Odour of Chrysanthemums Group at eNotes

The quote 'dirty hole, rats and all' from the short story 'Odour of...

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 13:00:57 PST

The quote 'dirty hole, rats and all' from the short story 'Odour of Chrysanthemums' by D H Lawrence refers to the standard of accommodation the miners,their wives and children were expected to live in. Elizabeth Bates (coming from a lower middle class family) does her best to keep hers as spick and span as she can but the damp, cramped living quarters and vermin get to her. She feels the expectations she had of her husband have fallen short...

From short story,"Odour of Chrysanthemums" by D.H. Lawrence.

Fri, 4 Dec 2009 12:27:57 PST

From short story,"Odour of Chrysanthemums" by D.H. Lawrence.

What do you think the Chrysanthemums might symbolize?

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:40:38 PST

What do you think the Chrysanthemums might symbolize?

Please Explain the cultural context--the coal mining town and women's...

Wed, 11 Nov 2009 07:37:33 PST

Please Explain the cultural context--the coal mining town and women's position therein.

Mrs bate and her hasband lived a part and alien to each other discuss

Fri, 22 May 2009 17:56:34 PST

Mrs bate and her hasband lived a part and alien to each other discuss

difference between all the opposites present in the story like death and...

Mon, 4 May 2009 07:42:01 PST

difference between all the opposites present in the story like death and soul,light and darkness etcand also discuss relation n realization.

It is obvious that in this story the chrysanthemum's assume a symbolic...

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 05:36:19 PST

It is obvious that in this story the chrysanthemum's assume a symbolic significance as they are a key image that runs throughout the story. We are told that Elizabeth Bates associates the smell of chrysanthemum's, although they are dishevelled, with the main stages of her relationship with her husband. The flowers are a sign of beauty in this otherwise dull and ugly mining village. However, she is very open to her children in saying that she...

In the story "Odour of Chrysanthemums" how was the relationship between...

Sun, 26 Apr 2009 02:36:08 PST

In the story "Odour of Chrysanthemums" how was the relationship between the husband and wife affected by chrysanthemums?

In Odour of Chrysanthemums how is language used to describe the nature...

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 11:15:42 PST

In Odour of Chrysanthemums how is language used to describe the nature and landscape in the Bates' house ?

situational irony in odour of chrysanthemums

Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:14:24 PST

Irony

The situational irony is based on the thought of Elizabeth, and what happened in the end of story was the opposite. She said “Eh, he’ll not come now till they bring him….. for I won’t wash him”, but in the end she washed him. She said “Never mind they’ll bring him when he does come – like a log”. She thought he will come like a log from drinking, but in the end he will come like a log but...

Elizabeth is a proud, opinionated woman. She shows elements of...

Sun, 31 Aug 2008 11:32:50 PST

Elizabeth is a proud, opinionated woman. She shows elements of strength in her interactions with othes, but also elements of weakness, highlighted by her self-criticism. Elizabeth strength shows through in her desire to provide a good home. She is angry that her husband is not home because she believes that the family should be a unit, and should sit down together to eat. She nags her children about their behavior and appearance...

Describe Elizabeth’s character in "Odour of Chrysanthemums?"

Tue, 5 Feb 2008 14:57:57 PST

Describe Elizabeth’s character in "Odour of Chrysanthemums?"

The only difference is that "odor" is the American spelling...

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 18:04:56 PST

The only difference is that "odor" is the American spelling and "odour" is the British spelling for the same word and meaning. D.H. Lawrence in a British writer, which is why the word is spelled with the "u."

Why is odor spelled odour, and of what significance is the spelling, in...

Thu, 29 Nov 2007 17:26:36 PST

Why is odor spelled odour, and of what significance is the spelling, in the short story "Odour of Chrysanthemums?"

While I agree that it is only through death that Elizabeth gains some...

Sun, 8 Jul 2007 10:37:04 PST

While I agree that it is only through death that Elizabeth gains some level of understanding, I dont think she has gained it through surpassing societal roles of her class or gender. In the end, she does not bemoan the idea of never becoming something more than a wife or mother. That is, she does not have realizations of her own life, but what she as a wife failed to do. Her thoughts revolve only around her husband's and she sacrifices...

Both of these responses explain but do not call specific attention to...

Sun, 8 Jul 2007 09:29:17 PST

Both of these responses explain but do not call specific attention to the imporantance of class and gender in understanding the role of death in the story. John’s fate was determined by the fact that he was born into the mining class and to his gender role as a male. Similarly,Elizabeth, woman and miner’s wife, lived in her husband’s shadow, knowing neither him nor herself because of the circumstances (pressures) of gender roles...

The relationship of life and death represents Elizabeth's relationship...

Sat, 7 Jul 2007 22:12:34 PST

The relationship of life and death represents Elizabeth's relationship with her husband. Life and death are as opposite of each other as lightness and darkness. In life, Elizabeth and her husband were as far apart and as opposite as life and death and darkness and light. Elizabeth resents her husband for making her live in "this dirty hole". She hates his work as a miner and the community they live in because she considers herself...

Death is central in the story and seems to be anticipated from the...

Sat, 7 Jul 2007 18:20:23 PST

Death is central in the story and seems to be anticipated from the beginning.“ The arrival of Walter Bates’s dead body at his home introduces the story’s major theme--the relationship between death and life, in light of a consideration of the relationship between men and women.” Darkness and gloom permeate the story,along with a sense of dread that oppresses Elizabeth Bates. The mine and its train are presented as life-destroying...

What is the thematic role of death in this short story? The theme seems...

Sat, 7 Jul 2007 17:53:57 PST

What is the thematic role of death in this short story? The theme seems to be about death, but I have been to told to think about the role of death.