Possible Answers to Fishbone Graphic Organizer

“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin

 

The bones on the top part of the fishbone graphic organizer are for examples of irony.  The corresponding bones below each explain how the irony contributes to the tone, mood, author’s purpose, characterization, or theme of the story.    The large box on the right is for the overall effect of the selection.

 

Overall effect:  The overall effect of the column is suspense through the use of both situational and dramatic irony.

 

Example of Irony

Contribution to Text

Josephine is worried about her sister.  She thinks she is enduring excruciating feelings of grief and despair.

This contributes to the irony of the contradiction between how people think a grieving widow would feel and how Mrs. Mallard really feels.

Mrs. Mallard, a new widow, notices signs of spring outside her window.

This contributes to the irony by her seeing signs of new life, delicious rain – all positive feeling words in the midst of death.

Mrs. Mallard died of heart disease – a joy that kills.

This contributes to the irony of the situation because she dies when she discovers her husband is alive – a death really from shock, not joy, and a misdiagnosis.