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Difficulty: MediumDeveloping Thesis and Line of Reasoning in Short Fiction Analysis

Read the following passage from Kate Chopin’s 1897 short story "A Pair of Silk Stockings" carefully.

Little Mrs. Sommers one day found herself the unexpected possessor of fifteen dollars. It seemed to her a very large amount of money, and the way in which it stuffed and bulged her worn porte-monnaie gave her a feeling of importance such as she had not enjoyed for years.

The question of investment was one that occupied her for several days. It seemed to her that she had no right to act hastily or without due consideration. It was on her mind day and night. But she did not wish to act regretfully, to be afterward haunted by the remorse of having spent the money unwisely.

A dollar or two should be added to Janie's shoes, which would guarantee their lasting through the winter. She would purchase some straight lace for Meg's gown... She would buy some needles and thread and buttons. And then, there were the boys' caps and some stockings for them all.

The vision of her children looking fresh and dainty and clean for once in their lives, in a way to make other people turn and look at them, was a dream that kept her awake, but it was a pleasant dream.

She had no time to spend on herself. She lived for the children.

But when the afternoon came, she was very tired. She had not eaten any lunch. A feeling of exhaustion, of absolute weariness, came over her as she sat at the counter.

She rested her hand upon the counter. It was a counter of silk stockings. She had not intended to buy them. But as her hand lay there, it brushed against a pile of them. They felt smooth and luxurious to the touch. A salesgirl came up to her.

"Would you like to look at these?" the girl asked.

Mrs. Sommers did not answer. She only felt the silk. It was like a drug to her tired senses. The touch of it made her forget the fifteen dollars, the children's shoes, the gown. She felt a sudden, reckless impulse. She would buy them.

Which of the following best describes the progression of the passage's line of reasoning?

  1. A
    It chronologically lists the steps Mrs. Sommers takes to budget her money and purchase items for her family at a department store.
  2. B
    It traces Mrs. Sommers' transition from feelings of maternal guilt to a sense of social pride in her children's appearance.
  3. It moves from a detailed calculation of practical domestic needs to a sudden surrender to personal desire.Answer
  4. D
    It contrasts the physical environment of the crowded department store with the quiet isolation of Mrs. Sommers' home life.
  5. E
    It presents Mrs. Sommers' purchase as a logical extension of her long-term plan to improve her family's social standing.

Answer

The correct answer is the option stating that the passage's line of reasoning moves from a detailed calculation of practical domestic needs to a sudden surrender to personal desire.
The correct answer accurately captures the progression of the passage's line of reasoning. The narrative begins with Mrs. Sommers carefully calculating how to allocate her unexpected funds toward practical domestic necessities for her children, establishing her initial line of reasoning as one of maternal duty. The progression shifts when she sits down in a state of exhaustion; the tactile sensation of the silk stockings acts as a sensory catalyst, leading her to abandon her original plans in a sudden surrender to personal desire and impulse.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the beginning of the passage to identify the character's initial plans and line of thought regarding the money.
Mrs. Sommers plans to allocate the fifteen dollars entirely to practical items for her children, demonstrating maternal responsibility and careful budgeting.
This establishes the starting point of the passage's line of reasoning.
2
Examine the shift in focus and physical state that occurs in the middle of the passage.
Mrs. Sommers becomes physically exhausted and sits at a counter, bringing her into contact with silk stockings.
This transition introduces the sensory temptation that disrupts her initial logical plans.
3
Evaluate the conclusion of the passage and how it relates back to her initial reasoning.
The physical touch of the silk makes her forget her original practical intentions, leading to a sudden, impulsive purchase of a luxury item for herself.
This completes the progression, showing the line of reasoning moving from familial obligation to individual indulgence.

Key Concept

Developing Thesis and Line of Reasoning in Short Fiction Analysis
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Developing Thesis and Line of Reasoning in Short Fiction Analysis

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