Short Stories Flashcards
1
Q
The Dinner Party
A
- author: Mona Gardner
- genre: literary fiction
- plot: hostess stays calm while knowing a snake is in the room
- theme: expectations were stereotypical for men and women
- tone: tense and suspenseful
- mood: tense; the air of unease
- characterization;
- hostess is calm and shows inner intelligence
- the British officer is a traditionally masculine person who stereotypes women
conflict: the life-threatening situation with the snake and the women being stereotyped
POV: third person
verb tense: past tense
2
Q
The Veldt
A
- author: Ray Bradbury
- genre: scientific fiction
- plot: technology affecting the family
- theme: advancements in technology can lead to human detachment
- tone: suspenseful and cautious
- mood: dark and unsettling
- characterization;
- George Hadley is overall passive and an irresponsible father
- Lydia Hadley is more aware of the negative impact of technology
- Peter and Wendy have an extreme addiction to the Nursery
- conflict: irresponsible parenting and dangers of technology
- POV: third person
verb tense: past tense
3
Q
The Wife’s Story
A
- author: Ursula K. Le Guin
- genre: fantasy
- plot: husband originally a wolf and transforming into a human
- theme: love can be complex and transformative
- tone: reflective and emotional
- mood: starts intimate; grows to be tense with extreme unease
- characterization;
- The wife was loving towards her husband but had to play the “mom” role towards the end showing her strength
- The husband’s transformation into a man reveals layers of identity
The children represent innocence - conflict: husband’s transformation into a man questions wife’s love
- POV: first person
- verb tense: past tense
4
Q
The Most Dangerous Game
A
- author: Richard Cornell
- genre: suspenseful thriller
- plot: Rainsford crashes onto an island, survives and kills Zaroff after 3 day test
- theme: understanding the psychology of human vulnerability
- tone: suspenseful, danger
- mood: menacing, anticipation
- characterization;
- Rainsford shows evolution after witnessing the transformation from hunter to hunted
- Zaroff’s cold nature highlights his gradual decay from power
- conflict: Zaroff pursues Rainsford after the wreck causing strategy and instinct needed by Rainsfordf
- POV: third-person
- verb tense: past tense
5
Q
The Cask of Amontillado
A
- author: Edgar Allen Poe
- genre: gothic fiction
- plot: Montresor plans revenge on Fortunato due to his ego and belief he’s a connoisseur
- theme: the dangers of revenge
- tone: sinister
- mood: dark humor, unease
- characterization;
- Montresor shows his bad narration by trying to rationalize his crime although he does explain his intentions
- shows pride in judging wines as it leads him to be distracted down to the catacombs and killed
- conflict: Fortunato constructs a plan and kills Fortunato, showing revenge danger
- POV: first person
- verb tense: past tense
