37 pages • 1 hour read
The Yellow Wallpaper
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Essay Topics
Although Gilman’s short story is not technically Gothic, elements that characterize the Gothic movement in literature are observable. What are a few of these elements? Support your answer with evidence from the text.
Comment on the narrator’s use of repetition. Locate at least three examples of repetition in the story and discuss how it enhances your understanding of the narrator’s temperament and personality.
Some scholars believe the narrator’s depiction of her husband is a caricature. Do you agree or disagree with this interpretation of John’s behavior and regard towards his wife?
How do you interpret the narrator’s use of the name “Jane” at the end of the story? Support your argument with evidence from the text.
Some scholars discuss the bed nailed to the floor of the narrator’s bedroom as a symbol of female sexuality. Explore the symbolism of the bed from this perspective and link your ideas with the depiction of marriage in the short story.
Depression in women often comes about as a symptom of suppressed rage. What evidence in the story suggests that the narrator feels rage?
Yellow is the color of jaundice, a symptom of many diseases. Research the condition of jaundice and make connections to the text, formulating a theory that explains Gilman’s choice to emphasize the color yellow.
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By Charlotte Perkins Gilman
