Ray Moore's Study Guides aim to provide readers with insights into important texts so that the reader can develop their own thoughts and opinions about the text.The Seven Stories are "At The 'Cadain Ball", "Desiree's Baby", "A Gentleman of Bayou St. John", "A Respectable Woman", "The Story of an Hour", "A Pair of Silk Stockings" and "The Storm". In these deceptively simple narratives, Chopin deals with the struggle of individuals to establish their independence in the face of racial, class and gender stereotyping.The guide offers the reader insight into Chopin's ability to tell stories in which both setting (of both place and time) is vitally important while dealing with themes of universal significance. Includes for each story: - An introduction; - Guiding questions and post-reading activities that suggest topics for further discussion and thought; - A detailed analysis of characters, genre, narrative voice, setting and themes; - A graphic organizer that allows the reader to make notes on plot; - A glossary of relevant literary terms; - A literary terms activity; - Suggestions for group discussion and activities.These seven short stories make the perfect introduction to a study of Chopin's greatest work The Awakening (1899).