleans for several years. By the time Chopin was twenty-eight years old, they had six children. Poor business decisions forced the family to move, and when Oscar died of swamp fever in 1882, Kate faced enormous debt. She ended up moving back to St. Louis with her mother, who died a year later. On the advice of her doctor who was treating her for depression, Chopin took up writing as a therapeutic activity. Many of her short stories were published in magazines, and she enjoyed her success as a writer. However, the general rejection of works like The Awakening, which was considered ahead of its time, caused Chopin to retreat from writing and public life. She died at the age of fifty-four of a cerebral hemorrhage. Chopin’s major works include, “Desiree’s Baby,” “A Night in Acadie,” “A Respectable Woman,” “The Dream of an Hour,” “A Pair of Silk Stockings,” and The Awakening.

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BIOGRAPHY

A Pair of Silk Stockings

ESSENTIAL SHORT STORIES TEACHING UNIT

A Pair of Silk Stockings Plot Summary Set in a city in the mid- to late-1800s, “A Pair of Silk Stockings” is the story of Mrs. Sommers, a mother of several children. Her husband is never mentioned; he might be dead, or the couple might be divorced. In the first sentence, Chopin reveals that Mrs. Sommers has acquired an unexpected $15.00. How she came to possess it is never revealed. For days, Mrs. Sommers struggles to decide how she should spend the money, finally concluding that spending it on the children would be the wisest choice. She plans to get new shoes for her daughter, some fabric to make clothing, new stockings, and hats for all the children. She feels excited about her children’s new outfits and pleased that the purchases will save her time in “darning,” and last longer than the clothing she is usually able to afford. On the day of the shopping spree, she feels tired because she had not eaten. She prepares to fight the crowds in order to find the best deals. While at the store and resting at one of the counters, her hand touches a pair of silk stockings. She then finds that the stockings are on sale. She becomes hypnotized by them and completely forgets about the plan to buy the children new clothes. She buys the stockings and stops by a fitting room to change into them. The purchase of the silk stockings leads to more frivolous purchases. She goes to the shoe department and buys herself some boots. She purchases gloves, magazines, and an expensive, satisfying meal. Finally, she treats herself to a play at the theatre, where she sits next to some upper-class women. Once the play is over, she realizes that she must go home. She makes her way to the cable car, but wishes it would never stop. This indicates her lack of desire to return home.

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PLOT SUMMARY

A Pair of Silk Stockings

ESSENTIAL SHORT STORIES TEACHING UNIT

A Pair of Silk Stockings Objectives By the end of this Unit, the student will be able to: 1.

identify the point of view used in the story.

2.

describe the protagonist of the story and characterize her as static or dynamic.

3.

identify possible themes of the story, including but not limited to:





4.

define and cite examples of the following literary terms:





5.

identify the central conflict in the story and define it as internal or external

6.

identify the climax of the story.

7.

identify setting details in the story.

8.

make predictions about events after the end of the story.

9.

define and use new vocabulary from the story.

• • • •

• • • • • • • •

the role of women in society the meaning of happiness the importance of fulfillment in life the loss of identity or individuality

symbolism simile metaphor personification alliteration onomatopoeia hyperbole mood

10. cite instances of irony in the story. 11. make inferences about the protagonist’s life and general situation. 12. describe the author’s style.

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OBJECTIVES

A Pair of Silk Stockings

STUDENT’S COPY

A Pair of Silk Stockings Study Guide Vocabulary acute – perceptive or important appalled – horrified; alarmed appreciable – significant or considerable attire – clothing bearing – manner, conduct, or attitude besieging – crowding in on bout – a battle consternation – shock, alarm contemplation –thought or reflection damask – a thick, luxurious fabric deft – skillful faculty – a sense fastidious – picky or particular fatiguing – tiring figured lawn – a fine, usually sheer cotton or linen fabric with a design printed on it gaudy – showy and overly fancy gaunt – thin, skeletal indulged – yielded to; gave into desire judicious – wise keen – sharp laborious – difficult morbid – gloomy multitude – a large group mused – thought, considered occupied – absorbed in thought parcel – a package percale – a type of thin cotton cloth persistence – determination placard – a sign poignant – emotional, painful porte-monnaie – French for “purse” preposterous – ridiculous profusion – a large amount reconcile – resolve the differences between retrospection – thoughts of the past reveling – taking pleasure sheeny – shiny stilled – stopped 1

STUDY GUIDE

A Pair of Silk Stockings

STUDENT’S COPY

7.

Does the story contain a climax, or turning point? Discuss. _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

8.

How does this sentence affect your feelings about Mrs. Sommers? “A vision of the future like some dim, gaunt monster sometimes appalled her, but luckily to-morrow never comes.” _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________



9.

How does “A Pair of Silk Stockings” relate to issues you see around you? _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________

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STUDY GUIDE