During-Reading Activities Directions: Read "The Yellow Wallpaper" from the line "It is so hard to talk with John about my case ..." through the end of the story. As you read, answer these questions When you are finished, save your work and complete the rest of the lesson. 1. What does the narrator tell her husband at the beginning of this section? How does he react? 2. What does the narrator notice about the wallpaper In the moonlight? Why do you think this is significant to the narrator? 3. What do you think of the narrator's claim that she is improving because figuring out the mystery of the wallpaper gives her something "to look forward to"? Is she actually getting better? Explain your answer. 4. What is the connotation of the word yellow in relation to the wallpaper? Think about how the narrator describes yellow in the story.

### 1. What does the narrator tell her husband at the beginning of this section? How does he react?<br /><br />At the beginning of this section, the narrator tells her husband, John, that she is not feeling better and expresses her concerns about her mental state. She tries to communicate her feelings and thoughts about her condition. However, John dismisses her concerns, insisting that she is improving and that her perceptions are simply a result of her nervous condition. He treats her like a child, patronizing her and refusing to take her seriously. His reaction reflects his belief in his authority as both her husband and her doctor, which further isolates the narrator and exacerbates her condition.<br /><br />---<br /><br />### 2. What does the narrator notice about the wallpaper in the moonlight? Why do you think this is significant to the narrator?<br /><br />The narrator notices that the wallpaper takes on a different appearance in the moonlight. She sees the faint outline of a woman trapped behind the pattern, struggling to break free. This observation becomes increasingly significant to the narrator because she begins to identify with the trapped woman. The wallpaper symbolizes her own confinement and lack of freedom in her life. Her obsession with the wallpaper grows as she projects her feelings of entrapment onto it, making it a central focus of her deteriorating mental state.<br /><br />---<br /><br />### 3. What do you think of the narrator's claim that she is improving because figuring out the mystery of the wallpaper gives her something "to look forward to"? Is she actually getting better? Explain your answer.<br /><br />The narrator's claim that she is improving because of her focus on the wallpaper is misleading. While solving the "mystery" of the wallpaper provides her with a sense of purpose, it is clear that her mental health is worsening. Her obsession with the wallpaper consumes her thoughts and isolates her further from reality. Instead of addressing the root causes of her distress, such as her lack of autonomy and emotional support, she channels all her energy into deciphering the wallpaper. This fixation is a sign of her declining mental state rather than genuine improvement.<br /><br />---<br /><br />### 4. What is the connotation of the word yellow in relation to the wallpaper? Think about how the narrator describes yellow in the story.<br /><br />In the story, the color yellow has negative connotations. The narrator describes the yellow of the wallpaper as "sickly," "unclean," and "repellent." It evokes feelings of decay, illness, and oppression. The yellow wallpaper becomes a symbol of the narrator's deteriorating mental health and the oppressive environment in which she lives. The unpleasantness of the color mirrors her growing discomfort and despair, reinforcing the idea that her surroundings are contributing to her psychological decline.