Language

The language of the story “The Storm” by Kate Chopin is usually easy to follow and understand. The language used by the narrator is very descriptive, with plenty of imagery.

Narration is mixed with dialogue, which gives the story dynamism and helps the author convey more about the characters and their relationships with each other. Similes, metaphors, personification, repetition, and symbols help the author add deeper meanings to the story in a creative way.

Choice of words

The dialogue reflects Calixta and Bobinôt’s French origins through a mix of French and English language. This mix is emphasized in Calixta’s speech, when she uses expressions such as “Dieu sait” (l. 51) and “J’vous rponds” (l. 125). Although Alcée has French origins as well, a fact which is revealed in one of Chopin’s earlier stories, “At the ‘Cadian Ball” (1892), he speaks in a more formal manner, which helps the author suggests that he and Calixta are from different social classes.

The distinction between the voices of the characters and the narrator's voice is very clear for most of the story. The characters mostly use informal language, while the narration is very formal. This is made obvious in a quotation which unites the dialect spoken by Bobinôt and the narrator’s formal language:

'My! Bibi, w'at will yo' mama say! You ought to be ashame'. You oughta' put on those good pants. Look at 'em! An' that mud on yo' collar! (...) Bibi was the picture of pathetic resignation. Bobinôt was the embodiment of serious solicitude (...) (ll. 107-110)

Imagery

Imagery plays an important part in the story and is constructed in connection with the setting from the beginning of the story. At first, the storm creates the circumstances in which Calixta will have an affair with Alcée. Her son Bibi and her husband Bobinôt have to wait at the store because of the “sombre clouds that were rolling with sinister intention from the west, accompanied by a sullen, threatening roar” (ll. 3-4), and so Calixta is alone at home.

The storm also makes Alcée look for shelter at Calixta’s house – when he arrives, “the big rain drops began to fall.” (ll. 26-27).

Calixta’s bedroom, “dim and mysterious” (l. 48), with...