'The Yellow Wallpaper' Questions for Study

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"The Yellow Wallpaper" Questions for Study and Discussion:

The Yellow Wallpaper is the most famous work by Charlotte Perkins Gilman . She also wrote about why she created this short work in Why I Wrote 'The Yellow Wallpaper .Students often are asked to read this story in  Literature classes --the description is compelling, and the storyline is unforgettable. Here are a few questions for study and discussion related to this famous work.

  • What is important about the title, The Yellow Wallpaper ?
  • Could the wallpaper have been any other color? How would a change in color have changed the story? How does the color "yellow" affect you? Do you like (or dislike) it? What are the psychological implications of the color "yellow"? How would a different color change the story?
  • How does the narrator's description of the wallpaper change over time? How is the wallpaper representative of the domestic sphere?
  • Could the story have taken place in a different place (or at a different time)? Why does the narrator live in a "colonial mansion"? What does the setting mean? Is it important?
  • Why does Charlotte Perkins Gilman change the point of view? Is it an effective technique?
  • Why does the narrator say: "what can one do?"? How does that statement represent her state of mind?
  • Why do you think Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote The Yellow Wallpaper? Historically, the story was based on personal experience (autobiographical)--how effectively does Gilman employ the events of her life to create this work of literature ?
  • What are the conflicts in The Yellow Wallpaper? What types of conflict (physical, moral, intellectual, or emotional) did you notice? Is the conflict resolved?
  • How does Charlotte Perkins Gilman reveal character in The Yellow Wallpaper?
  • Do you care about the characters? Do you like (or dislike) them? How real (or well-developed) do they seem to you?
  • What are some themes in The Yellow Wallpaper? Symbols? How do they relate to the plot and characters?
  • Does The Yellow Wallpaper end the way you expected? Did you expect a longer (or more involved narrative)? How? Why?
  • What is the central/primary purpose of The Yellow Wallpaper? Is the purpose important or meaningful?
  • What is the role of women in the text? How are mothers represented? What about single/independent women? What is important about women--in the historical context?
  • How does the narrator's relationship with her husband evolve/change? Does her mental state improve or worsen?
  • Compare the main character in The Yellow Wallpaper with the mad woman in the attic (from Jane Eyre ). What does love have to do with it? What about mental illness?
  • Compare the narrator in The Yellow Wallpaper with Edna in The Awakening . Is the narrator suicidal?
  • Compare the narrator in The Yellow Wallpaper with Susan from Doris Lessing's "To Room 19." Is the narrator suicidal?
  • Compare the narrator in The Yellow Wallpaper with the narrator from Virginia Woolf's Mrs Dalloway . Why is the party so important?
  • Would you recommend The Yellow Wallpaper to a friend? Why? Why not?
  • What did you enjoy (or hate) most about The Yellow Wallpaper? Why?
  • Why is The Yellow Wallpaper sometimes considered essential reading in Feminist Literature? What are the qualities that make it representative?
  • How does The Yellow Wallpaper fit in with the other known works of literature by Charlotte Perkins Gilman ?

Study Guide

  • 'The Yellow Wallpaper' Quotes
  • Why I Wrote 'The Yellow Wallpaper'
  • Charlotte Perkins Gilman Biography
  • 'The Yellow Wallpaper' Quotes About Madness
  • 'Wuthering Heights' Questions for Study and Discussion
  • Analysis of 'The Yellow Wallpaper' by C. Perkins Gilman
  • 'Invisible Man' Questions for Study and Discussion
  • 'The Jungle' Questions for Study and Discussion
  • 'The Great Gatsby' Study Questions
  • Discussion Questions for 'A Christmas Carol'
  • 'Robinson Crusoe' Questions for Study and Discussion
  • "A Tale of Two Cities" Discussion Questions
  • 'Jane Eyre' Questions for Study and Discussion
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  • 'Brave New World:' Questions for Study and Discussion
  • 'A Passage to India' Questions for Study and Discussion
  • "The Yellow Wallpaper" (1892) by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
  • 'The Story of an Hour' Questions for Study and Discussion
  • 50 General Book Club Questions for Study and Discussion

Home — Essay Samples — Literature — The Yellow Wallpaper — Literary Analysis: The Yellow Wallpaper

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Literary Analysis: The Yellow Wallpaper

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Published: Jan 30, 2024

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Plot summary, analysis of the narrator's descent into madness, exploration of the symbolism of the wallpaper, examination of the theme of gender inequality, discussion of the use of setting to enhance the story.

  • Gilman, C. P. (1892). The Yellow Wallpaper.
  • Korb, R. (2018). The Yellow Wallpaper Study Guide. Retrieved from https://www.coursehero.com/lit/The-Yellow-Wallpaper/
  • Wilson, S. (2019). The Yellow Wallpaper Analysis. Retrieved from https://www.gradesaver.com/the-yellow-wallpaper/study-guide/summary

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79 The Yellow Wallpaper Literary Analysis – Essay Topics & Prompts

essay questions for the yellow wallpaper

Charlotte Perkins Gilman published this short story in 1892, and it immediately resonated among the public. It is a secret diary of a young lady suffering from postpartum depression and gradually falling into madness. Meanwhile, her husband, “a physician of high standing,” ignores her wishes and treats her as a child who needs mentorship.

Gilman writes about her painful experience. It was one of the first feministic stories and is still topical nowadays. Below you will find dozens of The Yellow Wallpaper essay topics to boost your writing inspiration.

📌 Top 10 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Topics

  • ✅ The Yellow Wallpaper Literary Analysis
  • 📝 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Topics with Prompts

đŸ”€ The Yellow Wallpaper Theme Essay Topics

  • đŸ‘© Character Analysis Essay Topics
  • ❓ 20 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Questions

🗹 References

  • Can the reader trust the narrator, and why?
  • Would the story end differently if the husband agreed to change the wallpaper?
  • Did the diary help the narrator keep afloat?
  • Is the husband the antagonist in the short story?
  • Which stereotypes ruin a woman’s life, according to Gilman?
  • Psychology of young mothers: the most controversial issues.
  • What would help the narrator recover?
  • How does the wallpaper mirror the narrator’s psychological condition?
  • Imagine what would happen after The Yellow Wallpaper ends.
  • Which literary devices does the author use to describe depression?

✅ The Yellow Wallpaper Literary Analysis Essay – Ideas

The Yellow Wallpaper is a “what if” dystopia . The author had experienced the borderline condition and imagined a situation where her symptoms would intensify and develop until the worst possible scenario. Here are the essential analysis points for your essay:

  • Jane’s condition does not look alarming at first. Moreover, she spends days chilling at a mansion doing nothing (that would be a dream for many of us). Life in the same room without books, writing, or even socializing for months resembles a prison.
  • The protagonist is imprisoned not only within the country mansion. Her marriage contributes to her isolation. The husband (her doctor at the same time) ignores the worsening of her condition. Jane writes in her diary, “John laughs at me, of course, but one expects that in marriage.”
  • Jane projects her mental condition onto the yellow wallpaper and gradually starts seeing some girl behind it. She finally tears the wallpaper off the wall to free the girl living there. But the reader understands she was trying to free herself from the oppressive relationship and cruel treatment.

The Yellow Wallpaper essay prompts below will help you understand the author’s message better. They will guide you through feminism, marriage, mental health, and other topics. The Yellow Wallpaper essay questions we’ve listed here are only a tiny part of what you could be asking yourself. We wish you an inspired and rewarding writing session!

📝 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Prompts

  • The yellow wallpaper as a representation of the narrator’s life. The parallel between the wallpaper extensively described in the story and the protagonist’s life and mental state can be linked through the illustration of similarities. Thus, the topic generates opportunities to present the wallpaper as a projection of the protagonist’s life: depressive, outdated, and causing her an immense sense of discomfort.
  • Women’s oppression through psychiatric interventions . One of the elements of the story is the narrator’s mental state and the intervention that has been prescribed, involving a lack of physical and intellectual effort and isolation. The topic facilitates a reflection on the systems that were put in place to dismiss women, such as mental health approaches.
  • The husband in The Yellow Wallpaper: Villain of a product of society? John is portrayed through first-person descriptions, which implies the readers see him through the eyes of the narrator, who suggests him being a loving and caring husband. The story can be analyzed concerning John as a family member versus John as the representation of men at the time.
  • The physical and psychological prison in The Yellow Wallpaper. While the protagonist was confined to one room, is this the only prison she is a prisoner in? Is the room a representation of her life? Feeling trapped was not only associated with the narrator’s experimental conditions but also her mind, a topic that can be expanded further for analysis.
  • Postpartum depression in The Yellow Wallpaper. Postpartum depression was not diagnosed with adequate treatment at the time, and the protagonist’s rest cure portrayed the inadequate approach to the issue. This can be analyzed concerning the dismissal of mental health issues in women and the burden of psychological challenges a woman was to overcome on her own.
  • Discuss symbols introduced in The Yellow Wallpaper. Many elements presented in the novel act as symbols that help understand the narrative better. Consider the color and pattern of the wallpaper, the mysterious image of a woman, and the room itself. Explain their meaning within the story.
  • The association between the author and the narrator of The Yellow Wallpaper. Explore Gilman’s biography and analyze whether her life has connections with the experiences of the story’s main character. In your discussion, consider why the protagonist remains unnamed throughout the novel and why it may be necessary from the feministic viewpoint.
  • Identify literary devices in The Yellow Wallpaper and explain their usage. Gilman utilizes several literary devices to accentuate the issues of depression and feminism in the novel. For instance, the author employs repetition to demonstrate the narrator’s confusion. Discuss how each literary device assists in unraveling the meaning of the story.
  • Analyze the differences in gender roles in The Yellow Wallpaper. The story’s protagonist is a lady living in a patriarchal society with a husband who does not listen to her needs. Examine how the narrative demonstrates men’s and women’s roles and compare the representation to that of another feminist novel of the same period.
  • Explore the main character’s point of view in The Yellow Wallpaper. Despite having some dialogues, the novel is presented from a single person’s perspective in the form of diary entries. Discuss why the author decided not to include other characters’ standpoints and explore the significance of the protagonist being the one to unravel the story.
  • Explain your understanding of The Yellow Wallpaper’s ending. The novel is gradually revealed from one character’s perspective, yet the narrator’s identity seems to change toward the finale, which is somewhat perplexing. Identify and quote the exact moment when the main character’s personality transforms and debate potential reasons and the importance of the modification.
  • Study the social impact of The Yellow Wallpaper. Gilman’s novel is one of the most prominent literary works that regard feminism and patriarchy. Investigate whether the narrative’s influence on the public’s perception of gender roles has been positive or negative since its publication. Consider lessons that modern-day society can learn from the story.
  • Patronizing husband and mental illness in The Yellow Wallpaper. The main character in the novel suffers from postpartum depression and is convinced that her spouse, a physician, can aid her in overcoming the condition. Describe John’s reaction to his wife’s mental wellness and discuss whether his advice was helpful or harmful.

đŸ–Šïž The Yellow Wallpaper Literary Analysis Essay Topics

  • First-person narration in The Yellow Wallpaper. The Yellow Wallpaper entirely consists of first-person narration from the protagonist’s point of view. The literary element allows the reader to see the events from her perspective and perceive the subjective standpoint of reality in the wife’s imagination. Thus, the story becomes more realistic and generates compassion and realism.
  • The Yellow Wallpaper as a partly autobiographical literature work. Charlotte Perkins Gilman wrote the short story based on her experience with postpartum psychosis. Hence, the mental breakdown illustrated in the literature piece shows the real-life experience of a woman at the time. The parallel between the writer’s life and the story itself gives a basis for a reflective essay.
  • The feminist agenda is portrayed in The Yellow Wallpaper. The topic allows for an extensive reflection on women’s issues highlighted in the literature piece, including a lack of freedom, choice, and opportunities. Moreover, the discussion can encompass subjects such as motherhood and family life, as these aspects of womanhood are portrayed from the perspective of a woman’s experience.
  • The Yellow Wallpaper in the realm of feminist literature. The Yellow Wallpaper is one of the many feminist literature pieces written at a time when gender inequality would prevent women from having the same opportunities as men. The topic allows for a reflection of feminist literature as a genre, a comparison with other similar stories and novels, and a contrast of various pieces.
  • The ending of The Yellow Wallpaper: Mental health decline or psychological escape? The end of the short story is ambiguous. Did the protagonist lose the connection with reality, or did she let go of the psychological boundaries and gives freely in her imagination despite being physically trapped? Examining the ending from two perspectives is an excellent topic for reflection.

🎹 The Yellow Wallpaper Symbolism Essay Topics

  • The Problem of Suppressing Women in The Yellow Wallpaper. Are modern attitudes toward women different from those described in the story? Analyze the family relationship between the narrator and her husband. Why does the man treat her like a child ? Identify the characteristics of society’s attitudes toward women at that time.
  • The abrupt end of The Yellow Wallpaper. What did the author want to convey to the reader? Why did the narrator cut the story short at this point? There are many suggestions for continuing the story. Which one do you think is the most appropriate? Explain your point of view.
  • How does the narrator feel about her diary? As you read the story, you can see that the journal helps the narrator get a little relief from her heartache. Analyze the narrator’s attitude toward the diary. Does she use it only because she lacks communication or for other reasons? Argue the answer.
  • The Meaning of Yellow Wallpaper in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Story. Why does the author focus so much on describing wallpaper? How does the pattern change as the disease progresses? Analyze the narrator’s attitude toward wallpaper and give examples from the text. Identify what you think the color of the wallpaper symbolizes.
  • The yellow wallpaper: What does the narrator’s room symbolize? How does the narrator’s room emphasize her husband’s attitude toward her? Analyze how the narrator describes it and conclude her attitude toward the room. Do you think the narrator is a prisoner or surrounded by her husband’s care and love?
  • The Uniqueness of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s Story. What distinguishes The Yellow Wallpaper from other nineteenth-century works? Give specific examples of the differences. Does the description of attitudes toward women in The Yellow Wallpaper differ from other stories? Note the problem of the suppression of women and describe it in more detail.
  • Problems of 19th-century family life . In your opinion, whether the narrator’s husband is guilty of The Yellow Wallpaper, argue your answer. Why does the narrator not contradict her husband? Explore in more detail the relationship between husband and wife in the 19th century as described in the story.
  • Symbols in The Yellow Wallpaper. Do a literary analysis of The Yellow Wallpaper. Why the author uses symbols in work, and how do they affect the reader’s experience? Analyze the main characters in the story and explain them, giving specific examples of the use of these symbols in the story.
  • Postpartum depression in The Yellow Wallpaper. How does 19th-century society view women’s problems, and do they take them seriously? Analyze women’s behavior and conclude their condition after childbirth. Do you think women of that time who suffered from postpartum depression were treated incorrectly or vice versa?
  • Literary devices used in The Yellow Wallpaper. Analyze the story by giving specific examples of literary devices and explaining their significance. How does the author convey the mood and experiences of the narrator through the use of literary devices? How do these techniques affect the reader, and why are they used?
  • Gender Differences in The Yellow Wallpaper.
  • Stigmatization of Mental Illnesses in The Yellow Wallpaper.
  • Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily” and Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” Stories.
  • The Yellow Wallpaper and the Perception of Postpartum Depression.
  • The Representation of Feminism in The Yellow Wallpaper.
  • The Yellow Wallpaper: The Exploration of Freedom.
  • Identity, Creativity , and Self-Expression in The Yellow Wallpaper.
  • Marriage and Family in The Yellow Wallpaper.
  • Isolation in Charlotte Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper.
  • The Yellow Wallpaper: Madness and Horror.
  • A Lack of Communication in The Yellow Wallpaper.

đŸ‘© The Yellow Wallpaper Character Analysis Essay Topics

  • Analyze John’s role as a patriarchal figure. It is important to note that John is a complex character who cares about the narrator but restricts and confines her to her room. Using his example in The Yellow Wallpaper, explore how patriarchy might not be intentionally oppressive towards women.
  • Analyze the relationship dynamic between John and the Narrator. The Yellow Wallpaper provides a highly complex relationship dynamic between the husband and the wife. Use evidence from sources on feminism, patriarchy, and domestic abuse . Assess whether mental health justifies what John does to the Narrator in The Yellow Wallpaper.
  • The role of Jennie in the feminist framework. Jennie, John’s sister, demonstrates a form of contentment with the domestic function she performs for the couple. However, it should be noted that she shows care for the narrator. You can refer to sources on Women Against Feminism to analyze how some women also promoted a patriarchal social structure.
  • Assess the relationship dynamic between John and Jennie. Jennie, John’s sister, works for him as a housekeeper. Their relationship can be explored based on socioeconomic differences, siblinghood, and gender roles. You can use evidence on gender roles in families to arrive at insightful conclusions.
  • Explore how John balances between being a physician and a husband. In The Yellow Wallpaper, John is related to the narrator not only as her husband but also as her physician. You might consider referring to sources on the patriarchal nature of medicine and healthcare establishments in the modern social context.
  • The narrator’s socioeconomic status and mental health. The Yellow Wallpaper provides in-depth details on its central characters, such as the narrator being an upper-middle-class woman. Explore how a person’s socioeconomic status affects their ability to deal with mental health using national sources and databases to gain more insight.
  • The Narrator and discouragement: a bigger picture. In The Yellow Wallpaper, John constantly discourages the narrator from doing what she desires to do, further constrains her restrictive treatment. Use sources on how self-expression affects one’s identity and reflect on the narrator’s situation, focusing on her self-perception.
  • Stigmatization and prejudice in the narrator’s mental illness. The story profoundly explores the main character’s perspective, but how others perceive her mental health, mainly John could use more analysis. The language used to define and describe her problems provides a substantive subject to discuss using historical evidence.
  • The effect of the rest cure on the narrator. He justifies confinement, restriction, and isolation imposed by John on the narrator as being a rest cure. Use sources on her possible mental health issue to assess the validity of the rest cure as a treatment and its role in the story.
  • Guilt in the relationship dynamic between the Narrator and Jennie. It should be noted that The Yellow Wallpaper focuses on themes of patriarchy and gender roles, and the latter can also have an impact relationship between two women. Explore how gender role expectations invoke guilt in the narrator due to Jennie’s housekeeping abilities.

❓ The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Questions

  • How does John represent patriarchy?
  • Is John truly well-intentioned in his treatment?
  • How power imbalance dictates the relationship between John and the Narrator?
  • Is John domestically abusing the narrator?
  • Is Jennie an antifeminist figure in The Yellow Wallpaper?
  • Does Jennie’s contention with housekeeping constitute feminism?
  • How the gender roles affect the relationship between John and Jennie?
  • How does siblinghood change the gender roles between John and Jennie?
  • Can gender roles be inherited through John/Jennie’s family values?
  • How does the narrator’s socioeconomic status relate to her mental health?
  • Is the rest cure imposed on the narrator effective?
  • Is John more of a doctor or husband for the narrator?
  • How John’s discouragement of writing affects the narrator?
  • How the narrator’s mental health is communicated in the story?
  • Are there signs of prejudice against the narrator’s mental state?
  • Why does Jennie make the narrator feel guilty?
  • How the rest cure imposed on the narrator exemplifies situational irony?
  • Why does the narrator perceive the room to be a nursery?
  • What would be the best way to treat the narrator?
  • What could John do to the narrator to make her feel better?
  • House of horror: the poisonous power of Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s ‘The Yellow Wallpaper – The Guardian .
  • Analysis of ‘The Yellow Wallpaper by C. Perkins Gilman – ThoughtCo.
  • The Yellow Wallpaper: a 19th-century short story of nervous exhaustion and the perils of women’s ‘rest cures’ – The Conversation.
  • The Yellow Wallpaper – Britannica.
  • The Yellow Wallpaper: Psychological Analysis – HubPages.
  • ‘The Yellow Wallpaper Questions for Study – ThoughtCo.

essay questions for the yellow wallpaper

The Yellow Wallpaper

Charlotte perkins gilman, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

Welcome to the LitCharts study guide on Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper . Created by the original team behind SparkNotes, LitCharts are the world's best literature guides.

The Yellow Wallpaper: Introduction

The yellow wallpaper: plot summary, the yellow wallpaper: detailed summary & analysis, the yellow wallpaper: themes, the yellow wallpaper: quotes, the yellow wallpaper: characters, the yellow wallpaper: symbols, the yellow wallpaper: literary devices, the yellow wallpaper: quizzes, the yellow wallpaper: theme wheel, brief biography of charlotte perkins gilman.

The Yellow Wallpaper PDF

Historical Context of The Yellow Wallpaper

Other books related to the yellow wallpaper.

  • Full Title: The Yellow Wallpaper
  • When Written: June, 1890
  • Where Written: California
  • When Published: May, 1892
  • Literary Period: Gothic
  • Genre: Short story; Gothic horror; Feminist literature
  • Setting: Late nineteenth century, in a colonial mansion that has been rented for the summer. Most of the story’s action takes place in a room at the top of the house that is referred to as the “nursery.”
  • Climax: The narrator suffers a complete mental breakdown, identifying herself with the woman she has hallucinated as being trapped in the yellow wallpaper and clawing at the walls as she creeps in endless circles about the room and over her fainted husband.
  • Antagonist: John, the narrator’s husband and doctor, could be considered an antagonist, although he is not a purely evil character.
  • Point of View: First person narrator, in a series of diary entries.

Extra Credit for The Yellow Wallpaper

Self-funded. To finance her education at the Rhode Island School of Design, Charlotte Perkins Gilman painted advertisements (trade cards) for soap companies.

Utopian lit. In addition to critiques like The Yellow Wallpaper , Gilman wrote utopian fiction through which she imagined a world in which social conditions reflected equality for women.

The LitCharts.com logo.

The Yellow Wallpaper Questions and Answers

essay questions for the yellow wallpaper

Looking for The Yellow Wallpaper questions and answers? Emotional and autobiographical, The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman leaves many questions unanswered.

This page contains a list of answers to the key The Yellow Wallpaper’s questions. They may be used both for discussion and assessment. If you want to read the full versions of the answers, click on the links.

❓ The Yellow Wallpaper Q&A

Is it possible to sympathize with the main character of the yellow wallpaper.

The Yellow Wallpaper portrays a woman driven into insanity being locked in the house. In the beginning, one can think that the protagonist is a smart and rational woman. But it proves to be wrong by the end. This character portrays a tragic story of mental illnesses, delusions, and abusive relationships.

By the fourth of July, what does the narrator admit about the wallpaper?

By the fourth of July, the narrator confesses that the wallpaper starts to grow on her. This admission confirms the fact that her mental well-being is declining. That is why John threatens her making an appointment with another doctor.

Why is there a change to the second point of view in The Yellow Wallpaper?

The story shows a gradual mental breakdown of the narrator. She reveals it in her diary and goes mad by the end of the story. The point of view changes to highlight the narrator’s irreversible insanity.

The Yellow Wallpaper: at what point does the narrator go insane?

The novel shows the gradual decline of the narrator’s mental state. She reaches the point of complete insanity when she tears down the yellow paper at the end. Having done so, she begins to think that she is the woman who has just been freed from the wall.

The Yellow Wallpaper: is John the real villain of the story?

The Yellow Wallpaper is a story by feminist writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman first published in 1892. It describes the dramatic experiences of a young woman. Her husband, John, is a physician and prescribes treatment for her postpartum depression. To cure, she needs to stay in a poorly furnished room of an old colonial mansion in the countryside.

What is the importance of the nurse in The Yellow Wallpaper?

The Yellow Wallpaper is a short story by feminist writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman. She describes a young woman’s dramatic experiences. Her husband, John, prescribed her treatment for postpartum depression. It consisted of staying in a poorly furnished room with the yellow wallpaper. Meanwhile, the nurse Mary takes care of their newborn child.

What role does the wallpaper woman play in the story?

Feminist writer Charlotte P. Gilman wrote The Yellow Wallpaper. The plot reveals the suffering of a young woman who has to obey her husband. She receives the “rest cure” for “nervous exhaustion.” Jane is staying inactive in a poorly furnished room with the yellow wallpaper. Loneliness and idleness exhaust the woman so much that she loses her mind. She rips off the ugly wallpaper to free the woman hidden behind them.

“
And there is a friend that sticks closer than a brother”. Explain the quote.

When describing the wallpaper, which acts as a symbol of the protagonist’s confinement, the author uses Proverbs 18:24. She alludes to the character’s need for self-reflection. By the quote, the author implies that the narrator needs to recognize her imprisonment and help herself.

Which gothic element in The Yellow Wallpaper reflects a social attitude of Gilman’s time?

Charlotte Gilman’s story uses its setting to demonstrate the restrictions put on the main heroine. It symbolizes the position of women during the Victorian era.

What was Gilman’s most likely reason for sending a copy of her story to her former physician?

Charlotte Gilman sent a copy of her story to her ex-doctor. She wanted to show him how incorrect the cure for depression was. After her child’s birth, similar to her character, Gilman suffered from severe maternity blues. The author recovered because she stopped following the doctor’s orders.

What is the theme of The Yellow Wallpaper?

Charlotte Perkins Gilman discussed the position of women in society. It was particularly relevant when females had few rights, and males controlled them. The theme is significant in the 21st century, as men continue to discriminate against women.

Who is the narrator of The Yellow Wallpaper?

The narrator personifies female weakness and submission in a patriarchal society. A woman was diagnosed with a mental disease and treated at home by her husband. She was locked in a terrible room for three months.

Who is Jane in the Yellow Wallpaper?

The most common theory is that Jane is the unnamed protagonist and the narrator. Gilman uses an unreliable narrator to show her rapid mental health decline. The character refers to herself in the third person, rejecting the social norms and her former self.

What is the importance of irony in The Yellow Wallpaper?

Irony plays a crucial role in the story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. It emphasizes how the course of treatment chosen by the narrator’s husband aggravates her condition. It also increases the reader`s engagement and facilitates sympathy for the main character.

What time period is The Yellow Wallpaper set in?

Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper takes place between the late 1890s and early 1900s. The main reason is that the story depicts Gilman’s own life. Thus, it is a semi-autobiography.

What is the Narrator’s name in The Yellow Wallpaper?

There is no definite answer to the narrator’s name in The Yellow Wallpaper. She is never directly addressed throughout the short story. But some readers speculate that she might be called Jane due to one phrase she says at the end.

Which excerpt from The Yellow Wallpaper contradicts the Narrator’s belief that she is improving?

The Yellow Wallpaper is a story by feminist writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman. The heroine of the story goes through a “rest cure” in a room with yellow wallpaper. She reflects on the wallpaper pattern and keeps a diary where she notes the improvement in her condition. Starting with Chapter 11, the character’s obsessive thoughts about the wallpaper design turn into hallucinations.

Why did John faint in The Yellow Wallpaper?

The reason for John to faint at the end of the story is his shock provoked by his wife’s mental state. He prescribes the “rest therapy” to eliminate any distressing events that could worsen his wife’s depression. But this approach only leads the main character to insanity, which John observes in full glory in the last chapter.

What does creeping mean in The Yellow Wallpaper?

“Creeping” in the story by Charlotte P. Gilman symbolizes the struggle of women to overcome domestic captivity. The word appears in the text many times. It adds to the story’s creepy air that unfolds around a woman who became a domestic violence victim.

What event caused the Narrator’s mental illness in The Yellow Wallpaper?

The Yellow Wallpaper is written as the diary of a physician’s wife subjected to a rest cure. She goes through a “temporary nervous depression” after the birth of her child. In modern terms, it seems like she suffers from postpartum depression caused by a stressful pregnancy.

Who is the Woman in The Yellow Wallpaper?

The woman behind the wallpaper in Gilman’s short story represents the personality of the narrator. Throughout the plot, she falls into madness and seeks an escape. That’s why she identifies with the woman presumably kept behind the yellow wallpaper.

In The Yellow Wallpaper, how does the changing description of the wallpaper reflect the Narrator’s changing character?

The wallpaper is the screen onto which the narrator projects her fears. Its pattern makes her anxious about invisible supervision. At first, her condition is disquiet. Then it turns to obsessive anxiety, and, finally, madness. In the end, we witness an act of aggression.

Why was the Yellow Wallpaper written?

Gilman’s purpose for writing was to make readers think about social roles. She wanted to draw attention to the oppression of women. The author wants to prevent people from going insane under such pressure and raises courage.

How does The Yellow Wallpaper end?

At the end of the story, Jane crawls around the room in circles and touches the wallpaper. When John, her husband, faints, she keeps on circling the room. She steps over his inert body every time she passes by.

What are the best examples of figurative language in The Yellow Wallpaper?

Gilman uses figurative language like imagery, similes, and personification. The purpose is to achieve the effect of a woman being out of touch with reality.

What are the examples of foreshadowing in The Yellow Wallpaper?

The Yellow Wallpaper is told through the perspective of a woman who is slowly driven into insanity. First, she lacked human contact. Second, she was unable to distract herself from conflicting emotions. Third, John failed to support her when she needed it the most. Several foreshadowing elements open the story. But they reveal themselves only by the ending.

Why does the Narrator first dislike the yellow wallpaper?

The narrator finds the yellow color of the wallpaper disturbing and revolting. She doesn’t like the erratic patterns and the fact that the wallpaper is peeling off. She claims it’s the worst paper she has seen in her life.

What does The Yellow Wallpaper’s conclusion mean?

The creepy culmination of The Yellow Wallpaper has polarized interpretations. The ending is significant since the narrator finally breaks free from the chains of society. But soon, it gets clear that she is not free at all. She has to live with the prejudice patriarchy puts on her as a female. Insanity is the only way to battle this.

What does the Narrator’s description of the wallpaper reveal about the context of the story?

The changes in the wallpaper’s description show how the mental state of the narrator gets worse. The irritating pattern becomes an unbearable sight. Jane believes that there is a creeping woman behind it.

What happens at the end of The Yellow Wallpaper?

The ending of Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper is tragic and symbolic. A woman suffering from nervous depression was locked in a room with good intentions. Eventually, she loses her mind. She tears the wallpapers off in an attempt to free an imaginary woman who was locked in the same place.

The Yellow Wallpaper: what was the author’s intention?

The Yellow Wallpaper was written in 1892. Back then, women did not have the fundamental right to be responsible for their lives and well-being. Men were the ones to decide what a woman should do or say. Gilman wrote her story to claim women to be independent and their voices worthy of attention.

What is the main conflict in The Yellow Wallpaper?

The Yellow Wallpaper contains several controversies. But the central conflict is the opposition between society and a man. This struggle of two concepts reflects modern problems as well.

What does the yellow wallpaper symbolize?

The yellow wallpaper is a collective symbol. It represents different aspects of the time when the story was written. It refers to the oppressive social standards of patriarchy. Women had no right to claim their voice, so the symbol represents their striving to gain autonomy and respect.

What is The Yellow Wallpaper ending like?

The narrator loses her mind following months of confinement in the rented mansion. She tears down the wallpaper and goes completely insane, as her husband John faints at the sight of it.

In The Yellow Wallpaper, what was the relationship between the Narrator and her husband?

The narrator’s condition and John’s intention to cure her destroy their marriage. John treats his wife, not as a lover. She is an accessory to him. John’s attitude, actions, and words offend the woman, and she feels belittled.

In The Yellow Wallpaper, the words such as “yellow” and “creeping” change their meanings. Why is it so?

The narrator undergoes a mental conversion that leads her to the revelation about freedom. She fixates on the wallpaper and projects her issues onto this symbol. Her obsession gives the walls additional meaning, and she becomes the “creeping woman.”

🎓 References

  • The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman – Free Ebook
  • The Yellow Wall-Paper
  • Feminist Gothic in “The Yellow Wallpaper” | – Lone Star College
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  • Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Biography
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The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Topics & Samples

At some point in your studying, you might be asked to produce “The Yellow Wallpaper” analysis essay. Well, if you’re reading this, you have already received this task! Let’s start by choosing a suitable topic to write about.

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This article by Custom-Writing.org experts contains “The Yellow Wallpaper” essay topics, “The Yellow Wallpaper” essay prompts, and writing samples. Go on reading if you want to learn more!

  • 🌟 How to Choose
  • 💡 Essay Topics
  • 🎓 Thesis Ideas
  • 📝 Essay Prompts
  • ❓ Top 12 Questions
  • 🔍 Research Paper Topics
  • ✒ Essay Samples

🌟 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Topics: How to Choose

First of all, you need to think about the topic of your paper. One way to choose a writing idea is to consider the main facts about “The Yellow Wallpaper”:

  • The story was written at the end of the 19th century about mental disorder treatment of that time.
  • It is considered one of the strongest and most prominent pieces of feminist literature .

These facts might be your first clue for choosing an essay topic. Try to look at the issues of mental health and gender stereotypes from your perspective.

In case you don’t particularly fancy the theme of feminism in “The Yellow Wallpaper” , there are many other options to choose from. Here are two tips that will help you pick an essay topic:

  • Try highlighting the moments that stand out for you in the story. Then, expand on them in your paper.
  • Write down any questions you might have during the reading to use them later.

However, if you don’t want to spend too much time on it, jump straight away to our list of topics for “The Yellow Wallpaper” essays.

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💡 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Topics

  • The meaning of the story’s title.
  • “The Yellow Wallpaper”   as a horror story.
  • Representation of madness in the story.
  • The significance of the unnamed narrator.
  • Color symbolism in Gilman’s story.
  • Explain why the story’s ending is optimistic.
  • Study the use of Gothic elements in the narrative.
  • Why ”The Yellow Wallpaper” is still relevant today.
  • The meaning of “creeping” in “The Yellow Wallpaper”.
  • Comparison of A Rose for Emily and “The Yellow Wallpaper”.
  • John as Dr. Mitchel’s double in ”The Yellow Wallpaper”.
  • The symbolism of a fixed bed in Gilman’s story.
  • Marriage in “The Yellow Wallpaper” and The Story of an Hour .
  • Infantilization of the story’s protagonist by her husband.
  • Describe the role of nature in ”The Yellow Wallpaper”.
  • How a 19 th -century woman’s yearnings are presented by Gilman.
  • Examine the trope of the haunted house in ”The Yellow Wallpaper”.
  • Writing as a process of self-assertion in “The Yellow Wallpaper”.
  • How Gilman’s story influenced mental health treatment of women.
  • The perils of marriage and motherhood in “The Yellow Wallpaper”.

📝 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Prompts

  • Study the issue of the gender roles in the story and compare it to modern norms. “The Yellow Wallpaper” highlights the problem of the suppression of women. Your essay on this topic may include some comments on family life as well. Since this topic is quite popular, we also suggest presenting your unique interpretation of this question.
  • The Yellow Wallpaper’s conclusion: different versions. How do you understand the ending of the story? Why, in your opinion, did the author cut it at that specific moment? Brainstorm these questions and try to figure out what would be the best interpretation. Don’t forget to support your opinion with fair arguments.
  • What is the relationship between the narrator of “The Yellow Wallpaper” and her diary? The main character seems to get some relief from journaling her thoughts and daily life events. Unfortunately, it doesn’t help prevent the total crash of her identity at the end of the story. You can write “The Yellow Wallpaper” character analysis essay about it.
  • Draw a parallel between the description of the wallpaper and the mental health of the narrator. We can notice the change in the writing as the mental illness of the narrator progresses. Look into one particular aspect there: the description of the wallpaper. How does the pattern change in foreshadowing future breakdown?
  • Compare “The Yellow Wallpaper” to another feminist piece of writing of the same time frame Here it would be perfect if you found some unique elements that Charlotte Perkins Gilman uses in her story. Don’t forget that the focus of this essay should be on the theme of feminism . For better outcomes, add a quotation as a hook at the beginning of your essay.
  • “ The Yellow Wallpaper” and marriage : is it the fault of the husband? Most people prefer to blame the husband in this story. Indeed, in the 19th century, women didn’t have much choice. However, we can see that the narrator has the power to resist the control of her husband. She doesn’t understand that she can do it.
  • The role of personification as a tool used by Charlotte Perkins Gilman . It’s a great topic for a literary analysis essay on “The Yellow Wallpaper”. Go through the story’s plot again and find out why personification is used at some moments. How does it affect the writing’s mood, and doesn’t Gilman use some other devices there?
  • Stigmatizing postpartum depression in “The Yellow Wallpaper”. This issue is related to feminism. Most women’s psychological problems are neglected as only being “in the head.” Miserable were those suffering postpartum depression, as one can see from the treatment plan chosen by John in the story.
  • Explore different literary devices that are used to highlight the issue of depression in “The Yellow Wallpaper”. Analyze what the narrator writes about her state and find the literary devices that Gilman uses to relate to it. For instance, repetition points out the confusion on the one hand and hopelessness on the other.
  • Can we trust the narrator? The point of view in “The Yellow Wallpaper” plays an important role. The reader can only perceive the events through the narrator’s eyes. However, it means that some things can be not that obvious. Try to analyze the hints and symbolism to find out the missing part of the story.

❓ Top 12 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Questions

  • What is the role of creativity in the protagonist’s journey?
  • What imagery helps to convey the main character’s isolation?
  • Why does the woman in the wallpaper go in circles?
  • How does the protagonist’s mental state change throughout the story?
  • How does the main character’s confinement contribute to her mental decline?
  • In what ways does Jennie represent a patriarchal woman in ”The Yellow Wallpaper”?
  • Why does the main character hide her diary from others?
  • How does “The Yellow Wallpaper” portray the 19 th century’s cult of true womanhood?
  • Why is S. Weir Mitchel’s real name mentioned in the story?
  • How does the story challenge traditional notions of femininity and domesticity?
  • How does the setting of the nursery convey the protagonist’s sense of loss and longing?
  • How does the protagonist’s journey in ”The Yellow Wallpaper” reflect the broader feminist movement of the time?

🔍 Top 15 The Yellow Wallpaper Research Paper Topics

  • Analyze the story through the prism of male gaze.
  • The juxtaposition of logical men vs. irrational women in the story.
  • “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Freud’s misconceptions about hysteria.
  • How Gilman’s story relates to Cixous’ ideas about Ă©criture feminine.
  • Foucault’s Panopticon Effect as portrayed in “The Yellow Wallpaper”.
  • Analysis of Gilman’s story through the lens of Simone de Beauvoir.
  • “The Yellow Wallpaper”: comparison to The Feminine Mystique by Betty Friedan.
  • The wallpaper pattern as the bars of a prison constructed by society.
  • Analyze the binary opposition presented in the story through the prism of Jacques Lacan’s ideas of the Imaginary and the Symbolic orders.
  • Interpret the rhizomatic identity of the main character in “The Yellow Wallpaper” via Deleuze and Guattari’s concept of schizoanalysis.
  • How does madness liberate the main character from patriarchal concepts of femininity?
  • Daylight universe of masculinity vs. the nighttime world of imagination in “The Yellow Wallpaper”.
  • How “The Yellow Wallpaper” had predicted the problem of “the trapped housewife” in America.
  • Internalized and shared patriarchal values in women characters from “The Yellow Wallpaper”.
  • How the wallpaper in the story represents the main character’s subconscious.

🎓 The Yellow Wallpaper Thesis Ideas

  • Spiritual liberation through the awakening of female consciousness in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
  • Dystopian elements in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
  • “The Yellow Wallpaper” through the lens of horror: How terror and subversion are used in the narration.
  • The color yellow in relation to psychology through the lens of Gilman’s story.
  • Comparative study of female agency in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Plath’s “The Bell Jar.”
  • Psychoanalytic perspectives on Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” and Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart.”
  • How Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” reflects the theme of a female body.
  • “The Yellow Wallpaper” as a biography: The parallels between the protagonist’s experiences and Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s struggles with mental health.
  • The rebellion against social norms in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s story.
  • The analysis of John’s character and his role as husband in “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
  • Unreliable narration in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” and its effect on the reader’s perception.
  • How Gilman uses language, storytelling, and images to portray madness.
  • The suppression of creativity and artistic expression in the face of social expectations in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper.”
  • Myths and archetypes: Gilman’s story through the lens of Carl Jung’s theory.
  • The ending of Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper” as a reflection on late 19th-century women’s mental health treatment and its implications on gendered dynamics.

✒ The Yellow Wallpaper: Essay Samples

Below you’ll find a collection of The Yellow Wallpaper essay examples. Hope you’ll find them useful!

  • “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman: Key Themes
  • Alger’s “Ragged Dick” and Gilman’s “Yellow Wallpaper”
  • “The Yellow Wallpaper” and “The Laugh of the Medusa”
  • Social Values and Norms in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”
  • American Women in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”
  • Symbolism in “The Yellow Wallpaper”
  • The Story of an Hour and The Yellow Wallpaper: Comparison
  • Mental Illness in The Yellow Wallpaper
  • The Yellow Wallpaper and Everyday Use Literature: Comparison
  • Women Characters in Chopin’s, Gilman’s, Faulkner’s Stories
  • Isolation, Patriarchy, Materialism, and Mental Illness in “The Yellow Wallpaper”
  • “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman Review
  • Plots of Chopin’s “The Story of an Hour” and Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”
  • Feminist “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
  • Literary Elements in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”
  • The Description of Wallpaper in “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Gilman
  • Color in The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman
  • “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Yellow Wallpaper” by Perkins
  • Gender in The Great Gatsby & The Yellow Wallpaper
  • Uncovering the Wallpaper in Gilman’s “The Yellow Wallpaper”
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The Yellow Wallpaper Study Guide

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The Yellow Wallpaper Characters

This article by Custom-Writing.org experts contains all the information about The Yellow Wallpaper’s characters: the narrator, John, Mary, and Jennie. At the end of the article, you’ll learn who Jane is and how she’s related to The Yellow Wallpaper’s main character. đŸ—ș The Yellow Wallpaper: Character Map Below you’ll find...

The Yellow Wallpaper Themes

This article by Custom-Writing.org experts provides a wide-ranging and diverse explanation of The Yellow Wallpaper’s themes. The core issues represented in Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s short story are gender roles, mental illness, and freedom. Although the writer speaks about her own time, these themes are just as relevant today, if not...

Symbols & Literary Devices in The Yellow Wallpaper

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Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" (1892)

Discussion Questions

1.) Why have the narrator and her husband, John, rented the "colonial mansion"? What is its history, and what is the reaction of the heroine to this estate? Does she feel comfortable living in the house?

2.) Give a description of John. Why does the heroine say that his profession is " perhaps . . . one reason I do not get well faster"? How does the narrator view her husband? Does she agree with John's diagnosis and treatment? Who else supports John's diagnosis? What effect does this have on the heroine?

3.) What clue does the narrator's repeated lament, "what can one do?" give us about her personality? Describe other aspects of the woman's personality that are revealed in the opening of the story. What conflicting emotions is she having toward her husband, her condition, and the mansion?

4.) How would you characterize the narrator's initial reaction to, and description of, the wallpaper?

5.) Describe the narrator's state after the first two weeks of residence. Has John's relationship with his wife changed at all?

6.) Who is Jennie? What is her relationship to the narrator, and what is her function in the story?

7.) How has the narrator changed in her description of the wallpaper? Is it fair to say that the wallpaper has become more dominant in her day-to-day routine? Explain.

8.) By the Fourth of July, what does the narrator admit about the wallpaper? What clues does Gilman give us about the education of the narrator and her increasingly agitated state? Is she finding it more and more difficult to communicate? Explain.

9.) As the summer continues, describe the narrator's thoughts. What is her physical condition? Is there a link between her symptoms and psychological illness?

10.) How does the narrator try to reach out to her husband? What is his reaction? Is this her last contact with sanity? Do you think John really has no comprehension of the seriousness of her illness?

11.) Why do you think Gilman briefly changes the point of view from first person singular to the second person as the narrator describes the pattern of the wallpaper? What effect does the narrator say light has on the wallpaper?

12.) Who does the narrator see in the wallpaper? How have her perceptions of John and Jennie changed from the beginning of the story?

13.) Abruptly the narrator switches mood from boredom and frustration to excitement. To what does she attribute this change? How does John react to this? What new aspects of the wallpaper does she discuss?

14.) By the final section of the story, what is the narrator's relationship to her husband? to Jennie? to the wallpaper? How has the narrator's perspective changed from the start of the story? What change to do we see in her actions?

15.) Identify what has driven the narrator to the brink of madness? How does she try to free herself from this element? What is her greatest desire? What is the central irony of the story?

16.) Compare and contrast the monologue in Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" with that in Poe's "The Tell-Tale Heart" or "The Cask of Amontillado."

The Yellow Wallpaper

By charlotte perkins gilman.

  • The Yellow Wallpaper Summary

The narrator and her physician husband, John , have rented a mansion for the summer so that she can recuperate from a “slight hysterical tendency.” Although the narrator does not believe that she is actually ill, John is convinced that she is suffering from “neurasthenia” and prescribes the “rest cure” treatment. She is confined to bed rest in a former nursery room and is forbidden from working or writing. The spacious, sunlit room has yellow wallpaper – stripped off in two places – with a hideous, chaotic pattern. The narrator detests the wallpaper, but John refuses to change rooms, arguing that the nursery is best-suited for her recovery.

Two weeks later, the narrator’s condition has worsened. She feels a constant sense of anxiety and fatigue and can barely muster enough energy to write in her secret journal. Fortunately, their nanny, Mary , takes care of their baby, and John's sister, Jennie , is a perfect housekeeper. The narrator's irritation with the wallpaper grows; she discovers a recurring pattern of bulbous eyes and broken necks, as well as the faint image of a skulking figure stuck behind the pattern.

As more days pass, the narrator grows increasingly anxious and depressed. The wallpaper provides her only stimulation, and she spends the majority of her time studying its confusing patterns which, as she asserts, are almost as “good as gymnastics.” The image of the figure stooping down and "creeping" around behind the wallpaper becomes clearer each day. By moonlight, she can see very distinctly that the figure is a woman trapped behind bars. The narrator attempts to convince John to leave the house for a visit with relatives, but he refuses, and the narrator does not feel comfortable confiding in him about her discoveries in the wallpaper. Moreover, she is becoming paranoid that John and Jennie are also interested in the wallpaper and is determined that only she will uncover its secrets.

The narrator's health improves as her interest in the wallpaper deepens. She suspects that Jennie and John are observing her behavior, but her only concern is that they become obstacles to her and the wallpaper. She also begins to notice that the distinct "yellow smell" of the wallpaper has spread over the house, following her even when she goes for rides. At night, the woman in the wallpaper shakes the bars in the pattern violently as she tries to break through them, but she cannot break free. The swirling pattern has strangled the heads of the many women who have tried to break through the wallpaper. The narrator begins to hallucinate, believing that she has seen the woman creeping surreptitiously outside in the sunlight. The narrator intends to peel off the wallpaper before she leaves the house in two days.

That night, the narrator helps the woman in the wallpaper by peeling off the wallpaper halfway around the room. The next day, Jennie is shocked, but the narrator convinces her that she only stripped the wallpaper out of spite. Jennie is able to understand the desire to peel off the ugly wallpaper and does not tell John that anything is out of the ordinary. The next night, the narrator locks herself in her room and continues stripping the wallpaper. She hears shrieks within the wallpaper as she tears it off. She contemplates jumping out of a window, but the bars prevent that; besides, she is afraid of all of the women that are creeping about outside of the house. When morning comes, the narrator has peeled off all of the wallpaper and begun to creep around the perimeter of the room. John eventually breaks into the room, but the narrator does not recognize him. She informs him that she has peeled off most of the wallpaper so that now no one can put her back inside the walls. John faints, and the narrator continues creeping around the room over him.

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The Yellow Wallpaper Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for The Yellow Wallpaper is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Why is the house standing empty after so many years?

We are never apprised of the reason that the house is empty.

8. Throughout the story, the narrator uses the word “creep” and “creeping” to describe the wallpaper figure’s movements. What does this word choice suggest about the narrator?

The words "creep" and "creeping" suggest that the narrator has sensed a disturbing feeling from the wallpaper figure’s movements. The narrator has begun to see the pattern as that of a woman wanting to be free. She related herself with this woman...

6. How does the story’s narrative form contribute to the development of the narrator’s point of view

The first person narrative is instrumental in conveying the events story's events as the narrator experiences them without the use of flashbacks or alternate settings. In turn, we as readers, experience the events alongside the narrator and become...

Study Guide for The Yellow Wallpaper

The Yellow Wallpaper study guide contains a biography of Charlotte Perkins Gilman, literature essays, a complete e-text, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

  • About The Yellow Wallpaper
  • Character List

Essays for The Yellow Wallpaper

The Yellow Wallpaper literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Yellow Wallpaper.

  • Responding to the Wallpaper
  • The Stages of Feminine Injustice
  • "Personally, I Disagree With Their Ideas"
  • Paper, Paper, On the Wall...
  • Prescription to Madness

Lesson Plan for The Yellow Wallpaper

  • About the Author
  • Study Objectives
  • Introduction to The Yellow Wallpaper
  • Relationship to Other Books
  • Notes to the Teacher

E-Text of The Yellow Wallpaper

The Yellow Wallpaper E-Text contains the full text of The Yellow Wallpaper

  • Full Text of The Yellow Wallpaper

Wikipedia Entries for The Yellow Wallpaper

  • Introduction
  • Plot summary
  • Interpretations
  • Dramatic adaptations

essay questions for the yellow wallpaper

COMMENTS

  1. The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Questions

    The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Questions. 1. How would "The Yellow Wallpaper" be different if it were told from John's point of view? If the story were told from John's perspective, it would be a much more detached view of the narrator's descent into madness. Although the readers do not know what John thinks, it is clear that he believes that the ...

  2. 63 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Topics & Examples

    The Yellow Wallpaper essay prompts, titles, writing tips, and Yellow Wallpaper essay examples. 🟡 The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Questions. Is the Narrator in The Yellow Wallpaper reliable? The narrator of the story has mental health issues. Her slide into madness happens in the middle of the story and speed up at the end.

  3. The Yellow Wallpaper: Essay Examples

    Here you'll find a heap of excellent ideas for The Yellow Wallpaper essay. Absolutely free research paper and essay samples on The Great Gatsby are collected here, on one page. We will write a custom essay specifically. for you for only 11.00 9.35/page. 808 certified writers online.

  4. The Yellow Wallpaper: Essay Topics, Questions, & Ideas

    3 min. 645. Welcome to The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Topics page prepared by our editorial team! Here you will find an extensive list of essay ideas on the short story! Literary analysis, themes, comparison, characters, & more. Get inspired to write your own essay! We will write a custom essay specifically. for you for only 11.00 9.35/page.

  5. 45 Ideas on The Yellow Wallpaper Paper Topics for Students

    Students who want to find one of the best topics to write about 'The Yellow Wallpaper' can get inspiration from the 45 ideas presented in the next listing. Table of contents hide. 1 The Yellow Wallpaper essay questions. 2 Symbols and metaphors in 'The Yellow Wallpaper' essay topics. 3 Topics for 'The Yellow Wallpaper' about the ...

  6. The Yellow Wallpaper: Questions & Answers

    The question of Jane's identity is one that has occupied critics for decades. Some argue that "Jane" is simply a misprint for "Jennie," meaning that the narrator's final remarks to John are about overcoming both his and his sister's control. A second, arguably more compelling reading is that the narrator's name is Jane and that ...

  7. The Yellow Wallpaper Essay

    The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Example 📄 The Yellow Wallpaper Thesis Statement Examples 📜. Here are five examples of strong thesis statements for your essay: 1. "In 'The Yellow Wallpaper,' Charlotte Perkins Gilman portrays the damaging effects of the patriarchy on women's mental health, highlighting the need for autonomy and self-expression." 2.

  8. 'The Yellow Wallpaper' Questions for Study

    The Yellow Wallpaper is the most famous work by Charlotte Perkins Gilman.She also wrote about why she created this short work in Why I Wrote 'The Yellow Wallpaper .Students often are asked to read this story in Literature classes--the description is compelling, and the storyline is unforgettable.Here are a few questions for study and discussion related to this famous work.

  9. The Yellow Wallpaper Study Guide

    The Yellow Wallpaper Questions and Answers. The Question and Answer section for The Yellow Wallpaper is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. ... The Yellow Wallpaper literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Yellow ...

  10. The Yellow Wallpaper Critical Essays

    SOURCE: Gilman, Charlotte Perkins. "Why I Wrote 'The Yellow Wallpaper.'" In The Captive Imagination: A Casebook on "The Yellow Wallpaper," edited by Catherine Golden, pp. 51-53. New ...

  11. The Yellow Wallpaper Essays and Further Analysis

    The structure of The Yellow Wallpaper creates a sense of immediacy and intimacy. The story is written in a journal-style, first-person narrative which includes nine short entries, each entry ...

  12. Literary Analysis: The Yellow Wallpaper

    "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman is a captivating and thought-provoking short story that delves into the complexities of mental illness, gender inequality, and societal expectations. Written in the late 19th century, the story remains relevant today and continues to spark discussions about the human psyche and the societal constraints placed on individuals, particularly women.

  13. 79 The Yellow Wallpaper Literary Analysis Essay: Topics & Prompts

    The Yellow Wallpaper essay prompts below will help you understand the author's message better. They will guide you through feminism, marriage, mental health, and other topics. The Yellow Wallpaper essay questions we've listed here are only a tiny part of what you could be asking yourself. We wish you an inspired and rewarding writing session!

  14. The Yellow Wallpaper Study Guide

    Full Title: The Yellow Wallpaper When Written: June, 1890 Where Written: California When Published: May, 1892 Literary Period: Gothic Genre: Short story; Gothic horror; Feminist literature Setting: Late nineteenth century, in a colonial mansion that has been rented for the summer. Most of the story's action takes place in a room at the top of the house that is referred to as the "nursery."

  15. The Yellow Wallpaper Questions and Answers

    Looking for The Yellow Wallpaper questions and answers? đŸ•” Find here a list of the answers to The Yellow Wallpaper's questions for discussion assessment. ... Students can find summaries, famous quotes, essay topics, prompts, samples, and all sorts of analyses (characters, themes , symbolism, etc.). Our literature guides will become an ...

  16. The Yellow Wallpaper Essay Topics & Samples

    How Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper" reflects the theme of a female body. "The Yellow Wallpaper" as a biography: The parallels between the protagonist's experiences and Charlotte Perkins Gilman's struggles with mental health. The rebellion against social norms in Charlotte Perkins Gilman's story.

  17. A Summary and Analysis of Charlotte Perkins Gilman's 'The Yellow Wallpaper'

    By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University) 'The Yellow Wallpaper', an 1892 short story by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, has the structure and style of a diary. This is in keeping with what the female narrator tells us: that she can only write down her experiences when her husband John is not around, since he has forbidden
.

  18. Discussion Questions for The Yellow Wallpaper

    Discussion Questions. 1.) Why have the narrator and her husband, John, rented the "colonial mansion"? What is its history, and what is the reaction of the heroine to this estate? Does she feel comfortable living in the house? 2.) Give a description of John. Why does the heroine say that his profession is " perhaps . . . one reason I do not get ...

  19. The Yellow Wallpaper Summary

    The Yellow Wallpaper Questions and Answers. The Question and Answer section for The Yellow Wallpaper is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel. ... The Yellow Wallpaper literature essays are academic essays for citation. These papers were written primarily by students and provide critical analysis of The Yellow ...

  20. The Yellow Wallpaper

    What is a thesis statement for "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Gilman? Quick answer: The main character in this story, "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, is a woman who has ...

  21. "The Yellow Wallpaper": Argumentative Essay

    Download. In a battle between a female's freedom and a male's dominance, a void exist in between. Charlotte Gillman, a well-known writer, narrates the story of how a woman suffering from mental illness is stuck within the void. She writes the short story "The Yellow Wallpaper" to discuss how the woman is seeking help from her husband ...

  22. What would be a good introduction for an essay on "The Yellow Wallpaper

    What would be a good introduction for an essay on "The Yellow Wallpaper"? Quick answer: A good introduction will begin with a hook related to one's essay topic. A brief summary of the text ...

  23. The Symbolism of 'The Yellow Wallpaper' Explained

    By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University) 'The Yellow Wallpaper' is an 1892 short story by the American writer Charlotte Perkins Gilman. A powerful study of mental illness and the inhuman treatments administered in its name, the story succeeds largely because of its potent symbolism. Let's take a look at some of the key symbols in