Ethan Frome study guide – Flashcards
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What year was the novel published?
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1911
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What is the setting?
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Starkfield, Mssachusetts, harsh and cold weather
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How does the narrator describe Ethan?
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Striking fugure, ruin of a man, old
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Who is Harmon Gow?
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Drove the stage between Bettsbridge and Starkfield, knew everything about families on his line
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Why is the narrator in town?
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Sent up by employers on a job
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Who does the narrator lodge with?
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Mrs. Hale and her mother, father is the village lawyer
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What is Mrs. Hales attitude towards questions about Ethan?
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Wont answer any questions
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What happened to Ethan's mother?
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Went crazy out of lonliness, depressed and died
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What happened to Ethan's father?
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Got hurt haying and had soft brain, gave out all money before he died
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Why does the narrator end up at Ethan's house?
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Storm was too bad to get home so ethan offers he stay at his house
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What was Ethan's education like?
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Spent one year in college, came home when father died
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Who leads the Virginia Reel? With who?
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Denis Eady with Mattie Silver
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Why does Mattie Silver work at Ethan's house?
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Zeenas cousin, she cleans and cooks
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Why does Ethan like Mattie?
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Brought life to the house and shared his love of nature
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How does Ethan make Mattie seem like a better housekeeper?
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Gets up early to do things she forgot, neglects the mill to help her
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What does Zeena say will happen with Denis and Mattie?
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They will get married
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What almost happened to Ned hale and Ruth Varnum?
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Almost run into tree and have an accident
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What is Mattie's history?
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Both parents died and left with a piano that she sold
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What does this statement mean: "Zeena's fault finding was that of the silent kind"?
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She doesnt speak her disappointments
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Where does Zeena go and why?
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New doctor in Bettsbridge because her symptoms/sickness is worse
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What is Ethan's lie to why he can't take Zeena to Bettsbridge?
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Has to cut wood for extra money and wants to get money from Hale
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Why does Ethan regret his lie?
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Zeena will spend extra money on meds if she thinks they have it
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How old is Zeena? Ethan?
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35, 28
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How does Ethan visualize the evening with Mattie alone?
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As if they are husband and wife
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How was Zeena at taking care of Ethan's mother?
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Efficient and household skills dazzled him
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Why does Ethan marry Zeena?
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She took care of his mother and when she died he wanted someone to take care of him and his house; didnt want to be alone
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Why don't Ethan and Zeena move away from Starkfield?
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She becomes ill
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Why does Ethan think Zeena is always silent?
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Because of the life on the farm or because he never listened
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What does the cat break on Mattie and Ethan's special evening?
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A pickle dish from their wedding
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Why is it so serious that this is broken?
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Zeenas prize possession, never uses it or moves it, Zeena will know they used it
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What is so dangerous about the Corbury Road sledding place?
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Big elm at the bottom of hill
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Who joins Mattie and Ethan for breakfast the next morning?
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Jotham Powell
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When does Zeena return?
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For dinner the next day
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What does Dr. Buck tell Zeena about her health?
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Shes gotten worse
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What does Zeena say she plans on doing?
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Hiring a nursemaid and getting rid of Mattie
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What does Zeena find when looking for her powders?
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The broken pickledish
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Who does Zeena blame and why?
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Mattie, she realizes Mattie has took Ethan from her, broken their marriage
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What is the pickle dish a symbol of?
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Broken marriage
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What is the cat a symbol of?
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Zeena
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What does Ethan tell Zeena in his letter?
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Maybe theyd both do better separate
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Why does he abandon his plan to run away with Mattie?
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He doesnt have any money
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Why doesn't Ethan ask the Hales for money?
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Didnt want to get money by lying
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What is the symbolism of the missing L?
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When it is there- warmth and safety/security When it isnt- lack of a connection
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What is the symbolism of the names?
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Zeena: heavy name Mattie Silver: happy, shiny Starkfield: barren, lifeless, empty
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How does Zeena feel during winter?
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Better than before
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Who is supposed to drive Mattie to the train station?
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Jotham
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How does Zeena react to Ethan taking Mattie?
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Angry and tries to find work for ethan to do
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What happens to Ethan's unfinished letter to Zeena?
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Mattie finds it and tears it up
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Who's sled do they borrow?
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Ruth and Ned's
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Who suggests suicide?
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Mattie
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What is the result of the suicide run?
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Not successful, do not die but are severky injured
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How are the three main characters in the end?
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Ethan: runs the farm, unhappy and has no quality of life Zeena: takes care of Mattie Mattie: cannot enjoy her life, paralyzed, cant be with ethan
