Literature Test 1 Mrs. Kicinski Cedarville University

by W. Somerset Maugham (p. 6)

"The Appointment in Samarra"

by Aesop (p. 7)

"The Fox and the Grapes"

by Bidpai (p. 8)

"The Camel and His Friends"

by Chuang Tzu (p. 11)

"Independence"

by Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm (pp. 12-14)

"Godfather Death"

by John Updike (pp. 17-21)

"A&P"

by William Faulkner (pp. 31-37)

"A Rose for Emily"

by Katherine Anne Porter (pp. 85-91)

"The Jilting of Granny Weatherall"

by Ernest Hemingway (pp. 167-170)

"A Clean, Well-Lighted Place"

by O. Henry (pp. 184-187)

"The Gift of the Magi"

by Jack London (pp. 127-137)

"To Build a Fire"

by Ursula K. Le Guin (pp. 257-62)

"The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas"

by Shirley Jackson (pp. 262-68)

"The Lottery"

by Edgar Allan Poe (pp. 387-391)

"The Tell-Tale Heart"

by Kate Chopin (pp. 549-51)

"The Story of an Hour"

by Chinua Achebe (pp. 508-10)

"Dead Men's Path"

"The Gospel According to Mark"

(pp. 360-64)

by Stephen Crane

"The Open Boat"

by Flannery O'Connor (pp. 431-44)

"Revelation"

by Zora Neale Hurston (pp. 562-571)

"Sweat"

by Ambrose Bierce (pp. 522-28)

"An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge"

by Ray Bradbury (pp. 137-46)

"A Sound of Thunder"

Definition of Fable

short story, moral lesson, talking animals/objects, explicit moral/meaning, humorous

Definition of Parable

moral lesson, more grounded in reality, implicit moral/meaning rooted in the way Jesus told parables, earthly story with heavenly meaning

Definition of Tale

short story/folklore, doesn't have many details, underdeveloped plot/characters, purpose is entertainment, sometimes has a moral

Definition of short story

longer, more details/descroption, shows rather than tells more believable, more character development

Definition of Plot

how events are arranged in a story

Definition of Exposition

beginning of story that discusses setting/opening events of story

Definition of Drama/Dramatic Conflict

Problem to be solved

Definition of Crisis

a high tension point in the story

Definition of Climax

highest moment of tension, consequences of crisis

Definition of Conclusion/resolution

ending as the result of the climax

Definition of Protagonist

character/central character

Definition of Antagonist

against the protagonist

Definition of Narrator

tells story, is the speaker

Definition of Participant Narrator

participates in story

Definition of Unreliable Narrator

comes across as crazy/ untrustworthy

Definition of Non Participant Narrator

doesn't participate in story

Definition of Omniscient Narrator

knows everything

Definition of Limited Omniscient Narrator

knows 1 characters perspective

Definition of Character

an imagined person who inhabits a story, can be inhuman, characters have motivation - a sufficent reason to behave as they do

Definition of Flat or Round Characters

volume of depth

Definition of static or dynamic characters

how a character changes

Definition of Allusion

characters or their names are references

Definition of Hero

bravery, skill, idealism, sense of purpose

Definition of antihero

lacks one or more of the traits of a hero, usually an ordinary person who is groping, puzzled, cross, mocking, frustrated and isolated

Definition of Tone

authors emotions, attitude

Definition of style

how author conveys emotions

Definition of Irony

something that means the opposite of what its literal meaning is

Definition of dramatic irony

speaker doesn't realize what he's saying, but the reader does

Definition of Irony as a point of view

usually happens when author/narrator have different opinions or viewpoints

Definition of Cosmic Irony

ironic twists of fate/ something in the universe is against you/ can't run from your fate

Definition of Symbol

an object that represents something else

Definition of Allegory

a story in which everything is a stand-in for something else, parallels

Definition of Symbolic Characters

usually flat characters that appear briefly

Definition of Symbolic Acts

gesture with larger significance than usual

Definition of Diction

specific word choice

Definition of Situational Irony

opposite of what you expect to happen happens

Short summary of the story of "The Appointment in Samarra" by W. Somerset Maugham

a merchant tries to escape death after encountering Death in Baghdad, only to find that his efforts to flee lead him directly to his death in Samarra, illustrating the inevitability of fate. The story highlights the futility of trying to avoid one's destiny.

Short summary of the story "The Fox and the Grapes" by Aesop (p. 7)

a hungry fox tries to reach some high-hanging grapes but fails. To save face, he convinces himself that the grapes are sour and not worth having, illustrating the concept of rationalizing failure.

Short summary of the story "The Camel and His Friends" by Bidpai (p. 8)

a camel seeks help from several animals to remove a thorn from his foot, but they all refuse because of his large size and awkwardness. Eventually, a small creature helps him, showing that true friends offer assistance when it's needed, regardless of differences.

Short summary of the story "Independence" by Chuang Tzu (p. 11)

a man seeks advice from a sage on how to live freely and independently. The sage explains that true freedom comes from letting go of attachments and not being swayed by others' expectations. The story emphasizes the importance of inner freedom and following one's own path without being bound by societal pressures.

Short summary of the story "Godfather Death" by Jakob and Wilhelm Grimm

a poor man chooses Death as the godfather for his child, and in return, Death grants him a favor: the ability to know when someone will die. The man becomes rich by helping people avoid death, but he disobeys Death's instructions and is punished when he tries to save a king from dying. The story teaches that no one, not even the rich or powerful, can escape the inevitability of death.

Short summary of the story "A&P" by John Updike (pp. 17-21)

a young man named Sammy works at a grocery store and becomes infatuated with three girls who enter the store in bathing suits. When the store manager scolds the girls for their attire, Sammy impulsively quits his job in an attempt to impress them. The story explores themes of youth, rebellion, and the consequences of impulsive decisions.

Short summary of "A Rose for Emily" by William Faulkner (pp. 31-37)

the story follows the life of Emily Grierson, an eccentric woman from a once-prominent family. After her father's death, she isolates herself, and the townspeople gossip about her strange behavior. The shocking discovery of her deceased lover's body in her home reveals the extent of her loneliness and obsession.

Short summary of the story "The Jilting of Granny Weatherall" by Katherine Anne Porter (pp. 85-91)

Granny Weatherall reflects on her life as she nears death. She recalls being abandoned by her fiancé years ago, and in her final moments, she feels betrayed again when her family doesn't meet her expectations. The story explores themes of regret, resilience, and the complexities of aging.

Short summary of the story "A Clean, Well-Lighted Place" by Ernest Hemingway (pp. 167-170)

two waiters at a café discuss an old man who regularly comes in to drink alone. One waiter is sympathetic to the man's loneliness, while the other is indifferent, revealing contrasting views on life and the search for meaning. The story explores themes of isolation, despair, and the human need for dignity.

Short summary of the story "The Gift of the Magi" by O. Henry (pp. 184-187)

a young married couple, Jim and Della, sacrifice their most prized possessions to buy each other Christmas gifts. Della sells her long hair to buy a chain for Jim's watch, while Jim sells his watch to buy combs for Della's hair. Their selfless acts of love highlight the irony of their sacrifices and the true meaning of giving.

Short summary of the story "To Build a Fire" by Jack London (pp. 127-137)

a man ventures alone into the Yukon wilderness in extreme cold, despite being warned of the dangers. When he falls into a creek and his fire fails to start, he realizes too late that his lack of respect for nature and his own limitations will lead to his death. The story emphasizes the harshness of nature and the consequences of overconfidence.

Short summary of the story "The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas" by Ursula K. Le Guin (pp. 257-62)

the people of Omelas live in a utopian society where everyone is happy, but their prosperity depends on the suffering of a single child locked in a basement. The citizens are told of this child's misery, and while most accept it, some choose to walk away from Omelas, unable to live with the moral cost of their happiness. The story explores themes of sacrifice, morality, and the price of utopia.

Short summary of the story "The Lottery" by Shirley Jackson (pp. 262-68)

the residents of a small town gather for an annual lottery in which one person is randomly selected to be sacrificed. The townspeople, including close family members, eagerly participate in the brutal ritual, revealing the dark side of tradition and blind conformity. The story explores themes of societal violence, the dangers of tradition, and human cruelty.

Short summary of the story "The Tell-Tale Heart" by Edgar Allan Poe (pp. 387-391)

an unnamed narrator describes how he carefully plans and murders an old man whose "vulture-like" eye bothers him. After hiding the body, the narrator becomes increasingly paranoid as he hears the beating of the old man's heart coming from beneath the floorboards. Driven mad by guilt, he confesses to the crime, believing the heart's sound has revealed his deed.

Short summary of the story "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin (pp. 549-51)

Mrs. Mallard learns that her husband has died in a tragic accident, and she initially feels grief, but soon experiences a sense of freedom and relief. As she envisions her new life without him, she unexpectedly sees her husband walk through the door alive. The shock of his return causes her death, and the story highlights themes of marriage, freedom, and the constraints of societal expectations.

Short summary of the story "Dead Men's Path" by Chinua Achebe (pp. 508-10)

a young, idealistic headmaster named Michael Obi is assigned to a school in a rural village and insists on blocking a traditional path used by the villagers to honor their ancestors. His decision leads to conflict with the villagers, who see the path as sacred, and when tragedy strikes, Obi realizes the importance of respecting local customs and beliefs. The story explores themes of cultural conflict, pride, and the consequences of ignoring tradition.

Short summary of the story "The Gospel According to Mark" (pp. 360-64)

a young man named Baltasar Espinosa stays on a remote ranch with an illiterate peasant family and reads them the Gospel of Mark. The family, deeply influenced by the story of Christ, begins to see Espinosa as a messianic figure. In a chilling twist, they ultimately crucify him, believing they are fulfilling a divine purpose, highlighting themes of misunderstanding, faith, and fate.

Short summary of the story "The Open Boat" by Stephen Crane (pp. 201-17)

four shipwrecked men—a captain, a cook, an oiler, and a correspondent—struggle to survive in a small boat as they fight against the relentless sea. Despite their efforts to reach the shore, nature remains indifferent to their fate, and the strongest among them, the oiler, tragically drowns. The story explores themes of human resilience, brotherhood, and the power of nature's indifference.

Short summary of the story "Revelation" by Flannery O'Connor (pp. 431-44)

Mrs. Turpin, a self-righteous Southern woman, judges others based on class and race while waiting in a doctor's office. After a young woman unexpectedly attacks her and calls her a "wart hog from hell," Mrs. Turpin experiences a spiritual crisis. In a vision, she sees people she once considered beneath her entering heaven before her, forcing her to confront her own pride and self-deception.

Short summary of the story "Sweat" by Zora Neale Hurston (pp. 562-571)

Delia, a hardworking washwoman, endures years of abuse from her cruel husband, Sykes. When Sykes brings a poisonous snake into their home to terrorize her, his plan backfires, and he is fatally bitten while Delia watches, refusing to help. The story explores themes of oppression, resilience, and poetic justice.

Short summary of the story "An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge" by Ambrose Bierce (pp. 522-28)

a Confederate sympathizer, Peyton Farquhar, is sentenced to death by hanging. As he falls, he experiences what seems to be a miraculous escape and journey home, only to realize in the final moment that it was all an illusion in his mind before he dies. The story explores themes of time, perception, and the thin line between life and death.

Short summary of the story "A Sound of Thunder" by Ray Bradbury (pp. 137-46)

a man named Eckels joins a time-traveling safari to hunt a Tyrannosaurus rex, but despite strict rules, he panics and steps off the designated path. When they return to the present, they find that his small mistake—crushing a butterfly—has drastically altered history. The story explores the butterfly effect, the dangers of recklessness, and the consequences of seemingly insignificant actions.