“Roman Fever”by Edith Wharton

Using your own words, define the following:

Jealousy

Envy

resentment against a rival, a person

enjoying success or advantage, etc., or against another’s success or advantage itself. a feeling of discontent or

covetousness with regard to another's advantages,

success, possessions, etc.

Find a partner and discuss the following:

1. What do jealousy and envy have in common?

2. Why are jealousy and envy dangerous? Are they?

3. Can jealousy or envy ever be positive?

Using your own words, define the following:

Revenge

Vengeance

to exact punishment or expiation for a

wrong on behalf of, especially in a

resentful or vindictive spiritinfliction of injury, harm,

humiliation, or the like, on a person by another who has been harmed by that

person

Find a partner and discuss the following:

1. What do revenge and vengeance have in common?

2. Why is revenge and vengeance dangerous? Is it?

3. Can revenge or vengeance every be justified?4. How are the ideas of jealousy and envy

related to revenge and vengeance?

To help you focus as you read, you should know . . .

• Two middle-aged upper-class American women are sitting on the restaurant terrace of their hotel overlooking Rome after lunch. They have known each other for many years (they originally met in Rome many years ago), and their daughters (who are also friends) have gone out for the afternoon.

• The two women compare their own youthful experiences of Rome with those possible for young women of their daughters’ generation.

To help you focus as you read, you should know . . .

• Roman fever isn’t just the title of a short story. Roman fever might sound like something you’d like to have. In fact, in the 1920s, Roman fever had another meaning. Turns out it's just malaria. Back in the day, people thought you'd contract the disease from being out at night in secluded areas. So basically, you get "Roman fever" in the same way you get a bad reputation.

• "Fevers" in general connoted having gone a little crazy, as they still do today—like Spring Fever, Cabin Fever, Bieber Fever—you name it. What exactly are these women crazy for? Lust, attention, excitement? Let’s find out.

To help you focus as you read, you should know . . .

Who Are Our Main Characters?

• Grace Ansley—A middle-aged American woman who is reminiscing with her friend in Rome

• Horace Ansley—Grace’s husband• Barbara Ansley—Grace’s daughter• Alida Slade—A middle-aged American woman,

Grace Ansley’s friend• Delphin Slade—Alida’s husband• Jenny Slade—Alida’s daughter

“Roman Fever” was first published

in the magazine Liberty in 1934, and was later

included in Wharton's last

short-story collection, The

World Over.

“Roman Fever”

Page 906–Read the short

story by Edith Wharton.

As you read, find

examples of major

themes that are present

in the story. You should

have at least 3 examples

for each theme.

What you need to look for:• Friendship• Jealousy• Betrayal• Revenge• The Ever-Present Past

This piece can also be found on my website as a link!

There will be a quiz Tuesday at the beginning of class over the story!

STOP HERE! The remaining slides are for Tuesday!

Step 1On your own piece of paper, select

and write down two quotes that you think are the most important to

the story. Write a 2-3 sentence explanation for each of your quotes.

Step 2In your table group, share your quotes and discuss what you

have each chosen and why you chose it.

Step 3As a group, choose one quote to share with the class. Choose a

back up quote just in case another group has the same quote.

What was Wharton thinking?

Wharton hints at the possibility that Barbara Ansley and Jenny Slade will

repeat the actions of their mothers. What are some of the parallels she creates

between Barbara and Grace/Jenny and Alida?

What do you think?

1. Why didn't Grace publicly acknowledge her love for Delphin and force him to choose between her and Alida?

2. Do you believe Grace told Delphin about her pregnancy?3. Do you believe Grace told Horace that he was not

Barbara's biological father?4. Do you believe Grace told Barbara that she was Jenny's

biological half-sister? 5. Why do you think Wharton calls her story “Roman

Fever”?