The Story of an Hour / When she abandoned -Answering Questions from Stories / Answering Questions from Stories for SSC -2026 / Stories from English For Today, Calss-9-10 / SSC English1st Paper
- Fakhruddin Babar
- Mar 9
- 12 min read
The Story of an Hour
Kate Chopin
When she abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips. She said it over and over under her breath: ’’free, free, free!” The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed it went from her eyes. They stayed keen and bright. Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body.
She did not stop to ask if it were or were not a monstrous joy that held her. A clear and exalted perception enabled her to dismiss the suggestion as trivial.
She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead. But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely. And she opened and spread her arms out to them in welcome.
There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature. A kind intention or a cruel intention made the act seem no less a crime as she looked upon it in that brief moment of illumination.
And yet she had loved him - sometimes. Often she had not. What did it matter! What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being!
’’Free! Body and soul free!" she kept whispering.
Josephine was kneeling before the closed door with her lips to the keyhole, imploring for admission. "Louise, open the door! I beg. open the door - you will make yourself ill. What arc you doing Louise? For heaven's sake open the door."
"Go away. I am not making myself ill." No; she was drinking in a very elixir of life through that open window.
Her fancy was running riot along those days ahead of her. Spring days, and summer days, and all sorts of days that would be her own. She breathed a quick prayer that life might be long. Il was only yesterday she had thought with a shudder that life might be long.
She arose at length and opened the door to her sister's importunities. There was a feverish triumph in her eyes, and she carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of Victory. She clasped her sister's waist, and together they descended the stairs. Richards stood waiting for them at the bottom.
Someone was opening the front door with a latchkey. Il was Brenlly Mallard who entered, a little travel-stained, composedly carrying his grip-sack and umbrella. He had been far from the scene of accident, and did not even know there had been one. He stood amazed at Josephine's piercing cry; at Richards' quick motion to screen him from the view of his wife.
But Richards was too late.
When the doctors came they said she had died of heart disease of joy that kills.
Questions with Answers:
1. Who had brought the news of Mr. Brently Mallard’s death?
The news of Mr. Brently Mallard’s death was brought to Mrs. Mallard by her sister, Josephine, in a gentle and careful manner. Along with her, Mr. Mallard’s friend, Richards, was also present to support her when the news was given.
2. How did Mr. Mallard die, according to the rumor?
According to the rumor, Mr. Mallard died in a terrible railroad accident. The news of his death was reported in the newspaper, and his name was at the top of the list of people who had been killed in the disaster.
3. Why was everyone scared of breaking the news to Mrs. Mallard?
Everyone was scared to break the news to Mrs. Mallard because she had a weak heart. They were afraid that hearing the sad news would shock her too much and cause her to have a serious reaction, possibly even harming her health.
4. How did Mrs. Mallard react after getting the death news?
After hearing the news, Mrs. Mallard initially felt a wave of grief and cried uncontrollably in her sister’s arms. Her reaction was immediate, and she wept deeply. However, after her tears slowed, she went to her room alone to process the news more privately.
5. How did her reactions change when she went to her room?
When Mrs. Mallard went to her room, she began to feel differently. Instead of continuing to feel sadness, she started to realize something unexpected: the death of her husband meant she was now free. She sat quietly in a chair, staring out the window, and began to feel a sense of peace and joy as she thought about her new life ahead.
6. Why do you think Mrs. Mallard felt happy and free?
Mrs. Mallard felt happy and free because she understood that her husband's death would give her the chance to live for herself. In her marriage, she had been controlled and restricted by her husband's will, and now she could do whatever she wanted. This freedom made her feel both relieved and happy, which surprised her.
7. What do you mean by the statement “a joy that kills”?
The phrase "a joy that kills" refers to the moment when Mrs. Mallard saw her husband alive after believing he had died. The overwhelming shock and joy of realizing that he was not dead caused her to have a heart attack. The joy was so powerful that it led to her sudden death, as her heart could not handle the extreme emotion.
8. What happened to Mrs. Mallard at the end of the story?
At the end of the story, Mrs. Mallard died from heart disease, which the doctors described as “a joy that kills.” After seeing her husband alive, the shock and sudden joy were too much for her heart. Sadly, she passed away, and her death was caused by the overwhelming emotional reaction to the situation.
More Questions with Answers
(a) How did Mrs. Mallard's emotions change after realizing her newfound freedom?
At first, Mrs. Mallard felt deep sadness and cried a lot after hearing about her husband's death. But when she was alone in her room, her feelings started to change. She began to feel a sense of relief and happiness, realizing that she was now free to live her own life.
(b) What did Mrs. Mallard anticipate about her future?
Mrs. Mallard imagined a future where she could live for herself without anyone controlling her. She saw many years ahead of her, full of freedom and joy, where she could make her own decisions and enjoy life in her own way.
(c) Why did Mrs. Mallard believe living for herself was important?
Mrs. Mallard felt that in marriage, her husband had controlled her life, even if he had good intentions. Now, with him gone, she could live for herself and not for anyone else. She believed that true happiness came from having the freedom to make her own choices.
(d) What was Mrs. Mallard's perspective on her love for her husband?
Mrs. Mallard admitted that she had loved her husband sometimes, but not always. She realized that love was not as important to her as personal freedom. She felt that even though her husband had been kind, he had still made decisions for her, which took away her independence.
(e) How did Mrs. Mallard describe the strongest impulse of her being?
Mrs. Mallard described the strongest feeling inside her as a desire for freedom. She realized that the most powerful force in her life was the need to live for herself, without anyone else's influence or control.
(f) Why did Josephine plead with Mrs. Mallard to open the door?
Josephine was worried that Mrs. Mallard would make herself sick by staying alone in her room for too long. She knocked on the door and begged her sister to open it, afraid that she was suffering too much.
(g) What did Mrs. Mallard feel as she looked out of the window?
As Mrs. Mallard looked out of the window, she felt a sense of hope and freedom. She saw the blue sky, trees, and birds singing, which made her feel that a new and exciting life was waiting for her.
(h) How did Mrs. Mallard appear when she opened the door?
When Mrs. Mallard finally opened the door, she looked very different. There was a bright, victorious look in her eyes, and she carried herself with confidence, as if she had won something important.
(i) What unexpected event occurred as Mrs. Mallard descended the stairs?
As Mrs. Mallard came down the stairs with her sister, something shocking happened—her husband, Brently Mallard, walked in through the front door. He had not died in the accident as everyone had thought.
(j) Why was Richards quick to shield Brently from Mrs. Mallard's view?
Richards knew that Mrs. Mallard had a weak heart, and he was afraid that seeing her husband alive would shock her too much. He tried to stop her from seeing him, but it was too late.
(k) How did Mrs. Mallard react to seeing her husband alive?
When Mrs. Mallard saw her husband, she was so shocked that she could not handle it. The emotions were too overwhelming for her heart, and she collapsed.
(l) What was the doctors' conclusion about Mrs. Mallard's death?
The doctors said that Mrs. Mallard had died of "a joy that kills." They believed that the sudden happiness of seeing her husband alive was too much for her weak heart to handle.
(m) What had actually caused Mrs. Mallard's death?
In reality, Mrs. Mallard died because of shock and disappointment. She had just accepted her new freedom and happiness, and suddenly, it was taken away. The loss of her dream was too much for her heart.
(n) How does the open window symbolize Mrs. Mallard's feelings?
The open window represents Mrs. Mallard's freedom and new life. As she looked outside, she saw nature, fresh air, and blue skies, which made her feel hopeful and excited about her future.
(o) What is ironic about Mrs. Mallard's death?
The irony is that everyone thought she died from happiness, but in reality, she died from disappointment. She had just started to enjoy her freedom, but it was taken away in an instant, which caused her heart to fail.
(p) What is the central theme of "The Story of an Hour"?
The main theme of the story is freedom and independence. It shows how Mrs. Mallard felt trapped in her marriage and how she found unexpected happiness in the thought of living for herself. It also highlights how society often limits women's freedom.
Bangla Translation:
The Story of an Hour (English with Bangla Translation Sentence-wise)
1. When she abandoned herself a little whispered word escaped her slightly parted lips.
যখন সে নিজেকে সম্পূর্ণরূপে হারিয়ে ফেলল, তখন তার সামান্য ফাঁক হয়ে থাকা ঠোঁট থেকে একটি ফিসফিস করা শব্দ বেরিয়ে এলো।
2. She said it over and over under her breath: "free, free, free!"
সে শব্দটি বারবার বলছিল: "স্বাধীন, স্বাধীন, স্বাধীন!"
3. The vacant stare and the look of terror that had followed it went from her eyes.
শূন্য দৃষ্টি এবং ভয়ের চেহারা, যা তার চোখে ছিল, তা অদৃশ্য হয়ে গেল।
4. They stayed keen and bright.
তার চোখে তীক্ষ্ণতা ও উজ্জ্বলতা ফিরে এলো।
5. Her pulses beat fast, and the coursing blood warmed and relaxed every inch of her body.
তার হৃদস্পন্দন দ্রুত হচ্ছিল, এবং প্রবাহিত রক্ত তার শরীরের প্রতিটি অংশকে উষ্ণ ও শিথিল করছিল।
6. She did not stop to ask if it were or were not a monstrous joy that held her.
সে থামেনি এটা ভাবতে যে এটা কোনো ভয়ঙ্কর আনন্দ ছিল কি না যা তাকে ধরে রেখেছে।
7. A clear and exalted perception enabled her to dismiss the suggestion as trivial.
একটি স্বচ্ছ ও উন্নত উপলব্ধি তাকে এই ধারণাটিকে তুচ্ছ বলে উড়িয়ে দিতে সাহায্য করেছিল।
8. She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death.
সে জানত, যখন সে মৃত্যুতে ভাঁজ করা কোমল ও দয়ালু হাত দেখবে, তখন সে আবার কাঁদবে।
9. But she saw beyond that bitter moment a long procession of years to come that would belong to her absolutely.
কিন্তু সেই তিক্ত মুহূর্তের পর, সে এক দীর্ঘ বছরের সারি দেখতে পেল যা সম্পূর্ণরূপে তার নিজের হবে।
10. "Free! Body and soul free!" she kept whispering.
"স্বাধীন! শরীর ও আত্মা স্বাধীন!" সে ফিসফিস করে বলতেই থাকল।
11. Josephine was kneeling before the closed door with her lips to the keyhole, imploring for admission.
জোসেফিন বন্ধ দরজার সামনে হাঁটু গেড়ে বসেছিল, তার ঠোঁট চাবির ছিদ্রের কাছে, প্রবেশের জন্য অনুনয় করছিল।
12. Someone was opening the front door with a latchkey.
কেউ সামনের দরজার তালা খুলছিল।
13. It was Brently Mallard who entered, a little travel-stained, composedly carrying his grip-sack and umbrella.
এটি ছিল ব্রেন্টলি ম্যালার্ড, যে ঢুকল, কিছুটা ভ্রমণের ক্লান্তিতে আবৃত, শান্তভাবে তার ব্যাগ ও ছাতা বহন করে।
14. When the doctors came, they said she had died of heart disease—of joy that kills.
যখন ডাক্তাররা এল, তারা বলল, সে হৃদরোগে মারা গেছে - সেই আনন্দে, যা মেরে ফেলে।
Bangla Translation
বাংলা অনুবাদ:
যখন সে নিজেকে সম্পূর্ণরূপে হারিয়ে ফেলল, তখন তার সামান্য ফাঁক হয়ে থাকা ঠোঁট থেকে একটি ফিসফিস করা শব্দ বেরিয়ে এলো। সে শব্দটি বারবার বলছিল: "স্বাধীন, স্বাধীন, স্বাধীন!" শূন্য দৃষ্টি এবং ভয়ের চেহারা, যা তার চোখে ছিল, তা অদৃশ্য হয়ে গেল। তার চোখে তীক্ষ্ণতা ও উজ্জ্বলতা ফিরে এলো। তার হৃদস্পন্দন দ্রুত হচ্ছিল, এবং প্রবাহিত রক্ত তার শরীরের প্রতিটি অংশকে উষ্ণ ও শিথিল করছিল।
সে থামেনি এটা ভাবতে যে এটা কোনো ভয়ঙ্কর আনন্দ ছিল কি না যা তাকে ধরে রেখেছে। একটি স্বচ্ছ ও উন্নত উপলব্ধি তাকে এই ধারণাটিকে তুচ্ছ বলে উড়িয়ে দিতে সাহায্য করেছিল।
সে জানত, যখন সে মৃত্যুতে ভাঁজ করা কোমল ও দয়ালু হাত দেখবে, যখন সে সেই মুখ দেখবে যা তাকে ভালোবাসা ছাড়া অন্য কিছুতে কখনো দেখেনি, তখন সে আবার কাঁদবে। কিন্তু সেই তিক্ত মুহূর্তের পর, সে এক দীর্ঘ বছরের সারি দেখতে পেল যা সম্পূর্ণরূপে তার নিজের হবে। এবং সে তার বাহু খুলে তাদের স্বাগত জানাল।
সেই আসন্ন বছরগুলিতে বেঁচে থাকার জন্য আর কেউ থাকবে না; সে শুধুমাত্র নিজের জন্য বাঁচবে। এমন কোনো শক্তিশালী ইচ্ছা থাকবে না যা তার উপর চাপানো হবে, সেই অন্ধ অধ্যবসায়ের সাথে, যার মাধ্যমে মানুষ বিশ্বাস করে যে তারা অন্যের উপর তাদের ব্যক্তিগত ইচ্ছা চাপানোর অধিকার রাখে। সদয় হোক বা নিষ্ঠুর, এই কাজটিকে সে একই অপরাধ হিসেবেই দেখল, যখন সে এই সংক্ষিপ্ত মুহূর্তে এর প্রকৃত অর্থ উপলব্ধি করল।
তবুও, সে তাকে ভালোবাসত - কখনো কখনো। অনেক সময় সে ভালোবাসত না। তাতে কী আসে যায়! ভালোবাসা, যা এক অনুধাবিত রহস্য, তা কতটুকু গুরুত্ব পেতে পারে, যখন সে হঠাৎ করে উপলব্ধি করল যে আত্মনিশ্চয়তার এই অধিকারই তার অস্তিত্বের সবচেয়ে শক্তিশালী অনুভূতি!
"স্বাধীন! শরীর ও আত্মা স্বাধীন!" সে ফিসফিস করে বলতেই থাকল।
জোসেফিন বন্ধ দরজার সামনে হাঁটু গেড়ে বসেছিল, তার ঠোঁট চাবির ছিদ্রের কাছে, প্রবেশের জন্য অনুনয় করছিল। "লুইস, দরজা খোলো! আমি মিনতি করি, দরজা খোলো - তুমি নিজেকে অসুস্থ করে তুলবে। তুমি কী করছ লুইস? ঈশ্বরের দোহাই, দরজা খোলো!"
"চলে যাও। আমি নিজেকে অসুস্থ করছি না।" না, সে সেই খোলা জানালা দিয়ে জীবনের এক মহৌষধ পান করছিল।
তার কল্পনা ভবিষ্যতের দিনগুলোর দিকে অস্থির হয়ে ছুটে যাচ্ছিল। বসন্তের দিন, গ্রীষ্মের দিন, এবং এমন সব দিন যা কেবল তার নিজের হবে। সে দ্রুত একটি প্রার্থনা করল যেন জীবন দীর্ঘ হয়। কেবল গতকালই সে কেঁপে উঠেছিল এই ভাবনায় যে জীবন দীর্ঘ হতে পারে।
অবশেষে, সে উঠে দাঁড়াল এবং তার বোনের অনুরোধের জন্য দরজা খুলে দিল। তার চোখে এক উত্তেজিত বিজয়ের ছাপ ছিল, এবং সে নিজেকে অনিচ্ছাকৃতভাবে এক বিজয়ী দেবীর মতো ধরে রেখেছিল। সে তার বোনের কোমর জড়িয়ে ধরল, এবং তারা একসাথে সিঁড়ি বেয়ে নিচে নেমে এলো। রিচার্ডস নিচে অপেক্ষা করছিল।
কেউ সামনের দরজার তালা খুলছিল। এটি ছিল ব্রেন্টলি ম্যালার্ড, যে ঢুকল, কিছুটা ভ্রমণের ক্লান্তিতে আবৃত, শান্তভাবে তার ব্যাগ ও ছাতা বহন করে। সে দুর্ঘটনার স্থান থেকে অনেক দূরে ছিল, এমনকি জানতও না যে এমন কিছু ঘটেছে। সে জোসেফিনের তীব্র চিৎকারে বিস্মিত হয়ে দাঁড়িয়ে রইল; রিচার্ডস দ্রুত তাকে তার স্ত্রীর দৃষ্টির বাইরে রাখার চেষ্টা করল।
কিন্তু রিচার্ডস দেরি করে ফেলেছিল।
যখন ডাক্তাররা এল, তারা বলল, সে হৃদরোগে মারা গেছে - সেই আনন্দে, যা মেরে ফেলে।
Vocabulary:
vocabulary words from the passage with their Bangla meanings:
Abandoned - পরিত্যক্ত
Whispered - ফিসফিসানো
Escaped - পালিয়ে গিয়েছিল
Slightly - সামান্য
Parted - আলাদা
Lips - ঠোঁট
Over - বারবার
Breath - শ্বাস
Vacant - শূন্য
Stare - তাকানো
Look - দৃষ্টি
Terror - সন্ত্রাস
Followed - অনুসরণ করা
Went - চলে গিয়েছিল
Eyes - চোখ
Stayed - স্থির
Keen - তীক্ষ্ণ
Bright - উজ্জ্বল
Pulses - ধমনীর স্পন্দন
Beat - ঠুকানো
Fast - দ্রুত
Coursing - প্রবাহিত হওয়া
Blood - রক্ত
Warmed - গরম
Relaxed - শিথিল
Inch - ইঞ্চি
Stop - থামানো
Ask - জিজ্ঞাসা করা
Monstrous - ভয়ানক
Joy - আনন্দ
Held - ধরে রাখা
Clear - পরিষ্কার
Exalted - মহিমান্বিত
Perception - উপলব্ধি
Enable - সক্ষম করা
Dismiss - সরিয়ে দেওয়া
Suggestion - পরামর্শ
Trivial - তুচ্ছ
Weep - কাঁদা
Kind - দয়ালু
Tender - কোমল
Hands - হাত
Folded - ভাঁজ করা
Death - মৃত্যু
Looked - দেখা
Love - ভালোবাসা
Fixed - স্থির
Gray - ধূসর
Beyond - পেরিয়ে
Bitter - তিক্ত
Moment - মুহূর্ত
Procession - শোভাযাত্রা
Belong - অন্তর্ভুক্ত হওয়া
Absolutely - সম্পূর্ণভাবে
Opened - খোলা
Spread - ছড়ানো
Arms - বাহু
Welcome - স্বাগতম
Powerful - শক্তিশালী
Bending - বেঁকা
Blind - অন্ধ
Persistence - অধ্যবসায়
Believe - বিশ্বাস করা
Right - অধিকার
Impose - চাপানো
Private - ব্যক্তিগত
Fellow-creature - সহযাত্রী
Intention - উদ্দেশ্য
Cruel - নিষ্ঠুর
Crime - অপরাধ
Brief - সংক্ষিপ্ত
Illumination - আলোকসজ্জা
Loved - ভালোবাসা
Sometimes - কখনও কখনও
Often - প্রায়ই
Matter - ব্যাপার
Count - গোনা
Face - মুখ
Mystery - রহস্য
Possession - অধিকার
Self-assertion - আত্মবিশ্বাস
Recognized - চিহ্নিত
Strongest - সবচেয়ে শক্তিশালী
Impulse - প্রবৃত্তি
Being - অস্তিত্ব
Body - শরীর
Soul - আত্মা
Kept - রাখা
Kneeling - হাঁটু গেড়ে বসা
Implore - মিনতি করা
Admission - প্রবেশ
Heaven's sake - ঈশ্বরের দয়া
Elixir - অমৃত
Fancy - কল্পনা
Running - চলা
Riot - অরাজকতা
Prayer - প্রার্থনা
Triumph - বিজয়
Goddess - দেবী
Travel-stained - সফর-দূষিত
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