Respond to the questions below in complete sentences in order to receive credit. You can also receive credit by responding or adding to your classmates' responses. Include quotes from and/or specific references to the text in your responses.
IX – END
1. Where do Ethan and Mattie first stop on their ride, and how do they act toward each other?
2. What is Ethan’s motive for stopping at the crest of the Corbury Road ? What is their first ride down together like?
3. What idea does Mattie suggest and why?
4. What does Ethan mean when he says, “I know we can fetch it”? What image does he suddenly see, and how does he react?
5. How does Mrs. Hale describe Ethan Frome’s life after the accident? Why does she make this assessment of him?
6. In the beginning of the novella, Ethan opens the door to his house for the narrator, but the narrator does not describe what he sees until the final chapter. Who does the “querulous droning” belong to? Were you surprised?
7. Do you agree with the words of Mrs. Hale that “[I]f she’d ha’ died, Ethan might ha’ lived.” Why or why not?
8. How is the end of the novel ironic?
01. On their ride together, Ethan and Mattie make a pit stop at the bank of Shadow Pond. This place is special to Ethan and Mattie because it was there, at a church picnic on a summer afternoon past, that they had sat on a fallen log together. Seeing the fallen log just as it was on that afternoon brings back the fond memories that Ethan and Mattie had shared. Ethan remembers "the shyness he had felt at approaching [Mattie] in his uncouth clothes, and then the lighting up of her face, and the way she had broken through the group to come to him with a cup in her hand" (66). While reminiscing, Ethan and Mattie reveal their true fondness for one another. Mattie compliments him on his finding her locket that day, saying "'I never saw anybody with such sharp eyes!'" (66); likewise, Ethan proclaims to Mattie how beautiful she had looked wearing her pink hat. This was the first time that the two had so strongly declared their feelings for one another, "and Ethan, for a moment, had the illusion that he was a free man, wooing the girl he meant to marry" (66).
ReplyDelete06. The "querulous droning" belongs to Miss Mattie Silver. This is shocking, seeing that throughout the novel, until this piece of information is revealed, Mattie is portrayed as a sweet and loving character; typically, Zeena is the one constantly complaining and dragging on in a monotonous tone. As Mrs. Hale puts it, Mattie's "'suffered too much-that's what I always say when folks tell me how she's soured'" (76). It is a shame to see such a vivid personality take a turn for the worst and become that of Zeena Frome's.
8.) At the end of the novel, Ethan and Mattie make a mutual agreement to sled themselves down the hill into the elm tree (71). Their goal was to kill themselves, so that they would die together and not have to live through a future without each other. They go through with the plan, and crash into the elm tree. The couple became seriously injured, and Mattie was even thought to not live (77). After a year of subtle and restrained love for each other, during their last moments together, they ironically become reckless and passionate, letting their unheard thoughts and feelings be heard and expressed through the ruthless act of committing suicide. An even more ironic happening occurs in the Frome household. Zeena miraculously becomes well once Mattie and Ethan have become ailed. In the beginning, it was Ethan and Mattie who had to care for Zeena because she was so sick and had such “complications” that she could no longer properly take care of herself. However, with the sudden accident that Ethan and Mattie endured, they became injured and incapable of taking care of themselves. Zeena even had it so Mattie be taken back to the house (76). Mattie used to be the light and joy in the house, but she has become very much like Zeena. When it was said that she “answered complainingly, in a high thin voice” (75), it is first assumed that it is Zeena replying, but it is really Mattie. The irony lies in the fact that Zeena has switched places with the other couple, and that the one refuge Ethan had from his life and Zeena has become just like her.
ReplyDeleteEthan stops at the crest of Corbury Road both because he wants to go sledding and he wants to spend as much time with Mattie as he can manage. Ethan wishes inside that he was Mattie's man, so that's the way he acts. He brags about his skills, saying "I could go down this coast with my eyes tied!"(69) HE also looks into everything that Mattie does, such as when they are speeding down the hill and almost hit a tree. Ethan "fancied that she shrunk a little closer" (69) to him and is cheered by this.
ReplyDelete2. Ethan's motive for stopping at the crest of Corbury road was to prolong him and Mattie's time together and to give her one more thing before she left which was what he had promised her. This can be proven in the quote: "There's all the time we want. Come along!" His one desire now was to postpone the moment of turning the sorrel toward the Flats.". This is the last moment he has to spend with Mattie presumably forever and he want's to spend it together having fun. Their first ride down together is scary yet exhilarating. It is scary because it is dark and they cannot see the bottom of the hill very well, as well as the tree that is in the path going down that frightens Mattie. "...with the hollow night opening out below them and the air singing by like an organ. Mattie sat perfectly still, but as they reached the bend at the foot of the hill, where the big elm thrust out a deadly elbow, he fancied that she shrank a little closer." This shows how they were having fun at the time but the darkness still posed an ominous future.
ReplyDelete3. After going down the hill Ethan and Mattie share an emotional moment in which they have to say their goodbyes. Mattie then suggest to Ethan to take them down the hill into the elm killing both of them. She suggests this out of desperation that they would never have to leave each other. We can see this in the quote said by Mattie: "Right into the big elm. You said you could. So 't we'd never have to leave each other any more."
I agree with what Mrs. Hale said, that if Mattie had died, Ethan might have lived. Ethan let his entire life revolve around Mattie; everything happening and going happen is because of her, and because of her place as the temptress. While she is in his household, Ethan had no grasp on anything besides her. Even his fight with Zeena were because of her. In the end of the book, Mattie “answered complainingly, in a high thin voice” (75) this shows how Mattie continues to drag him down. His guilt for hurting her is almost physical. If she had died, Ethan might have had the possibility to move one and slowly grow in his relationship with Zeena, using her as an anchor. Because she survived in this pitiful state, the possibilities of Ethan freeing himself from her are little. In a sense, Mattie and Ethan succeeded- the spirit of both of them was killed.
ReplyDelete3. Mattie suggests that Ethan and her ride the sled into the big elm tree killing the two of them together. “Right into the big elm. You said you could. So ‘t we’d never have to leave each other anymore.“ (71) Mattie says that if neither of them can have each other for the rest of their lives they why not die together. It would be easier to die together than to live without one another. “I’m not crazy; but I will be if I leave you.” (71) Mattie is desperate to have Ethan and not lose him to take care of her. They are in love and cannot be without the other at their side by their own free will.
ReplyDelete6. The “querulous droning” belonged to Mattie when the door was first opened. I was very surprised to find that Mattie, Ethan, and Zeena were still living with one another. To top that, I never thought that it be Mattie who would be making these noises. I thought for sure that it was to be Zeena with her “complications” and bad health. Now Mattie is the sick woman who needs Zeena’s help; Ethan needs Zeena’s help as well. I feel as though the roles have been reversed in a way. Zeena made a miraculous recovery after the accident, coming to life again. She seems to take over Mattie’s old role as the living assistant and housekeeper. Mattie has become Zeena, an unhappy, unpleasant woman unable to do things for herself because of her state of health. She is no longer the sweet, sensitive, and caring girl that she once was before the accident. Ethan, however, has seemed to stay the same with the exception of growing old and not being able to do everything he once could.
3. After Mattie and Ethan take their first ride down the slope, she is overcome by sadness and the fear of leaving Ethan and being alone. She says that Ethan should take them, "Right into the big elm. You said you could. So 't we'd never have to leave each other any more" (71). Mattie has a sudden urge to commit suicide with Ethan so they will never have to leave each other. She thinks it would be best to die and be with him than to live separately. Ethan at first rejects her idea then is intrigued by a life with her and goes forth with the plan.
ReplyDelete6. When the narrator recounts the "querulous droning" when he first walks into the Frome household, one would expect the voice to belong to Zeena. However, at the end of the novel the reader learns that it was in fact Mattie's voice. With the accident, she has grown to embody what Zeena was like before. The narrator describes Mattie's voice as if she had, "answered complainingly, in a high thin voice" (75). In the earlier chapters we saw Zeena described as that, "When she spoke it was only to complain, and to complain of things not in his power to remedy" (30). It is surprising that the voice was not Zeena's but was indeed Mattie's, who has basically turned into Zeena after she became paralyzed.
4)When Ethan says "i know we can fetch it" he means he knows he can hit the tree. When he then suddenly sees a picture of his wife "with twisted monstrous lineaments"(72) in his head. "he made an instinctive movement to brush it aside."(72) This distracted him for just a moment till he then brushed it out of his mind.
ReplyDelete7. I agree with Mrs. Hale when she said that “[I]f she’d ha’ died, Ethan might ha’ lived." When Ethan and Mattie make that fateful decision to commit suicide, their objective was to kill themselves; they go through with the plan, and crash into the elm tree. They did this so that they could die together, and they wouldn't have to live through a future without each other. If Mattie would have died, Ethan would have had another chance to rekindle his relationship with Zeena. They could have possibly made themselves happier because Ethan would have "lived" his life with Zeena. Although, since Mattie didn't die Ethan is forced to live in misery and anguish between the two women he either loved or once had some type of connection to. Now, Mattie with "her face bloodless and shirvelled, but amber-tinted, with swarthy shadows sharpening the nose and hollowing the temples. Under her shapeless dress her body kept its limp immobility, and her dark eyes had the bright witch-like stare..."(74) brings Ethan down and puts him back to square one with an unhappy, loveless life. I also agree with Jessica when she said that "In a sense, Mattie and Ethan succeeded- the spirit of both of them was killed." I agree with this because both Ethan and MAttie lost their love and their life in that accident which was a reckless decision.
ReplyDeleteI agree with everything Stefanie said about the ironic ending of the novel. At the end of the novel is ironic because Ethan and Mattie sled themselves into the huge elm tree in hope to kill themselves but this plan unfortunately fails for them. Both Ethan and Mattie are seriously injured, and ironically enough Zeena miraculously becomes better and takes care of Ethan and Mattie. This places a very ironic ending to the book because throughout the book Mattie and Ethan help Zeena with her illness, now Zeena is caring for Mattie and Ethan.
ReplyDelete3. Mattie suggests that Ethan steer the sled towards the elm tree ,"so't we'll never come up any more"(70). She would rather die with Ethan than live on without him in her life. At first Ethan thinks shes crazy but she says," I'm not crazy; but I will be if I leave you"(71). Ethan then realizes that he doesn't want to live without Mattie in his life either and he knows that they would be together forever once it was all over.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Matt and Stephanie that the ending is ironic because Zeena is now taking care of Mattie and Ethan. However, it is also ironic because Mattie was the only one who brought hapiness into his life. After the accident Mattie is with Ethan despite the fact she can't make him happy. Ethan grows old with Mattie however, he maintains his unhappiness. Mattie becomes what Zeena was when she was "sick".-Sarah Hutchinson
ReplyDelete8.) The end of the novel is ironic for many reasons. After Ethan and Mattie decide that they wish to spend their last minutes together, the make a plan to drive their sled into an elm tree at the bottom of a hill(pg.72) and die with one another. They both survive the crash though, but Mattie becomes incapable of taking care of herself. In addition, Zeena seems to magically recover from her previous serious illness. It is extremely ironic that when Mattie and Ethan think they will be ending their lives together, Zeena and Mattie seem to switch roles leaving Mattie the death ridden one.
ReplyDeleteMattie suggests the idea that they sled into the elm tree to die. She suggests this plan because after spending more and more time with Ethan they have developed feelings for one another. Mattie encounters Ethan's goodbye note and finally realizes that Ethan has fallen in love with her. When Ethan asks Mattie if she shares the same feelings she admits and they soon share an intimate moment together. After discovering the strong love between the two of them Mattie can not bear to never see him again, which she believes will happen when she leaves. She can not bear to be without him so she finds it logical to die together while they are in this happy moment. Especially because they may never get the chance to share a moment like this again.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Matt and Stef. The ending is very ironic. First off, Mattie and Ethan wanted to both kill themselves by ramming into the big tree. when they do hit the tree, it only seriously wounds the both of them. But the worst part is when Zeena suddenly becomes better and starts to care for Ethan and Mattie. It would appear that the roles are switched now. Zenna is now taking care of Ethan and Mattie.
ReplyDelete-Nick
ReplyDelete5) Mrs. Hale describes Ethan's life after the accident as miserable and sad. After his and Mattie's suicide attempt failed she is left paralyzed and he is left crippled. Ethan, Mattie, and Zeena all live together isolated from the other people of Starkfield. When describing Ethan, Mrs. Hale says, "...and then Ethan's face'd break your heart. . . When I see that, I think it's him that suffers most. ." (76). Ethan is obviously unhappy with his life. He thought by crashing into the tree with Mattie he'd be put out of his misery but really the accident made his life much worse. She makes this assessment of Ethan after seeing the environment he is living in. He lives in a run down house, with minimal money and two women who fight occasionally and bring no happiness to his life. There is nothing in his life for Ethan to look forward to, that is why Mrs. Hale is sympathetic towards him and finds his life heartbreaking.
ReplyDeleteIn Chapter nine of Ethan Frome Ethan and Mattie are sledding. It is their last moment together before Ethan has to take Mattie to the station and Ethan will never see Mattie again. Not wanting to go on in life without each other, Mattie come up with an idea to sled right into an elm tree and kill themselves. For example “Ethan! Ethan! I want you to take me down again’ ‘Down where?’ ‘The coast. Right off,’ she panted ‘So’t we’ll never come up any more.”(70) This demonstates that Matties idea was to sled down the hill and “end it all”. Secondly I think Mattie suggested the fatal sleigh ride because she had nowhere else to go. With no skills for any trade she would never find a job and never have anywhere to stay. In addition to that, I think she really does love Ethan for who he is because no one else does. An example is when Mattie says “So’t we’d never have to leave each other anymore.”(71) This shows that death would almost be a blessing for Mattie because she knows she will have a troubled life. Evidently Mattie’s suggestion reflects her feelings for Ethan and what she knows she will face in the future.
ReplyDelete#8) The ending of this novel is very ironic. Previously, Ethan and Mattie had been caring for Zeena and putting up with her moaning. Now, however, Zeena is miraculousely cured and can take care of Ethan and Mattie. Besides this, the ending is ironic because in all thier marriage, Zeena has never openely shown her care or love for Ethan that we could see. Ever since the "Smash up" she has been taking care of Ethan and Mattie and by doing this actually openely showing compassion and care for her husband and cousin, even if it was begrudgingly. At the end, Mattie seems to take up Zeena's role from the beginning. A quote that proves this is "Zeena fell asleep and slep' ever so long, and I thought I'd be frozen stiff before I could wake her up to 'tend to it"(75). Mattie complaining about Zeena's work quality is the most ironic part of the ending because Mattie's work was what started the trouble in the first place. Therefore, the ending is ironic because Mattie takes up Zeena's role and Zeena takes care of Mattie and Ethan instead of the otherway around.
ReplyDeleteThe ending is also ironic because Mattie foreshadowed earlier in the novel that "The elm is dangerous, though. It ought to be cut down"(19). Ethan responded by saying "Would you be afraid of it, with me" (19). While this event happened long before the attempted suicide, Mattie brought up the conversation by saying "Right into the big elm. You said you could" (71). As already mentioned, despite her "illness" (by the way another name for this is Munchausen syndrome) that she had, Zeena is still alive as is Ethan and Mattie. It would seem that Zeena's recovery may be because she now gets attention from Ethan AND Mattie, which would cure her desire for attention. In addition, not only can Ethan see Mattie everyday, he can see his wife everyday as well, so Ethan got Mattie. However, he also didn't have to leave his wife and while it wasn't what Ethan expected, he got exactly what he wished for.
ReplyDeleteMrs. Hale suggests that Ethan’s life after the accident is like death. Mrs. Hale states that ”The way they are now, I don’t see there’s much difference between the Frome’s up at the farm and the Frome’s down in the graveyard.”( 77) This implies that their existence is empty and lacks any signs of life. She suggests that Ethan is trapped in a deteriorated home with two women who are broken and merely existing. “Yes; It’s pretty bad. And they ain’t any of ‘em easy people either.”(76) Mrs. Hale explains that Mattie has turned into an ugly, miserable person who complains and wants those around her to suffer as she does. Zeena , though not quite as sickly as she was before, spends all her time taking care of the two injured people. Zeena is either working or sleeping. Mattie is either complaining or sleeping and Ethan is a hopeless man whose dreams have all be shattered. Thus, Mrs. Hale’s observations suggest that Ethan’s life is like death.
ReplyDeleteThe ending is also ironic because Mattie and Ethan actually got their wish. Mattie and Ethan end up spending their lives together, however, it is not as ideal as they had planned. Mattie and Ethan thought they would spend forever together in heaven but now they are living hell on earth.
ReplyDelete8) The end of this novel had an ironic twist. I agree with everyone who stated the two roles of the women switched. Zeena became like Mattie because before, Zeena was almost on the verge of the death and now she helped nurse Ethan and Mattie back to heath. Zeena had become helpful and lively, like Mattie used to be. Mattie is now irritable and sick. It is ironic because Mattie has now become another version of Zeena. Mrs. Hale said "But she's suffered too much-that's what I always say when folks tell me how she's soured". (76) This also happened to Zeena; she suffered from Ethan not loving her.
ReplyDelete3. What idea does Mattie suggest and why?
ReplyDeleteFollowing Ethan and Mattie’s first sleigh ride, Mattie suggests to Ethan that they commit suicide together by crashing into the big elm tree that lies on the foot of the hill. The following quote reveals her suggestion: “ ‘Ethan! Ethan! I want you to take me down again!’ ‘Down where?’ ‘The coast. Right off,’ she panted. ‘So’t we’ll never come up any more.’ ‘Matt! What on earth do you mean?’ …… ‘Right into the big elm. You said you could. So’t we’d never have to leave each other any more.’ ‘Why, what are you talking of? You’re crazy!’ ” (71) Clearly, Ethan is shocked by Mattie’s suggestion, but with a few more words, Mattie is able to convince him by reminding him how his life will be following her departure. Her words of encouragement are as follows: “ ‘Ethan, where’ll I go if I leave you? I don’t know how to get along alone. You said so yourself just now. Nobody but you was ever good to me. And there’ll be that strange girl in the house… and she’ll sleep in my bed, where I used to lay nights and listen to hear you come up the stairs’ ” (71). Evidently, Mattie wants to commit suicide with Ethan because she knows that if they don’t, they will be lonely for the rest of their lives. They are deeply in love, and for that, they can’t imagine life without each other. In addition, she also dreads returning to the outside world by herself for she fears the adversities that she will face.
7. Do you agree with the words of Mrs. Hale that “[I]f she’d ha’ died, Ethan might ha’ lived.” Why or why not?
ReplyDeletePersonally, I do agree with the words of Mrs. Hale that “[I]f she’d ha’ died, Ethan might ha’ lived.” If Mattie had died, Ethan would have the comfort of knowing that Mattie would not suffer. His life would certainly continue to be one of loneliness and depression, but he wouldn’t have to worry about Mattie. Unfortunately, with the ill state that Mattie is in, Ethan has to live day in and day out watching her and knowing that he is partially to blame for her state. If he had refused to crash into that elm tree, Mattie would have been living in some other place, probably leading a hard life, but at least she wouldn’t be depressed and ill. This very fact most likely tortures him every minute of every day. The following quote reveals the truly tragic situation: “ ‘Mattie was before the accident; I never knew a sweeter nature. But she’s suffered too much-that’s what I always say when folks tell me how she’s soured. And Zeena, she was always cranky. Not but what she bears with Mattie wonderful-I’ve seen that myself. But sometimes when the two of them get going at each other, and then Ethan’s face’d break your heart’ ” (76).
I completely agree with Danielle in that I was very surprised to find out at the end of the novella that the droning belonged to Mattie. Throughout the novel up until the last few chapters I was certain that Zeena was the one making those noises. I thought that Mattie had been removed from Ethan's life either from death or by simply leaving him for a better life. The end of the novel is simply tragic.
ReplyDelete8) The end of the novel was shocking and deeply moving, but it was also greaatly ironic. This irony came from the change in roles of Ethan and Zeena. The two were stuck in a loveless marrage but it seemed that Zeena still loved Ethan, though he didnt love her back. Zeena suffered and tried to get Ethans attention by "pretending" to be sick. Ethan became dishonest with his wife and fell in love with Mattie. In their attempt to be together forever and escape from Zeena, they ironicly end up needing her to care for them both.
ReplyDelete3) Mattie suggests that she and Ethan commit suicide so they will be together forever. they both decide that living appart from eachother would be worse than being dead. This goes horribly wrong though. They both become terribly "smashed up". Mattie becomes crippled to the point that she cant even move from her chair, and Ethan is injured to the point that the only thing he can do is ride down to the post office every day. They do end up being together forever, but in a completely different standpoint than they could have ever imagined.
On their ride home, Ethan and Mattie first stop at Shadow Pond. They feel remorse towards the end of them being around eachother all the time, yet they act very romantic toward eachother. For example, they kiss just like Ned and Ruth. In addition, Ethan told Mattie that she had looked as "pretty as a picture" on the day of the picnic where they were first at the pond. For these reasons, it can be concluded that Ethan and Mattie were remorseful yet romantic at Shadow Pond.
ReplyDelete7) I disagree with Mrs. Hale’s statement. If Mattie had died and Ethan stayed alive, Ethan would have spiraled into an even deeper state of depression than he had been in throughout the novel. It’s is reasonable to assume that Ethan would have blamed himself for Mattie’s death and at the same time would still have to continue living his life without her. If Mattie had died, Ethan would be unaware of the fact that she couldn’t fully recover from the accident. He would have to keep living wondering whether or not she could have been restored back to her normal self. Though it was Mattie’s idea for her and Ethan to commit suicide, it is not an unreasonable prediction that Ethan could have put the blame on himself for going along with it.
ReplyDeleteSara DeLessio
7.) I share Alicia's opinion of Mrs. Hale's statement about Ethan: “[I]f she’d ha’ died, Ethan might ha’ lived” (77). If Mattie had died not only would Ethan not be constantly worrying about her well-being but also he wouldn't have the constant wonder of what would his life had been like if he had left with Mattie. Because if Mattie had died, the possibility of Mattie and Ethan sharing a life together would no longer be there. Now Ethan is forced to live his whole life feeling ashamed and remorseful for injuring Mattie in "the accident".
ReplyDelete8.) I agree with Stephanie about the irony of the ending of the novella. It is ironic because in a way, Mattie and Zeena have switched roles. Zeena is miraculously better and now has to care for Ethan and Mattie as Mattie cared for Zeena when she was "ill". Unfortunately, poor Ethan is still miserable because now he is stuck in a lifeless, dull, colorless house with two bitter, cranky, resentful sick women.
- Casey Heed