Ask The Puma Research Guides: Story of an Hour

Story of an Hour

The short story “Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin was published in 1894.  Louise Mallard who suffers from a heart condition is told that Brentley, her husband, has been killed in a railroad accident.  She loved her husband but she is not distressed by his death.  Brentley loved her and treated her well.  However, as loving Brentley is, nothing can compensate Louise for the freedom that she has lost by marrying. Her face "bespoke repression"; no matter how kind Brentley has been, he has still imposed his will upon his wife. Hence, Brentley's death is not tragic to her, since it gives her own life back to her.   Brentley returns home unaware of the accident.  When Louise sees her husband alive she falls down dead.

LINCCWeb online catalog – Search Terms

• Kate Chopin
• Kate Chopin Criticism and Interpretation

Call Numbers for Browsing the Shelves

• PS1294 .C63

Circulating Books – A Selected List

• Boren, Lynda S. (ed.). Kate Chopin Reconsidered: Beyond the Bayou. 1992.

                         Call Number:  PS1294 .C63 K385

• Chopin, Kate. The Awakening, and Selected Stories of Kate Chopin. 1976.

                         Call Number:  PS1294 .C63 A9 1976b

• Petry, Alice Hall (ed.). Critical Essays on Kate Chopin. 1996.

                        Call Number:  PS1294 .C63 C75 1996

• Seyersted, Per.  Kate Chopin:  A Critical Biography. 1980.

                         Call Number:  PS1294 .C63 S4 1980b

Reference Materials

• Critical Survey of Short Fiction. 2^nd Revised Ed.  – Call Number: REF PN3321 .C7 2001

o   Pg. 563-64             (Same as MagillOnAuthors database)

• Masterplots II: Short Story Series (Revised Edition) – Call Number: REF PN3326 .M27 2004

o   Vol. 7, pg. 3907-09

• Short Story Criticism – Call Number:  PN3321 .S5

o   Vol. 8, pg. 72-3, 79-80, 84, 87, 99, 102, 108

o   Vol. 68, pg. 207, 245, 248

• Short Stories for Students – Call Number: REF PN3330 .S386

o   Vol. 2, pg. 263-77

• Twentieth-Century Literary Criticism – Call Number:  REF PN771 .G27

o   Vol. 14, pg. 60, 78

Research Databases

To access Valencia’s research databases, open your Atlas account, select ‘Search the Library’, then select ‘Databases A-Z’.

• Literature Resources from Gale

This Research Guide is designed to help users find information on a particular topic within the Valencia College East Campus Library.  This is by no means a comprehensive list of resources and other resources may be available on this topic.  Please check LINCCWeb, Valencia East’s online catalog, to verify the availability of circulating books within the library.  Feel free to ask a librarian for help if you need further assistance.

Valencia College East Campus Library

Last Revised on November 21, 2021