The Paradise of Children Flashcards
by Nathaniel Hawthorne — tap or click to flip
Flashcard Review
Flashcards: The Paradise of Children
Who brought Pandora to live with Epimetheus?
The gods sent Pandora to be Epimetheus's playfellow and helpmate, since both children were fatherless and motherless.
What was the first thing Pandora noticed when she entered Epimetheus's cottage?
She noticed a great box, and almost immediately asked Epimetheus what was inside it.
What condition was placed on the box left at Epimetheus's door?
Epimetheus was told to keep the box safely and never open it. He did not know what it contained.
What was the world like before Pandora opened the box?
There was no danger, trouble, or labor. Children found food growing on trees, and life was all sport, dancing, and laughter.
How did Pandora manage to undo the gold knot on the box?
She fiddled with the intricate gold knot and, almost by accident, gave the cord a twist that caused it to unwind as if by magic.
What happened in nature the moment Pandora raised the lid?
A black cloud swept over the sun, darkening the cottage, and a heavy peal of thunder broke out.
What did the Troubles look like when they escaped from the box?
They were ugly little shapes with bats' wings, spiteful faces, and terribly long stings in their tails.
How did Pandora try to get rid of the Troubles after they escaped?
She flung open the windows and doors of the cottage, and the winged Troubles flew out to pester and torment people everywhere.
How does the story describe Pandora's dominant character trait?
Pandora is defined by her insatiable curiosity. She cannot stop thinking, talking, or asking about the box from the moment she sees it.
How does Epimetheus react to Pandora's curiosity about the box?
He is horrified at the idea of opening it and faithfully insists they must wait for Mercury's permission, growing tired of hearing about it constantly.
Who is the person who delivered the box, and how is he described?
It was Mercury (Hermes). He wore an odd feathered cloak and cap that looked as if it had wings, and carried a staff like two serpents twisting around a stick.
How is Hope described when she emerges from the box?
She is a sunny, smiling, fairylike personage with rainbow-colored wings who hovers about the room throwing light wherever she goes.
What does Hope do for Epimetheus and Pandora after emerging?
She touches the spot where a Trouble stung Epimetheus and kisses Pandora's forehead, immediately curing both of their pain.
What promise does Hope make to the children at the end of the story?
Hope promises never to desert them, saying she will stay as long as they need her, which will be as long as they live in the world.
What theme does Pandora's inability to resist the box illustrate?
It illustrates the theme that curiosity, while natural, can lead to unintended and irreversible consequences when it overrides obedience and trust.
What does the story suggest about the relationship between suffering and hope?
It suggests that hope was deliberately placed alongside suffering by the gods, meaning that wherever troubles exist, the possibility of comfort and renewal exists too.
How does the story portray the loss of innocence?
Before the box is opened, children live in a carefree paradise. Afterward, people grow old and experience sorrow, representing the end of an innocent, ageless existence.
What theme is reflected in Epimetheus and Pandora both choosing to open the box the second time?
It reflects the theme of redemption through trust. Their willingness to open the box again, despite fear, allows Hope to enter the world.
What is the effect of Hawthorne's child narrator tone in this retelling?
The gentle, conversational tone makes the myth accessible to young readers while softening its darker elements, fitting the story's origin in A Wonder-Book for Girls and Boys.
How does the carved face on the box function as a literary device?
It serves as personification and foreshadowing. The mischievous face seems to speak directly to Pandora, tempting her to open the box and hinting at the trouble within.
What role does the thunderstorm play as a literary device when Pandora opens the box?
It functions as pathetic fallacy, where the natural world mirrors the catastrophic event. The darkened sky and thunder externalize the gravity of unleashing the Troubles.
How does Hawthorne use contrast to emphasize the story's meaning?
He contrasts the idyllic paradise before the box is opened with the suffering afterward, and contrasts the ugly, stinging Troubles with the sunny, healing figure of Hope.
What does the word 'playfellow' mean as used in the story?
A playfellow is a companion or playmate, someone sent to be a friend and helpmate to another child.
What does 'intricate' mean in the context of the gold knot on the box?
Intricate means very detailed and complicated, with many intertwined parts that are difficult to undo or understand.
What does the word 'afflicted' mean when the narrator says the Troubles 'afflicted the souls and bodies of mankind'?
Afflicted means caused pain, suffering, or distress to someone over a sustained period.
What does Pandora mean when she says the box contains 'pretty dresses for me to wear, or toys for us both'?
This quote reveals Pandora rationalizing her desire to open the box by imagining pleasant contents, showing how curiosity invents justifications for itself.
What is the significance of Hope saying, 'I was packed by the gods into the box to make amends for the swarm of ugly Troubles'?
It reveals that the gods anticipated the box would be opened and deliberately included Hope as a remedy, suggesting suffering was always meant to be tempered by consolation.
What does Hope's reply 'As long as you need me, and that will be as long as you live in the world' suggest?
It suggests that hope is a permanent companion to human existence, needed for as long as people face troubles, and that it will never abandon those who trust in it.