Short Story Exam

Superman – What is the main conflict?

The conflict is internal as the narrator struggles between childhood innocence and adult understanding.

Superman – What is the main theme?

Coming of age and the loss of innocence.

Superman – Why is memory important?

Memory reshapes childhood experiences and shows how perspective changes over time.

Cathedral – What is the main conflict?

The narrator struggles with emotional blindness jealousy and discomfort around the blind man.

Cathedral – How does the narrator change?

He becomes more open and empathetic after drawing the cathedral.

Cathedral – What does the cathedral symbolize?

Spiritual and emotional connection beyond physical sight.

Cathedral – What is the main theme?

Empathy and human connection.

Sonny’s Blues – What is the central conflict?

Family tension and Sonny’s struggle with addiction and suffering.

Sonny’s Blues – What does music symbolize?

Music symbolizes emotional expression survival and healing.

Sonny’s Blues – What is the main theme?

Suffering redemption and understanding others.

The State – What is the main conflict?

Individual versus government authority.

The State – What is the main theme?

Power control and loss of individuality.

Good People – What is the main conflict?

A couple struggles with a moral decision about an unplanned pregnancy.

Good People – What is the main theme?

Responsibility faith and difficult choices.

Wildwood – What is the main conflict?

Internal conflict involving grief and emotional distance.

Wildwood – What is the main theme?

Loss memory and isolation.

St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves – What is the main conflict?

Instinct versus forced assimilation.

St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves – What is the main theme?

Identity belonging and assimilation.

St. Lucy’s Home for Girls Raised by Wolves – What do the stages represent?

The gradual loss of identity.

Girl – What is the structure of the story?

The story is written as one long sentence.

Girl – What is the main theme?

Gender roles and cultural expectations.

Jesus Shaves – What is the main conflict?

Language and cultural barriers.

Jesus Shaves – What is the main theme?

Miscommunication and identity.

A Good Man Is Hard to Find – What is the main conflict?

Moral beliefs are challenged by violence.

A Good Man Is Hard to Find – What is the main theme?

Grace redemption and morality.

The Things They Carried – What is the main conflict?

Emotional and physical burdens of war.

The Things They Carried – What is the main theme?

War memory and storytelling.

Why I Live at the P.O. – Who is the narrator?

The narrator is an unnamed woman nicknamed Sister, who moves into the tiny, one-person local post office in China Grove, Mississippi. She leaves her family home due to intense sibling rivalry, jealousy, and perceived favoritism following her sister Stella-Rondo’s dramatic return with a child. 

Why I Live at the P.O. – What is the main theme?

Perspective and isolation.

TERMS – What is Escape Literature?

Purely for entertainment.

TERMS – What is Interpretative Literature?

Literature that broadens awareness of life.

TERMS – What is Commercial Fiction?

Fiction that meets broad audience tastes.

TERMS – What is Plot?

The sequence of incidents or events in a story.

TERMS – What is Conflict?

A clash of actions ideas desires or wills.

TERMS – What is Climax?

The turning point where action stops rising and begins to fall.

TERMS – What is Denouement?

The portion of the plot that reveals the outcome.

TERMS – Who is the Protagonist?

The central character of a story.

TERMS – Who is the Antagonist?

The force opposing the protagonist.

TERMS – What is a Dilemma?

A choice between two undesirable options.

TERMS – What is a Surprise Ending?

A sudden twist of action.

TERMS – What is an Indeterminate Ending?

An ending with no definite conclusion.

TERMS – What is Direct Presentation?

The author directly tells what a character is like.

TERMS – What is Indirect Presentation?

The author shows characters in action.

TERMS – What are Flat Characters?

Characters defined by one or two traits.

TERMS – What are Rounded Characters?

Characters that are complex and many sided.

TERMS – What are Foil Characters?

Characters that contrast with the main character.

TERMS – What are Stock Characters?

Stereotyped characters.

TERMS – What is a Static Character?

A character who does not change.

TERMS – What is Theme?

The central idea or insight of a story.

TERMS – What is Omniscient Point of View?

Third person narrator with unlimited knowledge.

TERMS – What is Limited Omniscient Point of View?

Third person narrator focused on one character.

TERMS – What is First Person Point of View?

Point of view using I.

TERMS – What is Flashback?

A scene from the past inserted into the story.

TERMS – What is Setting?

The time and place of a story.

TERMS – What is Objective Point of View?

A point of view showing only actions and dialogue.

TERMS – What is a Symbol?

Something that means more than it appears.

TERMS – What is Irony?

A contrast between expectation and reality.

TERMS – What is Verbal Irony?

Saying the opposite of what is meant.

TERMS – What is Dramatic Irony?

When the reader knows more than the character.

TERMS – What is Irony of Situation?

A mismatch between what is expected and what happens.

TERMS – What is Sentimentality?

Writing that aims for emotion over truth.

TERMS – What is Fantasy?

Nonrealistic literature.

TERMS – What is Artistic Unity?

All elements of a story working together.