Exploring the effects created by the formal elements of a fiction—setting and point of view, for example—helps us to understand more deeply the story’s meaning and the nuances that enrich that meaning. This kind of formal close reading of the story’s text is fundamental to any analysis of fiction.

The Elements of Fiction in “The Story of an Hour”: Analysis and Interactive Exercises

To examine what roles some of the elements of fiction play in “The Story of an Hour” click on one of the following choices. The highlighted portions of the story link to analysis and questions. Responses to the questions can be added to your notebook—this will be collated so that you can print or e-mail your work when you are finished.

>Plot
>Character
>Symbolism, Allegory, and Image