Character, Conflict & Plot
A character desperately wants to admit that she made a mistake, but she is afraid of disappointing her family. What type of conflict is this? (think inside vs outside)
Internal / Character vs. Self. The struggle occurs within the character because she must decide whether to admit her mistake despite her fear.
Which statement is a theme rather than simply a topic?
A. Courage reflects
B. Friendship
C. Difficult experiences can help people discover their own strength.
D. Family
C. Difficult experiences can help people discover their own strength.
“The exhausted trees begged the clouds for rain.”
Identify the literary device AND explain what words helped you identify it.
Personification. Trees are given the human ability to “beg.”
The abandoned playground sat silently beneath the gray sky. A rusty swing moved slowly in the wind.
Which mood is BEST created?
A. Celebratory
B. Gloomy
C. Excited
D. Humorous
B — Gloomy. Evidence may include abandoned, gray, rusty, silently, etc.
Marcus looked at the stage. His hands trembled, but he took one final breath and stepped toward the microphone.
Which trait is BEST revealed by Marcus's actions?
A. Selfish
B. Courageous
C. Careless
D. Dishonest
B — Courageous. His hands tremble, showing fear, but he still steps toward the microphone.
After repeatedly ignoring warnings about an approaching storm, Malik decides to leave his campsite. As soon as he reaches his car, heavy rain begins flooding the area.
Which event would MOST LIKELY represent the climax?
A. Malik arrives at the campsite.
B. Malik hears warnings about the storm.
C. Malik finally decides to leave the campsite.
D. Malik reaches his car.
C. His decision to leave changes what happens next and serves as the turning point.
Nia ignored the directions because she believed she already knew what to do. After completing the entire project, she realized she had used the wrong format and had to start over.
Identify:
CAUSE: __________
EFFECT: __________
Cause: Nia ignored the directions because she thought she knew what to do.
Effect: She used the wrong format and had to redo the project. Her decision directly created the problem.
Compare:
Sentence 1: The hallway was crowded.
Sentence 2: The hallway was a river of students rushing toward the doors.
Why might an author choose Sentence 2 instead of Sentence 1?
A. It gives the exact number of students.
B. It creates a stronger image of the movement and crowd.
C. It proves that the hallway contains water.
D. It changes the setting.
B. It creates a stronger image of the movement and crowd.
An author describes a childhood memory using words such as:
warm, treasured, familiar, unforgettable
Which tone is MOST likely?
A. Nostalgic
B. Furious
C. Critical
D. Frightened
A — Nostalgic. The positive, affectionate words show the author's fond attitude toward the memory.
Jordan arrives at his new school and worries that he will not make friends. Throughout the day, several awkward situations make his worries worse.
Which part of the plot would these events MOST LIKELY represent?
A. Exposition
B. Rising Action
C. Climax
D. Resolution
B. Rising Action
A character begins a story believing that asking for help is a sign of weakness. After struggling alone and eventually accepting help from a friend, the character realizes that relying on others can sometimes be a strength.
How does the character's change help develop the story?
A. It establishes the setting.
B. It helps reveal a lesson or theme.
C. It introduces a new conflict.
D. It creates a flashback.
B. The character's change helps reveal a larger lesson/theme about accepting help.
Two students read the same story.
Student A: “The theme is perseverance.”
Student B: “The theme is that perseverance can help people continue working toward their goals even when success does not come immediately.”
Which student gives the stronger theme statement, and why?
Student B. A theme is a complete message about life/human nature, not simply a one-word topic.
“The cool blue moon moved through the room.”
Which sound device is MOST noticeable in the line?
A. Alliteration
B. Assonance
C. Consonance
D. Rhyme
Assonance
Determine the rhyme scheme:
The stars appeared at night
The moon began to glow
The darkness filled with light
While quiet rivers flow
Then identify the pairs of rhyming words.
ABAB. night/light; glow/flow.
For three years, Amari refused to enter another race after losing an important competition. When her coach asked her to compete again, she remembered standing at the finish line years earlier, watching another runner receive the medal.
What narrative device or how does the author help you remember an event from the past?
Flashback. The narration shifts to an earlier event to provide background/explain Amari's current hesitation or fear.
Goha says he will win the argument about the calf legs “even if it means my very life!” He later pretends to be dead as part of his plan.
Which character trait is BEST revealed by these actions?
A. Generous
B. Stubborn
C. Timid
D. Careless
B — Stubborn
Icarus receives advice from Daedalus but makes choices that lead to serious consequences.
Which theme is BEST supported by this situation?
A. Parents always understand their children.
B. Freedom is more important than responsibility.
C. Ignoring wise advice can lead to harmful consequences.
D. People should never take risks.
C. Icarus's decision to disregard Daedalus's warning leads to serious consequences.
Nye writes: “The sad room smiles again when a pot of green is placed on a white tablecloth.”
Identify the device and explain what this description reveals about Lucy's belief about nature.
Personification. The room is given the human ability to smile; it shows Lucy believes adding nature can bring life/happiness/positive change to a place.
When analyzing a poem, why is it stronger to explain how imagery or word choice creates a mood rather than simply naming the mood?
A. Mood can only be determined through rhyme.
B. Analysis requires evidence showing how the poet creates the feeling.
C. Every poem has more than one speaker.
D. Imagery and mood mean the same thing.
B. Analysis requires evidence showing how the poet creates the feeling.
After weeks without rain, the flowers bent toward the dry soil. “Please,” they seemed to whisper to the silent sky.
Identify:
1. One example of personification.
2. The mood created.
3. How the personification helps create that mood.
Flowers “whisper” = personification;
mood could be desperate/somber;
giving flowers the ability to plead emphasizes how badly rain is needed.
Put the five major parts of plot in the correct order:
A. Climax
B. Resolution
C. Exposition
D. Rising Action
E. Falling Action
Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, Resolution
Throughout “Allied with Green,” Lucy notices how people benefit from nature but also recognizes that people often fail to appreciate or care for it.
Which theme is BEST developed by these ideas?
A. Nature is beautiful when people are mesmerized by it.
B. Cities should contain more plants.
C. People should appreciate and actively care for nature because it contributes to their lives.
D. Lucy prefers plants to people.
C. Accept relevant evidence/ideas showing that people benefit from nature while often taking it for granted or that nature requires active care.
Read:
“Hope was a tiny candle refusing to go dark.”
Answer BOTH:
1. What literary device is used?
2. What does the comparison suggest about hope?
Metaphor. Hope is compared to a candle; the comparison suggests that hope can remain even during difficult/dark circumstances.
Softly the silver streams slide by,
Silent beneath the sleeping sky.
Identify ONE sound device being used.
Alliteration is the clearest answer: repeated /s/ sounds in “softly,” “silver,” “streams,” “slide,” “silent,” “sleeping,” “sky.” The repeated soft sound creates a smooth, quiet/peaceful effect.
Andre had failed twice before. As he stared at the application, doubt knocked loudly at the door of his mind. He almost threw the paper away. Instead, Andre picked up his pen and began writing.
Answer ALL FOUR:
1. What is Andre's internal conflict?
2. Identify one example of figurative language.
3. What does that figurative language suggest about Andre's feelings?
4. State a possible theme.
1. Andre struggles with doubt/fear of failing again versus trying again. 2. “Doubt knocked loudly at the door of his mind.” 3. Personification shows his doubt is persistent/powerful and difficult to ignore. 4. Possible theme: Past failure should not prevent people from trying again / perseverance requires overcoming self-doubt.