Plot
Elements of Short Stories
La Puerta 1
La Puerta 2
Mixed Bag
100

Name the part of any story where we learn about characters and the setting.

Exposition

100

The way the story is organized or told

Plot

100

Who are the main characters in the story?

Who is the protagonist and who is the antagonist?

Sinesio (husband)- protagonist

Faustina (wife)- antagonist

Aurelio (brother) minor character

100

What does Sinesio take with him to get money?

the door of the house

100

What is a protagonist? Antagonist?

The protagonist is the main character that is going through conflict. 


The antagonist is the other main character causing conflict for another character in the story.

200

Name of the highest point in the story, the most intense moment or turning point.

Climax

200

Item or picture that represents something else, like an idea.

symbol

200

What is the setting of "La Puerta"?

Village in Mexico

200

What does Sinesio want to do with the money he wins?

Leave the country to the USA and pay off debts to better his family's life

200

Which of these do all the short stories we have read have in common?

a. they are all cliffhangers

b. they all have instances of irony

c. they are non-fiction

b. they all have instances of irony

300

The end of the story when the conflict is resolved is called the_________.

Resolution

300

What is a theme?

Message or lesson learned from a story

300

What are some symbols in "La Puerta" and what do they represent? You just have to mention one.

door: hope and security for his family

lottery ticket: Sinesio's dreams of a better life

300

What is the main conflict in "La Puerta"? What kind of conflict is it?

Sinesio is desperate to claim the lottery ticket stuck to the door. 

external: he is fighting to get the ticket unstuck

internal: he is desperate for a better life 

300

Other than the place where a story occurred, what else can the setting include?

the time period the story happened

400

Events leading up to the climax are called_________.

Rising actions

400

What is a flashback?

When an author tells past events in the middle of a story in order to explain current events.

400

What is different about Sinesio and Faustina? What kind of people are they?

Sinesio: optimistic and hopeful about his dreams of winning the lottery

Faustina: realist who doesn't believe in dreams or the lottery and thinks it's a waste of money

400

What is the main theme in "La Puerta"?

Hope for a better life, sacrifice and desperation to make a dream come true

400

What is the difference between 1st person and 3rd person POV?

1st person uses words like I, me, my

3rd person uses words like they, them

500

Part of the plot after the climax

Falling Action

500

What is foreshadowing?

When the author gives us clues about what might occur later in the story.
500

How does Siniesio change from the beginning to the end of the story?

He begins the story by being hopeful about the ticket, but by the end of the story, he is desperate to claim the ticket

500

List 2 themes we see in "La Puerta" and give an example of how it is shown in the story.

hope: when he buys the lottery ticket

sacrifice: when he takes the door with him

risk: when he heads off to the bus even though he might not make it in time

500

Name all the parts of a plot in order.

1. exposition

2. rising actions

3.climax

4. falling actions

5. resolution

600

What is the purpose of the rising action in a story?

To create tension, suspense, and further develop and increase the conflict in the story

600

What is tone?

The attitude an author has about a subject or character in the story.

600

Give an example of irony from "La Puerta"

He sacrifices his family's security (the door) for a small chance at claiming the ticket and getting a better life. It is not guaranteed. 

600

2 questions:

a. What is Sinesio's plan in the  beginning of the story? 

b. What is different about how he reacts to the lottery and how his wife reacts to the lottery?


a. He wants to cross to the United States, work for a year, save money and start a small business.

b. She does not agree with him buying the lottery ticket as she thinks it's a waste of money. She is more realistic about their life. Sinesio is a dreamer and optimistic and thinks he has a chance to win the lottery even though his chances are very small.

600

What is irony? Give an example.

When the opposite of what is expected to happen occurs. A pilot has a fear of heights.

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