English 8 Midterm Study Guide

MONSTER

WALTER DEAN MYERS​

In this section, you can review important details from the book and quiz yourself on what you'll need to know!

​SECTION 1

Multiple Choice

What was Richard "Bobo" Evan's role in the crime?

• He was the "lookout" for the crime.

• He was the one who found the body of Mr. Nesbit.

• He entered and robbed the store with James King.

• He shot Mr. Nesbit.

Multiple Choice

What was Steve Harmon's alleged role in the crime?

• He was the "lookout" for the crime.

• He was the one who found the body of Mr. Nesbit.

• He entered and robbed the store with James King.

• He shot Mr. Nesbit.

Multiple Choice

What "sign" were Bobo and King waiting for from Steve before entering the drugstore?

• Steve was supposed to call them on the payphone outside if it was empty.

• Steve was supposed to knock over a trashcan if it was empty.

• Steve was supposed to give them "the signal" as he walked out if it was empty.

• Steve was supposed to sit down outside the story if it was empty.

Multiple Choice

Right after Steve's verdict was read in court, what did Ms. O'Brien do when Steve opens his arms to give her a hug?

• She told him that he got lucky.

• She gives him a brief and professional hug then turns away.
• She refused to hug him, picks up her papers, and walks away.

• She grabs his hand, shakes it, and wished him luck in the future.

Multiple Choice

WHY didn't Miss O'Brien want to hug Steve after the verdict was read in court?

• She knew Steve had lied on the stand and doubted his innocence.

• She wanted to look professional and didn't want to gloat in front of the prosecution and judge.

• She didn't want Steve to feel like he owed her anything for helping him stay out of jail.

• She was late for her next court case and didn't have time to stay and celebrate.

Multiple Select

What are TWO of the main types of conflicts that are in Monster? 

• Individual

  vs. Self

• Individual

  vs. Nature

• Individual

  vs. Society

• Individual

  vs. Technology

Multiple Choice

Steve starts to doubt his own innocence and question whether he is just lying to himself. This is an example of what type of conflict?

• Internal Conflict

• External Conflict

Multiple Choice

Identify the conflict:

Steve writes in his journal to make sense of everything when he is in jail. He struggles with questions of who he is and how people see him. 

• Individual

  vs. Individual

• Individual

  vs. Self

• Individual vs. Nature

• Individual vs. Society

Multiple Choice

What type of conflict does the scene of the newscasters and women who hear about the crime?

• Individual vs. Individual

• Individual vs. society

• Individual vs. self

• Individual vs. technology

Multiple Choice

Steve Harmon could be described as a

________

type of character. 

• antagonist

• dynamic

• static

• supporting

Multiple Choice

James King could be described as a

________

type of character. 

• protagonist

• dynamic

• static

• conflicted

Multiple Choice

"It was me who wasn't sure. It was me who lay on the cot wondering if I was fooling myself."

This is an example of what type of conflict?

• Individual vs. Individual

• Individual vs. Self

• Individual vs. Society

• Individual vs. Nature

Multiple Choice

What is an example of the external conflict in Monster?

• When the juror turns away and stops smiling when Steve smiles at her

• When Steve is handcuffed to the bench outside the courtroom

• When Steve worries about the impact him being in jail is having on his family

• When Steve starts to think that all of the prisoners look the same and gets sick

Multiple Choice

“Some guys have done a whole calendar in here,” I said.

She looked at me, puzzled, and then asked what that mean. When I told her that doing a calendar meant spending a year in jail, she turned her head slightly and then turned back to me. The smile that came to her lips was one she wrenched from someplace deep inside of her.”

What inference can you make about Steve’s mother forcing a smile?

• She sees that Steve uses prison language now and is afraid he’s changing.

• She feels bad that some guys have been in there a year.

• She doesn’t smile often anymore.

• She still doesn’t understand, so she smiles to be polite.

Multiple Choice

DIRECT OR INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION?

"Steve sits on his bed and puts his head in his hands."

• direct characterization

• indirect characterization

Multiple Choice

DIRECT OR INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATION?

"Steve is afraid."

• direct characterization

• indirect characterization

Multiple Choice

Is DIRECT or INDIRECT

characterization used in this scene?

• Direct: through dialogue

• Direct: in the stage directions

• Indirect: through the character's thoughts

• Indirect: through the character's actions

Multiple Choice

Why is this an example of Direct Characterization?

• the reader infers the description of the character

• it is a dialogue with Steve and Ms. Petrocelli

• the character affects others

• Because it reveals specific details about the character

Multiple Choice

What is the unique POINT OF VIEW (POV) in Monster?

• 1st person narration &

  3rd person

• 3rd person

  limited

• 3rd person omniscient

• 1st person & 2nd person

Multiple Choice

What happens last in the scene?

• The narrator feels like Monster is tattooed on his forehead.

• The narrator thinks back to a previous scene he described.

• Sunset reads the screenplay.

• The narrator thinks about the courtroom.

Multiple Choice

How might we characterize STEVE'S FATHER

based on this excerpt?

• supportive

• hopeless

• angry

• nervous

Multiple Choice

How might we characterize STEVE

based on the excerpt?

• hyper

• hopeless

• nervous

• tired

Multiple Choice

What theme arises from Osvaldo Cruz’s situation?

• Making poor choices at a young age can ruin your chances of success later in life.

• Be afraid of young people.

• You shouldn’t cheat on your girlfriend.

• If you’re going to lie, at least be good at it.

Multiple Choice

The two settings in this novel are

• judge's chambers & medical examiner's office

• Steve's bedroom & an elevator

• Prison & courtroom

• Bathroom & classroom

Multiple Choice

How does the reader know right away that Osvaldo is not actually scared of Steve?

• Osvaldo is very close in age to Steve, and they both hung out with King and Bobo.

• In the flashback, it is clear that Steve looked out for Osvaldo like a brother.

• In a flashback, Osvaldo harasses Steve, calling him derogatory names, and continues even after a friend warns him Steve hangs out with "some bad people."

• In a flashback, Osvaldo says that he is going to beat up Steve and all of his friends.

ELEMENTS OF FICTION​

In this section, you will review the elements of fiction that will be on your assessment!

​SECTION 2

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of a PROTAGONIST?

• The main character

• The good guy in the story

• The person that opposes the main character

• The bad guy

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of an ANTAGONIST?

• The main character

• The good guy in the story

• The person that opposes the main character

• The bad guy

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of plot?

• The lesson in the story
• The sequence of events in the story
• The turning point of the story
• The conflict in the story

Multiple Choice

A character that DOES NOT change is called a:

• stable character

• shallow character

• dynamic character

• static character

Multiple Choice

Think about the plot structure. What term is used to describe when tension builds and the conflict becomes very clear?

• Climax

• Rising Action

• Falling Action

• Resolution

Multiple Choice

What point of view (POV) is told through the eyes and perspective of one character that is in the story and uses pronouns like I, we, us, my?

• 1st Person

  POV

• 3rd Person Omniscient

• third person POV

• none of the above

Multiple Choice

What is a theme Steve seems to realize when his family visits him in the detention center?

• The people who truly care about you won’t cry in front of you

• The decisions you make affect not only yourself, but those close to you

• the people who matter are those that believe in you even when you do something wrong

• People do not get to choose your family and must make sacrifices for them

Multiple Choice

Which quote from O’Brien shows that

Osvaldo is lying about being scared of Steve, Bobo, and King?

• “You weren’t afraid to fight a member of the Diablos to get into the gang. You weren’t afraid of cutting a stranger in the face. You weren’t afraid of beating up your girlfriend. But you were afraid of Bobo?”

• “A fight? You mean an argument? A disagreement?”

• “You also said that the robbery was a mistake. Perhaps you can tell us the difference between a mistake and a lie?”

• “So to be a member of this gang, the Diablos, you have to fight a gang member and then cut someone. Usually that’s done to a stranger, and the cut is made in the face, is that right?”

Multiple Choice

Think about the part in Monster where Steve's verdict is being read.

What do the flags and paintings of the Founding Fathers in the courtroom

MOST CORRECTLY symbolize?

• racism present in our society today

• history, America, the White House

• justice, fairness, and truth

• artwork that would likely be hung in a courtroom

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of climax? 

• the turning point of the story
• the conflict that statts the struggle between two characters

• the beginning of the story
• the point when the conflict is resolved

Multiple Choice

What is the definition of CONFLICT?

• the problem(s) faced by the main character

• the events that make up a story

• the ending of the story
• the turning point in the story

Multiple Choice

Theme = ___________ + ____________

• topic

  +

  main idea

• title

  +

  author's message

• topic

  +

  plot element

• topic

  +

  author's message

Multiple Choice

What can readers infer about Steve in this quote:

"CUT TO: INTERIOR: JAIL. STEVE is dressing for court. We see him checking out his hand, which is slightly swollen.

CUT TO: STEVE sitting in back of van. He holds his hand in front of his face. They are shaking.

CUT TO: STEVE on stand."

• He is wearing pjs, he is feeling sleepy, & he is confident.

• He gets to go home to change clothes, he is bored, & he prefers standing to sititng.

• He got beaten up and can't barely stand up in court.

• He has hurt his hand, he is super nervous about testifying, & he is going to testify anyway.

Multiple Choice

One way you could figure out the theme is to...

• Skim through the story
• Just read the beginning of the story
• Think about what the character has learned
• Read the ending of the story

Multiple Choice

Which part of the story is represented by this blue blob?

• climax
• rising action
• falling action
• resolution

Multiple Choice

Unlike the topic of literature, a theme ...

• can be expressed in one word

• always shows the setting

• is always stated directly in the text

• cannot be just one word

Multiple Choice

Themes are universal because ...

• all humans share common experiences
• authors add them to make the writing meaningful
• the entire universe enjoys them
• the stories go on forever

Multiple Choice

Topic or Thematic Statement?

Family

• Topic

• Thematic Statement

Multiple Choice

Topic or Thematic Statement?

People without strong families may rely on other groups for a sense of community.

• Topic

• Thematic Statement

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is an example of a THEME STATEMENT?

• Connor overcame his obstacles with his mindset

• Rosa took a bad situation and made the best of it

• Friendship

• People's decisions are often an indication of their true character

Multiple Choice

Why does Steve write in his journal that he feels like he already has the word “Monster” tattooed across his forehead?

• that is the tattoo he wants when he is released from prison

• he feels like everyone is falsely judging him

• he feels rejected by his cell mates

• he is obsessed with the word

Multiple Choice

Read the paragraph from the text and answer the question.

“There is a mirror over the steel sink in my cell. It’s six inches high, and scratched with the names of some guys who were here before me. When I look into the small rectangle, I see a face looking back at me but I don’t recognize it. It doesn’t look like me. I couldn’t have changed that much in a few months. I wonder if I will look like myself when the trial is over.”

What does this paragraph reveal about the narrator?

• Steve is struggling with his identity while on trial for murder

• Steve believes that everything is going to be fine

• Steve is unable to see his reflection because the mirror is too scratched

• Steve has physically matured a lot in just a few months

Multiple Choice

“After the trial, my father, with tears in his eyes, held me close and said that he was thankful that I did not have to go to jail. He moved away, and the distance between us seemed to grow bigger and bigger. I understand the distance. My father is no longer sure of who I am. He doesn’t understand me even knowing people like King or Bobo or Osvaldo. He wonders what else he doesn’t know. "

Which inference is supported by the underlined sentences?

• Steve’s dad is concerned with how he is going to pay for Steve’s college

• Steve’s dad believes that Steve is innocent and that he can do no wrong

• Steve’s relationship with his dad is not as strong as before; He doesn’t know who Steve really is

• Steve’s dad thinks that he is guilty and deserves to be in prison

Multiple Choice

"JERRY: You ever want to be a superhero? You know, save people and stuff?

STEVE: Sure. You know who I’d want to be? Superman. I’d be wearing glasses and stuff and people would be messing with me and then I'd kick butt.

JERRY: I bet you’d be a cool superhero. You know who you should be? STEVE: Who?

JERRY: Batman. Then I could be Robin. (STEVE gives JERRY a brotherly shove.)”

What does this paragraph reveal about Steve’s relationship with his brother?

• Jerry is worried about Steve’s recent life choices.

• Steve hates having his little brother around all the time.

• Jerry looks up to Steve; they have a close relationship

• Jerry is jealous of Steve

​Figurative

Language

Review​

Multiple Choice

Figurative Language:

Comparing two unlike things USING LIKE OR AS:

• personification

• metaphor

• simile

• alliteration

Multiple Choice

Giving human traits to non-living things...

• metaphor

• simile

• imagery

• personification

Multiple Choice

Using SYMBOLS to represent ideas or qualities is called..

• personification
• symbolism
• hyperbole
• alliteration