In lines 8–9, when the author’s grandmother says, “Hold it, let me leave the room, lightning’s going to strike,” what does she mean?
The story that Granddaddy is about to tell is a lie.
100
According to the author, which is not a way to categorize horror stories?
You should not categorize by subjects.
100
Which is the most unlikely setting for a horror story?
A bright, beautiful park would be an unlikely setting.
100
What is a quest?
It is a search.
200
Why does the author say she enjoys scary stories?
Her grandfather liked them.
200
Why does the author say it is important not to “lose your sense of fear”?
It leads people to be more cautious.
200
What is the author’s purpose for writing this literary criticism?
Her purpose is to define a genre.
200
Why is the suspense in a horror story greater than in other stories?
Readers know from the start that something bad is going to happen.
200
What does intensify mean?
It means to grow stronger.
300
What does the author mean in lines 37–42 when she says, “What is my branch? A good scary story”?
A scary story is a good attention-getter.
300
What is an example of the author’s informal style?
“I’d get closer to Pa ‘cause I wanted to watch the people listening to him.”
300
In horror stories, what do readers expect a strong connection between?
Readers expect a strong connection between the story events and the setting.
300
What are the two sources of horror that the author describes?
lines 72–84 the author says that one source of horror is from inside a person, with something internal going wrong causing the person to become a monster.
The other source of horror is one in which the threat comes from outside to “invade the character and then force the evil out again.”
300
What are places that are parallel?
They are similar in some ways.
400
Which example shows that the author has a humorous style?
“So I remained fat for the rest of my life. That’s why no monsters have ever bothered me.”
400
What is the author’s counterargument to those who say she should not tell scary stories to children?
Children can frighten themselves, even without scary stories.
400
What does the author say about defining the horror genre by subjects, such as monsters (reasons) ?
It is not always possible since some horror stories do not have monsters.
400
According to the author (of "Scary Tales"), how are scary stories helpful to children?
The author says that fear is an emotion that “should be exercised” and that scary stories provide that exercise. She says that scary stories are a reminder that it is sometimes important “to think twice” and “be cautious” (lines 52–59).
400
What does justify mean?
It means to prove something is right.
500
What evidence does the author cite to prove that scary tales do not harm children?
She tells about the scary tales that she heard as a child.
500
Why does the author tell scary tales to sixth, seventh, and eighth graders?
She tells them scary tales to get their attention.
500
Give an example (your choice) of one of the following:
Parallel worlds
Source of horror from inside a character
Source of horror from outside a character
Horror theme of good vs. evil
Horror theme of a search for forbidden knowledge
I decide if you're right!!!
500
What evidence in the text (of "Scary Tales") suggests that the author’s grandfather was a good storyteller?
When visitors came, they would ask him to tell a story (lines 2–7).
He knew how to get a reaction from his listeners “at just the right moment in the story” (lines 22–26).
The author says she “loved those days when Grandpa told his scary stories.” (lines 32–33).
500
What is the definition of criteria?
Criteria are the sets of rules or standards by which something is judged.