Chapter XXVII Practice Quiz — The Awakening
by Kate Chopin — tap or click to flip
Practice Quiz: Chapter XXVII
What mood is Edna in at the start of Chapter XXVII?
She is in an unusually happy mood, reclining on the lounge before the fire.
What does Arobin sit on while talking with Edna?
A low tabouret, a type of small stool or seat without arms or a back.
What reason does Edna give Arobin for her good mood?
She deflects by saying the weather prophet has predicted sunshine soon.
What does Edna say she needs to determine about herself?
She says she needs to figure out what character of woman she is, because she honestly does not know.
How does Edna describe herself according to societal moral codes?
She calls herself "a devilishly wicked specimen of the sex" but says she cannot convince herself that she truly is.
How does Arobin respond when Edna says she wants to think about her character?
He dismisses the idea, saying "Don't. What's the use?" and offers to tell her what kind of woman she is instead.
Who does Edna bring up "irrelevantly" in conversation with Arobin?
Mademoiselle Reisz, the pianist.
What did Mademoiselle Reisz do to Edna before they parted?
She put her arms around Edna and felt her shoulder blades to see if her wings were strong.
Complete the quote: "The bird that would soar above the level plain of tradition and prejudice must have..."
"...strong wings. It is a sad spectacle to see the weaklings bruised, exhausted, fluttering back to earth."
What does the bird imagery in Mademoiselle Reisz's warning symbolize?
The bird represents a woman who defies social conventions. Strong wings symbolize the inner fortitude needed to sustain an unconventional life.
What is Arobin's opinion of Mademoiselle Reisz?
He calls her "partially demented" and says she is "extremely disagreeable and unpleasant."
How does Edna counter Arobin's dismissal of Mademoiselle Reisz?
She replies simply, "She seems to me wonderfully sane."
What is the final line of Chapter XXVII?
"It was the first kiss of her life to which her nature had really responded. It was a flaming torch that kindled desire."
Why is the kiss described as "the first kiss of her life" when Edna is a married woman?
It is the first time Edna has experienced genuine physical passion. Her marriage to Léonce never produced this kind of desire.
What literary device does Chopin use in the phrase "a flaming torch that kindled desire"?
Metaphor—the kiss is compared to a torch that ignites sexual desire, emphasizing its transformative power.
How does Chapter XXVII separate physical passion from romantic love?
Edna's sexual awakening occurs with Arobin, a man she does not love, while her heart belongs to the absent Robert Lebrun.
What narrative technique does Chopin use throughout most of this chapter?
Dialogue-driven narration with minimal exposition, allowing the conversation between Edna and Arobin to carry the chapter's themes.