The Yellow Wallpaper

1.      “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gillman (short story)

2.      “Her Kind” by Anne Sexton (poem)

These prompts can be used for in-class discussion, exploratory free-writing, or reflection homework before or after reading the paired texts.

Pre-reading Prompts

Before reading the texts in this pairing, read author Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s brief essay, “Why I Wrote ‘The Yellow Wallpaper.’” Focus on what Gilman writes about her doctor’s orders for a “rest cure,” which involved a limited “intellectual life” and no access to “pen, brush, or pencil”; note the effect Gilman says this “cure” had on her. How might being told you were only allowed very limited intellectual pursuits impact you, or others your age? What differences do you think exist in today’s society that would make you either less affected by a similar “rest cure,” or more so? Furthermore, what might result when others do not understand or approve of the activities, hobbies, or interests in which you find fulfillment?

Also, read this brief introduction of Anne Sexton’s life and successes. In what ways was her struggle with mental health similar to Gilman’s, and in what crucial way was it different? Do you think it makes sense to use poetry or other art forms as ways to reveal or express the experience of mental illness? How might Sexton’s “confessional” poetry been a particular attempt to improve her mental and emotional health?

Post-reading Analysis

To what “kinds” of women does the speaker of “Her Kind” refer? What traits or descriptive words and phrases characterize them? What actions taken or statements made by the narrator of “The Yellow Wallpaper” demonstrate that she is at least similar to those “kinds” of women? How do the connotations of certain words or phrases in each text reinforce your opinion, positive or negative, of the women characterized?

Answer each of the following questions with a response of one to several sentences. Use details from both texts to support your responses.

1. What point of view is utilized in each work, and how might both the story’s and the poem’s narration be considered unreliable?

2. In Section 4 of “The Yellow Wallpaper,” how does John react when his wife tries to assert that her mental health is not improving? How is this sentiment given voice in Stanza 1 of “Her Kind”?

3. Describe the primary setting of “The Yellow Wallpaper” and the narrator’s initial reaction to it. Find at least two points of similarity to the speaker within her environment in Stanza 2 of “Her Kind.”

4. Women in the latter half of the 1800s, generally speaking, were expected to conform to certain social standards of propriety and manners. How does the story narrator’s choice to keep a diary demonstrate non-conformity for her time? How about the real or figurative actions of the speaker in the poem?

Short Answer Questions: Possible Answers

1. Both the story and the poem are written in first-person point of view (the “I-voice”). The mental decline and increasingly erratic behavior of the narrator in “The Yellow Wallpaper” elicit questions about her reliability as a witness to her own experiences; the speaker of “Her Kind” admits to being “misunderstood” in her actions and choices.

2. John effectively cuts off his wife’s attempt to even suggest that her mental condition is not improving: he gives her a “stern and reproachful look” and claims that thinking that way is “dangerous.” The speaker mentions being “out of mind” in Stanza 1 and follows closely with the line “A woman like that is not a woman, quite,” which might imply that a poor mental state is at odds with the conventional definition of a woman.

3. The narrator of the short story is both annoyed and darkly fascinated by the wallpaper and quickly feels compelled, in her isolation, to solve its patterns and forms at all hours; the setting in Stanza 2 evokes a similarly isolated environment in which the speaker fretfully seeks order: “whining, rearranging the disaligned.”

4. It is evident that John does not want her to pursue any “work” and wants only that she rest, but the narrator writes lengthy passages about her experiences in defiance of his wishes. In “Her Kind”, the speaker’s tone and connotation suggest non-conformity in the face of societal standards: she “dream[s] evil,” behaves as a witch, seeks solitude instead of a companion or family, and ultimately faces death as a “survivor.”

Complete each activity below, incorporating details from both the story and the poem over the course of your work. Be ready to share your work or findings with peers, as well as an analysis of your process (such as how your ideas evolved, or what surprised you along the way).

1. Use scholarly sites and resources to briefly investigate the complex roles of women in society throughout history. Think in terms of major cultural shifts and the changing perceptions of women over time. (Sites with primary source material like George Mason University’s Women in World History project or timeline ideas like History.com may aid in your investigation.)

First, note 5-6 major events regarding women’s roles or cultural shifts in societies in a timeline that you create by hand or in a slideshow format.

Next, briefly investigate the time periods in which the authors of “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “Her Kind” lived; indicate their lives on your timeline. Use what you have learned in your investigation as well as any additional reading to compare and contrast the time periods in which these writers lived in your timeline or another graphic organizer.

In a summary paragraph or slide, note how these writers’ respective eras and cultures might have affected the tone and outcome of each text. Use points from the story, poem or texts about them to support your ideas.

2. Consider this explanation of Social Identity Theory that offers ideas about the ways we think about ourselves and others as members of groups. Then review or recall what we mean by the term “The Other” in literature with this short description.

In a T-chart, list 4-5 ways in which you witness or hear about both the narrator of “The Yellow Wallpaper” and the speaker in “Her Kind” being identified as “the Other”.

Then, connect your reactions to the article, your ideas about the literary “Other,” and your knowledge of both fiction and real-world events to construct an electronic or paper-based collage of 1) images that show the impact on society when individuals or groups judge the “Other” with bias, fear, and/or lack of empathy and 2) images that show the impact on society when individuals or groups treat the “Other” with empathy, awareness, and a desire to learn more about other groups. In choosing your images, consider a blend of historical and modern events and books/film. Compose a brief caption for each image, and cite electronic or print images with source documentation.