Question

Read each of the excerpts from The Awakening.

The youngsters came tumbling up the steps, the quadroon following at the respectful distance which they required her to observe. Mrs. Pontellier made them carry her paints and things into the house. She sought to detain them for a little talk and some pleasantry. But they were greatly in earnest. They had only come to investigate the contents of the bonbon box.

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[Mrs. Pontellier] stood watching the fair woman walk down the long line of galleries with the grace and majesty which queens are sometimes supposed to possess. Her little ones ran to meet her. Two of them clung about her white skirts, the third she took from its nurse and with a thousand endearments bore it along in her own fond, encircling arms.

Which best explains how these two scenes from chapter 5 contribute to the novel’s plot development?
They contribute to the falling action by introducing a series of events that take place between Mrs. Pontellier and her close friend Madame Ratignolle after the climax.
They contribute to the exposition by providing additional background information on the friendship between Mrs. Pontellier and Madame Ratignolle.
They contribute to the rising action by introducing a secondary conflict related to Mrs. Pontellier’s envy of the ease with which Madame Ratignolle manages traditional female roles.
They contribute to the climax by marking a turning point in the series of events that take place between Mrs. Pontellier and her close friend Madame Ratignolle.

Answer 1

They contribute to the exposition by providing additional background information on the friendship between Mrs. Pontellier and Madame Ratignolle. This is the correct option.

Mrs . Pontellier shares her hobby with her friend, Adele. This is painting. The reader learns about women at the time. Madame Ratignolle, Adele, is a typical Victorian woman; she is a faithfull wife and adores his children Mrs. Pontellier is also a mother but she seems to be more distant to her children. There is a contrast between these two women. They do not feel the same towards their roles of wiwes and mothers. Mrs.Pontellier meets a man, Robert, through Adele.

These options are not right:

-They contribute to the falling action by introducing a series of events that take place between Mrs. Pontellier and her close friend Madame Ratignolle after the climax. ( The scenes come before the climax).

-They contribute to the rising action by introducing a secondary conflict related to Mrs. Pontellier’s envy of the ease with which Madame Ratignolle manages traditional female roles. ( In fact, the main conflict is activated , in part, by Madam Ratignolle's view of traditional women. She is a creole and she speaks freely about unfaithfulness. This attitude activates some awakening in Mrs. Pontelllier; she is bored with her married life).

-They contribute to the climax by marking a turning point in the series of events that take place between Mrs. Pontellier and her close friend Madame Ratignolle. ( The scenes do not mark a turning point between the relationship between the two women. The turning point will be within Mrs. Pontellier herself).

Answer 2

The right answer is:

They contribute to the rising action by introducing a secondary conflict related to Mrs. Pontellier’s envy of the ease with which Madame Ratignolle manages traditional female roles.

Step-by-step explanation:

these two scenes from chapter 5 contribute to the novel’s plot development as the rising action. They can not be part of the climax because we are not talking about the main characters in the book.