Question

which option best summarizes the end of \the story of an hour\?

it turns out that brently mallard is alive, and that kills mrs. mallard.

it turns out that brently mallard is alive. when he returns home, mrs. mallard dies, which according to the doctors was \of heart disease - of the joy that kills,\ which sounds a little unmedical.

it turns out that brently mallard was not on the crashed train. when he returns home, mrs. mallard dies instantly, which the doctors say is from joy.

it turns out that brently mallard was far away from the train when it crashed. he returns home alive, and josephine shrieks and richards tries to shield mrs. mallard, probably worried about her heart. she does, in fact, die, which the doctors say is from joy.

Explanation:

Analyze the question prompt

The question asks for the option that best summarizes the end of Kate Chopin's short story, "The Story of an Hour."

Evaluate the story's ending

In the climax, Brently Mallard, who was believed to have died in a railroad disaster, walks through the front door unharmed. Upon seeing him, his wife, Louise Mallard, collapses and dies. The doctors diagnose her cause of death as "heart disease—of the joy that kills."

Assess the options for accuracy

• Option 1: "It turns out that Brently Mallard is alive, and that kills Mrs. Mallard." This is too brief and lacks the critical context of the doctors' diagnosis.
• Option 2: "It turns out that Brently Mallard is alive. When he returns home, Mrs. Mallard dies, which according to the doctors was 'of heart disease – of the joy that kills,' which sounds a little unmedical." This option accurately captures the plot events and includes the specific, famous quote regarding the medical diagnosis.
• Option 3: "It turns out that Brently Mallard was not on the crashed train. When he returns home, Mrs. Mallard dies instantly, which the doctors say is from joy." This simplifies the diagnosis and misses the exact literary phrasing.
• Option 4: "It turns out that Brently Mallard was far away from the train when it crashed. He returns home alive, and Josephine shrieks and Richards tries to shield Mrs. Mallard, probably worried about her heart. She does, in fact, die, which the doctors say is from joy." This includes minor plot details but lacks the precise thematic quote.

Apply mastered concepts

Using Objective Summarizing and Plot Comprehension, Option 2 provides the most complete, accurate, and textually supported summary of the story's ironic resolution.

Answer:

• (A) It turns out that Brently Mallard is alive, and that kills Mrs. Mallard.
• (B) It turns out that Brently Mallard is alive. When he returns home, Mrs. Mallard dies, which according to the doctors was "of heart disease – of the joy that kills," which sounds a little unmedical. (Correct answer)
• (C) It turns out that Brently Mallard was not on the crashed train. When he returns home, Mrs. Mallard dies instantly, which the doctors say is from joy.
• (D) It turns out that Brently Mallard was far away from the train when it crashed. He returns home alive, and Josephine shrieks and Richards tries to shield Mrs. Mallard, probably worried about her heart. She does, in fact, die, which the doctors say is from joy.