Plot/Literary Elements
In a story about a missing student, the author introduces the school, the main characters, and their relationships before anything goes wrong. Which part of the plot structure is this?
What is exposition?
Montresor tells Fortunato that his health is important while secretly leading him toward his death. What literary device is demonstrated by the contradiction between his words and his true intentions?
What is verbal irony?
An author describes a character's eyes as wide with wonder and shows the character gently touching unfamiliar objects. Which literary device appeals to the reader's senses?
What is imagery?
At the beginning of the story, Rainsford believes hunting is an enjoyable sport. What role does he occupy when Zaroff begins hunting him?
What is the hunted/prey?
A narrator says, “Marcus was impatient and quick to anger.” The narrator directly tells readers what Marcus is like. Which characterization method is used?
What is direct characterization?
A character discovers a hidden letter that reveals a family secret. This discovery sets the main conflict in motion. What part of the plot structure does this represent?
What is the inciting incident?
Fortunato's desire to prove his expertise in wine makes him ignore warning signs and continue into the catacombs. What character flaw does Montresor exploit?
What is pride?
In “The Scarlet Ibis,” the narrator's pride motivates him to teach Doodle to walk, but that same pride contributes to Doodle's suffering. What larger message about pride does this suggest?
What is pride can motivate people, but excessive or selfish pride can also hurt those they love?
Rainsford creates traps and uses the jungle to slow down his pursuer. What do these actions reveal about his character?
What is he is resourceful, intelligent, and capable of adapting to danger? This is indirect characterization through actions btw!
A character slams a door, refuses to listen, and interrupts everyone during an argument. Readers infer the character's personality from these behaviors. Which STEAL category is being used?
What are actions?
A reader knows that a character is walking into a trap, but the character believes everything is safe. What type of irony is this?
What is dramatic irony?
Poe describes the catacombs as damp, dark, and filled with human bones. Explain how these details affect the reader.
What is they create an eerie, unsettling mood and build suspense?
The scarlet ibis is fragile, far from its natural environment, and eventually dies. How does the bird's fate connect to Doodle's fate?
What is the bird symbolizes Doodle's fragility and foreshadows his death?
Zaroff has refined manners, wealth, and an impressive mansion, yet he murders people for entertainment. What contradiction makes him an example of an oxymoronic character?
What is he appears civilized and sophisticated, but participates in the most barbaric act of murder?
A student wants to tell the truth about cheating but fears losing a close friend's trust. The student struggles with competing feelings and choices. What type of conflict is this?
What is character vs. self, or internal conflict?
A story follows a character who becomes increasingly jealous, makes increasingly harmful decisions, and eventually destroys a friendship. The message is that uncontrolled jealousy can damage relationships. What is this message called?
What is a theme?
Montresor tells his story as if his revenge were reasonable and justified, but he provides only his own perspective and never clearly explains the original insult. Why should readers question his account?
What is he is an unreliable narrator whose account is biased?
Imagine a story in which a family of birds fights over territory, and their struggle represents nations fighting for power until both sides are destroyed. What literary form uses a story to communicate a deeper political or social meaning?
What is an allegory?
Rainsford's experience as prey forces him to understand the fear and vulnerability of animals he previously hunted. What kind of character development does this demonstrate?
What is he is a dynamic character because his perspective changes during the story?
A character has many different motivations, strengths, weaknesses, and contradictions. The character feels realistic rather than being defined by one trait. What kind of character is this?
What is a round character?
A narrator describes a series of events but leaves out important information about their own actions, making readers question whether the account is trustworthy. What type of narrator might this be?
What is an unreliable narrator?
Montresor carefully plans his revenge and remains controlled throughout the murder. Explain how Poe's choice to make Montresor calm rather than openly furious affects the story.
What is Montresor carefully plans his revenge and remains controlled throughout the murder to build suspense and show how calculate/evil Montresor is?
The narrator recalls his childhood actions as an adult who now understands the harm his pride caused. How does looking back on these events affect the story?
What is the retrospective narration reveals the narrator's guilt and regret, helping readers understand that consequences of the narrator's actions?
Two characters have opposing beliefs about whether hunting humans can be justified. One considers it a sport; the other considers it murder. How does this contrast help develop the story?
What is the characters act as foils, highlighting their opposing moral beliefs and helping develop the conflict between them.
A character fights against a dangerous storm while trying to reach safety. Explain the type of conflict and whether it is internal or external.
What is character vs. nature; it is an external conflict?