Better than the Moives
Who is the main character of Better Than the Movies?
Liz Buxbaum.
What is Catherine Pinkerton’s dream career?
A Baker
What vegetable was traditionally carved into lanterns before pumpkins became popular?
Turnips
In The Raven, what single word does the raven repeatedly say?
Nevermore.
In Never Bet the Devil Your Head, what kind of behavior does Toby Dammit have?
He is reckless, foolish, and constantly makes bad choices.
Why does Liz initially dislike Wes?
She sees him as annoying and assumes he is a stereotypical popular guy.
What is the name of the mysterious Joker who captures Catherine’s heart?
Jest
What date is All Souls’ Day?
November 2.
In The Tell-Tale Heart, what does the narrator become obsessed with about the old man?
His eye.
What genre is Edgar Allan Poe especially famous for?
Gothic horror / dark fiction.
Why does Liz want to go to prom so badly?
She has a specific romantic fantasy about how the night should go and hopes it will bring her closer to Michael.
What famous Wonderland character does Catherine eventually become?
The Queen of Hearts.
What was Stingy Jack said to have tricked?
The Devil
In Annabel Lee, what is the speaker grieving?
The death of Annabel Lee.
Poe often tells stories from the point of view of characters who may not be completely trustworthy. What are these called?
Unreliable narrators.
Why is the title Better Than the Movies important to the story?
Liz learns that real love can be better than the unrealistic romance she has always seen in movies.
Catherine’s story is a retelling connected to which famous classic book?
Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.
My name means “holy evening,” and I occur on October 31. What am I?
Halloween
What does the beating heart represent in The Tell-Tale Heart?
The narrator’s guilt and growing psychological distress.
What is one technique Poe uses to make his stories unsettling even when nothing supernatural is happening?
suspense, an unreliable narrator, dark imagery, foreshadowing, repetition, and psychological tension.
What does Liz learn about the difference between a “perfect” romance and a genuine relationship?
A genuine relationship can be messy and unexpected but still be more meaningful than a perfect fantasy.
How does Catherine change from the beginning to the end of the novel?
She begins hopeful and determined to pursue her dreams but becomes increasingly hurt, angry, and hardened by the events that happen to her.
What was the purpose of bonfires during Samhain traditions?
They were part of ceremonial practices and were associated with protection, purification, and the seasonal transition.
Which Poe story is written as a confession to convince the reader that the narrator is sane?
The Tell-Tale Heart
This famous Poe poem features a grieving narrator sitting alone at night when a mysterious bird enters his chamber and repeatedly gives the same haunting answer.
What is The Raven?