Analysis

• What is the tone of Howells' Editha?

  The tone is sarcastic and contemptuous, criticizing Editha's misguided beliefs about war.
• How does Howells convey Editha’s misplaced beliefs about war?

  Through exaggerated language and her naïve repetition of phrases from the newspaper, such as "That ignoble peace!" and "high ideal."
• What is significant about Editha's use of the word "sacrifice"?

  "Sacrifice" is typically associated with selflessness, but Editha uses it hollowly, showing that her devotion to the war is shallow and not based on moral integrity.
• What does Editha’s repetition of newspaper phrases reveal?

  It reveals her lack of critical thinking and understanding, as she blindly parrots the rhetoric of the time without reflecting on the true nature of war.
• What does Editha's belief in war as a "high ideal" reveal about her character?

  It shows that she holds an idealized, superficial view of war, devoid of true moral reflection, making her beliefs vapid and misguided.
• : How does the use of "high ideal" and "sacrifice" affect the story's tone?

  These words, when used in the context of Editha's empty, superficial belief in war, contribute to a contemptuous and sarcastic tone, exposing the lack of true moral depth in her character.
• How does Howells criticize Editha’s patriotism?

  By showing her unexamined and shallow beliefs about war, Howells critiques her misplaced sense of duty and exaggerated sense of self-importance.
• How does Howells create dramatic irony in Editha?

  By presenting Editha as blindly idealistic about war, while the reader understands the tragic consequences that she fails to grasp.
• What is the difference between mood and tone in literature?

  Mood refers to the atmosphere or feeling created by the author to evoke an emotional response from the reader, while tone reflects the author's attitude or perspective toward the subject or characters.
• How does Howells create mood in Editha?

  Howells creates a mood of excitement and tension, especially through Editha and George’s interactions, which convey their emotional state as they prepare for war.
• How does Howells use tone in Editha?

  The tone of Editha is one of disapproval, especially through the sarcastic and contemptuous way he describes Editha's idealized and naive view of war.
• How is Editha’s narrow vision of war revealed through her interaction with her mother, Mrs. Balcom?

  In the conversation between Editha and Mrs. Balcom, Editha's shallow understanding of war is exposed. She is excited by the idea of George going to war but fails to grasp the true consequences. This interaction helps to highlight her ignorance and how her glorification of war is unrealistic.
• What mood does the interaction between Editha and George create in the story?

  The interaction between Editha and George creates a mood of excitement and anticipation, as they are both caught up in the idealistic vision of war.
• What role does setting play in establishing mood in Editha?

  The setting—particularly the atmosphere of tension surrounding war—helps establish a mood of conflict, anticipation, and unease, mirroring Editha's emotional state as she eagerly anticipates George's involvement in the war.
• How does Howells use Editha’s character to develop a theme about war?


  Through Editha's glorification of war and her idealized vision of George’s role in it, Howells critiques the way war is romanticized and the limited, naive perspective of those who support it without understanding its true cost.
• What is the tone of Howells’s Editha?

  The tone is contemptuous and sarcastic, as Howells critiques Editha’s naive and romanticized views of war and patriotism.
• How does Mrs. Gearson's speech contribute to the tone of the story?

  Mrs. Gearson's speech contrasts Editha’s romanticized notions of war with the harsh realities of loss and suffering, emphasizing Howells's disapproval of idealized heroism and patriotism.
• How is Editha’s patriotism depicted in the story?

  Editha's patriotism is shown as superficial and empty, symbolized by the red, white, and blue ribbon on her letter. She parrots patriotic phrases without understanding the true costs of war.
• What does the red, white, and blue ribbon symbolize in Editha?

  The ribbon symbolizes empty idealism and shallow patriotism, reflecting Editha’s naive and superficial view of the war and heroism.
• What does Howells criticize through Editha's character?

  Howells critiques Editha's blind devotion to war, her misplaced sense of heroism, and her lack of moral depth in understanding the true consequences of war.
• How does Howells use Mrs. Gearson to convey his critique of war?

  Mrs. Gearson’s speech highlights the emotional cost of war, rejecting Editha’s view of it as a noble cause and emphasizing the human toll of violence, loss, and grief.
• What is Howells’s view of heroism in Editha?

  Howells is critical of the romanticized idea of heroism in war, showing through Mrs. Gearson’s grief that true heroism involves moral reckoning, not blind sacrifice or glory.
• How does Howells criticize Editha’s understanding of sacrifice in the war?

  Howells exposes Editha’s misguided view of sacrifice, as she sees George’s death as a noble act, while in reality, it is a tragic loss that she is unprepared to fully understand.
• How does Howells's tone towards Editha differ from Mrs. Gearson's perspective?

  Howells uses irony and sarcasm to expose Editha’s empty idealism, while Mrs. Gearson speaks from a place of deep grief and moral clarity, revealing the devastating consequences of war.
• What is the central message Howells conveys through the characters of Editha and Mrs. Gearson?

  Howells critiques blind patriotism and romanticized heroism, urging readers to confront the real costs of war, including moral and emotional consequences, which Editha and other idealists fail to understand.
• • What is a cause-and-effect relationship in a plot?

  It is the connection between an action (cause) and its outcome (effect). An event triggers a series of related events in the story.
• 1. How does Editha's view of the war affect the plot in Editha?

  Editha’s romanticized view of the war influences George to enlist, leading to his eventual death.
• • How does George feel about the war in Editha?


  George has doubts about going to war but is influenced by Editha’s strong support for it.
• • What might have happened if Editha had not strongly supported the war?

  George might not have enlisted, and the outcome of the story could have been very different.
• • What role does Editha’s influence play in the story’s outcome?

  Editha’s influence on George leads him to enlist in the war, which ultimately results in his death.
• • In the plot of Editha, what is the main cause of George's death?

  The main cause is Editha’s persistent encouragement for George to go to war, despite his doubts.
• • What does the plot of Editha suggest about the impact of personal beliefs on others?

  The plot suggests that strong personal beliefs, like Editha’s idealization of war, can influence others’ decisions and lead to significant consequences.