Short Story Unit Test

Question 1

What is a short story?

Answer 1

A short story is a series of imagined events made to create an effect with a minimum of material.

Question 2

What does a short story have to include?

Answer 2

-One main character
-A single plot
-Limited setting and time frame
-One main effect

Question 3

What is plot?

Answer 3

The sequence of events or incidents of which a story is composed
Exposition→ Rising Action → Climax → Falling Action → Resolution

Question 4

What is theme?

Answer 4

The foundation or underlying idea of the story. It reflects an aspect of life or human experience.

Question 5

What does mood do in a short story?

Answer 5

It suggests a dominant emotion or pattern of emotions

Question 6

What is conflict?

Answer 6

Struggle or tension involving the characters
Person vs. person/self/nature/supernatural

Question 7

What are the five main elements of plot?

Answer 7

Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution/Denouement

Question 8

Exposition

Answer 8

Introduces the inciting incident, which is the main conflict of the story, characters, setting, and tone. It is the beginning of the story.

Question 9

Rising Action

Answer 9

-Plot becomes increasingly complicated
-Various problems arise

Question 10

Climax

Answer 10

-The high point of a story
-The protagonist faces their conflict
-The most action, drama, change, and excitement occurs here
-The reader or audience is unsure of whether the protagonist will be successful

Question 11

Falling Action

Answer 11

-Action following the climax
-Reveals the consequences of what took place in the climax
-The story begins to slow down and work towards its end

Question 12

Resolution

Answer 12

-Problems are solved
-Action comes to an end

Question 13

What is flashback/memoir?

Answer 13

The character begins to tell the story from a time after the events have happened. This technique can be especially effective when showing how a character has changed over time.

Question 14

What is in media res?

Answer 14

Latin for “in the middle of things.” A story that begins in media res, is one that begins in the middle of the plot. Often the beginning can be told through flashback scenes or is left a mystery.

Question 15

What is an archetype?

Answer 15

A recurring pattern within literature
(There are archetypal plots, characters, themes, and settings)

Question 16

What are the types of point of view?

Answer 16

-Omniscient (all knowing)
-Objective (limited knowledge, doesn’t know thoughts)
-Second Person (you are a character in the story)
-First Person (author is a character)

Question 17

What are examples of characters?

Answer 17

Protagonist, Antagonist, Round, Flat, Stock, Innocent, Scapegoat, Temptress, Monster, Underdog, Double/split personality, Trickster, Mentor, Loving Mother, Fairy Godmother

Question 18

What is the Overcoming a Monster plot?

Answer 18

The hero overcomes evil against all odds

Question 19

What is the Rags to Riches plot?

Answer 19

A hero goes from difficult circumstances to great success and wealth

Question 20

What is the Voyage and Return plot?

Answer 20

A hero journeys to new lands, defeats evil, and returns home

Question 21

What is the The Quest plot?

Answer 21

A group goes on a journey with a goal in mind and work together to overcome all obstacles

Question 22

What is the Comedy plot?

Answer 22

Used to show skills and inspire others, it is the transition from the state of confusion to one of enlightenment

Question 23

What is the Tragedy plot?

Answer 23

A tale of the downfall of a villain who chooses the wrong path

Question 24

What is the Rebirth plot?

Answer 24

The villain finds redemption and is reborn as a better person

Question 25

What does setting consist of?

Answer 25

Time, place, weather conditions. social conditions, mood or atmosphere

Question 26

What does the forest represent?

Answer 26

Fertility, home of the Great Mother, symbolically primitive

Question 27

What does a tree represent?

Answer 27

Life and knowledge

Question 28

What does a cave represent?

Answer 28

Turning inward; deep down where a character develops into himself; becomes invisible; in extreme cases can symbolize death

Question 29

What does a mountain represent?

Answer 29

The highest peak; place to gain greatest insight

Question 30

What does a river represent?

Answer 30

A place of reflection or rebirth; crossing borders or new territory; may represent human life or time passing as we follow the river from its mouth

Question 31

What does the sea represent?

Answer 31

Vast, alien, chaotic, dangerous; waves may symbolize measures of time and represent eternity or infinity

Question 32

What does an island represent?

Answer 32

A place of isolation; a simple world unto itself

Question 33

What are the six types of literary conflicts?

Answer 33

Person vs. Person, Person vs. Nature, Person vs. Self, Person vs. Society, Person vs. Supernatural, Person vs. Technology

Question 34

What are the two types of characters?

Answer 34

Round/Dynamic and Flat/Static

Question 35

What is a dynamic character?

Answer 35

They develop or change throughout the story and have a backstory

Question 36

What is a static character?

Answer 36

They stay the same throughout the story, have no depth, and are often used as comedic relief

Question 37

What is the innocent character?

Answer 37

Naïve child, youth, inexperienced adult

Question 38

What is the scapegoat/sacrificial victim character?

Answer 38

The innocent who gets blamed or dies for the sake of others

Question 39

What is the enchantress/temptress character?

Answer 39

The female that exhibits power over others, especially men; sexually charged

Question 40

What is the giant/monster/ogre character?

Answer 40

The beast who is an outcast, evil, grotesque; sometimes misunderstood

Question 41

Who is the underdog character?

Answer 41

The weaker of the two components, the one who is expected to lost

Question 42

Who is the double or split personality character?

Answer 42

A character with two aspects to their character; or a character that represents another within the text

Question 43

Who is the trickster character?

Answer 43

Represents chaos and destruction; animalistic forces

Question 44

Who is the Great Teacher/Mentor/ Wise Sage character?

Answer 44

Wise person who teaches valuable life lessons

Question 45

Who is the loving mother character?

Answer 45

True maternal instincts, caring, sacrificing, etc.

Question 46

Who is the Fairy Godmother character?

Answer 46

Comforts and directs child, especially when he or she is confused and needs guidance

Question 47

What is theme?

Answer 47

-The main concept in a story -A story can have multiple themes -Themes usually reflect the human condition

Question 48

What are the four types of point of view?

Answer 48

First person Second person Third person limited Third person omniscient

Question 49

What is the difference between limited and omniscient?

Answer 49

Omniscient is where the narrator knows what everyone is doing and their thoughts while limited follows all the characters but doesn't know their thoughts