“The Yellow Wallpaper”

1. “The Yellow Wallpaper”

2. Theme vs. Motif • Theme ---a topic large enough to cover the scope of the entire work (supports author’s purpose) • Motif---recurring idea that supports author’s purpose but to a lesser extent (not as encompassing as theme)

3. Theme vs. Motif? • Sunlight vs. moonlight • Patient rights • Creativity vs. rationality • Suicide • Role of the 19th century woman • Domestic sphere as a prison

4. Motifs Themes Creativity vs. rationality Role of the 19th century woman Domestic sphere as a prison • Sunlight vs. moonlight • Patient rights • suicide

5. Choose 1 and find proof this is a recurring idea • Sunlight vs. moonlight • Patient rights • suicide

6. Possible essay? Choose 1 Theme develop it • Creativity vs. rationality • From the beginning of the short story, the narrator’s creativity is set in conflict with John’s rationality. (thrives in using her imagination, rest cure, writing, fresh air, yellow wallpaper vs. John’s practicality, what he scoffs openly at response to uncomfortable feelings • Role of the 19th century woman • Societal expectations revealed that women were to be content with nothing more than wivery and motherhood . (John = society, John’s sister, Mary, Narrator’s brother, jail idea, in paper—creeping women) • Domestic sphere as a prison • Throughout the short story , Gilman presents the domestic sphere as a prison. (Nursery, bars [windows and paper], rings, immovable bed, rope, ‘little girl’ comment, what can one do?