1) How do the writings of this author compare to those of the American Romantics we have read? Can we note some progression from American Romanticism into American Realism?
The writings of Kate Chopin are different from the writings of the American Romantics, in that Chopin wishes to depict the lives of simple everyday people. In contrast, the American Romantics tended to use super human characters to depict more extreme situations. There are some romantic aspects to the short story "Lilacs." In this story, Choplin discribes a lot of nature's beauty and emphasizes a love for blooming lilacs in Springtime.

2) What topics, themes, social/political issues does this writer take up in his/her work? What might these tell us as readers about this author and his/her worldview?
Kate Choplin seems to focus on the lives of independent women in her writing. In "A Pair of Silk Stockings" the main character, Mrs. Sommers, was married with children, but she wasn't pampered by her husband. There were several daily tasks that she had to deal with on her own. It was evident that her family depended on her and she always sacrificed for them. It wasn't a surprise for me when she couldn't resist spoiling herself for an afternoon. Adrienne in "Lilacs" wasn't married and lived a very independent life. People always counted on her throughout the year, so she loved to take two week vacations to the convent, to relax.The fact that she focused on the lives of working independent women shows that she valued the roles of women in the world and wanted to tell others about the importance of women. When her characters, Adrienne and Mrs. Sommers, had moments of weakness in which they thought only of themselves, Choplin might have been telling her female readers to take time for themselves every now and then.

3) With regard to author’s purpose consider the following: To whom is this writer writing? For whom are they writing?
Choplin is writing to women that feel pressed in their everyday lives. She wants them to know that it's not a crime to be self-centered every so often.

4) What relevance does this author’s writing hold for you as a reader?
This author's writing tells me that I have a some-what stressful life ahead of me as a woman. This is just as relevant to me as it was to Choplin's readers in the early 1900's, because the roles of women are just as hard today (if not harder) as they were back then. It's a great balancing act that all women must master.

5) What drew you to the work of this author? Pick a short passage from one of his/her works and write in response to his/her words.
When I saw that "A Pair of Silk Stockings" was the shortest writing in the text book, I was drawn to Kate Choplin. I also knew that I wanted to choose one of the female writers, because I wanted to know a female perspective of the Realist era.

"... a powerful longing that the cable car would never stop anywhere, but go on and on with her forever"
This was the last line of "A pair of Silk Stockings," after Mrs. Sommers' glorious day of pampering was over. She didn't want the feeling to end and she didn't want to go back to her real life. I feel like this every time a shop. Shopping is like entering a fantasy in which you are the only one that matters. Everything is about what makes you look good or feel good. I personally couldn't care less about school, boys, and the other stresses of the world when I shop. I always call it "retail therapy." After a long day at school I love to go down town and go to Daffy's or the Gap and spend all of my money. It's just so refreshing. I feel like I need it. I can totally understand where Mrs. Sommers is coming from. She's constantly stressed by her kids and her husband and her chores. So when she get a few extra dollars she can't help but to splurge on herself. And guess what, she deserves it.