Short Story Unit Diagnostic

What is meant by the "plot" of a short story?

• main character

• sequence of events

• how it ends

• the life lesson

Reorder the following parts of a short story, starting from the beginning on the left and ending on the right.

• exposition

• rising action

• climax

• falling action

• resolution

Normally, what does the audience encounter when they read the exposition of a short story? Choose all that apply.

• setting

• protagonist(s)

• conflict

• different literary points of view

Setting is the ​ ​ (a)   and ​ (b)   of a short story. It is usually introduced at the ​ (c)   of the story.

• time
• place
• beginning
• end
• hero
• conflict

What drives the plot of a short story, challenges the protagonist, and makes the story interesting for the audience?

• setting

• conflict

• dialogue

• characterization

Match the following types of conflict with their examples.

• a character doubts himself

• external conflict: person vs. nature

• a character tries to stop a villain

• internal conflict

• a character tries to survive a shipwreck

• external conflict: person vs. person

• a character resists an unjust government

• external conflict: person vs. society

• a character fights a god

• external conflict: person vs. supernatural

What is the academic term for the "hero" or "heroine" of a short story?

• characterization

• antagonist

• protagonist

• minor character

Which of the following apply to the protagonist of a short story? Choose all that are correct.

• struggles with the story's conflict

• is the main focus of the short story

• is only a minor character

• has the most dialogue

Match the following literary points of view with their meanings.

• narration uses he/she/they; knows it all

• first person

• stays within character; uses he/she/they

• third person omniscient

• character directly addresses audience

• third person limited

• character narrates (I, me, my pronouns)

• second person

What is the purpose of a minor character?

• to solve the story's confict

• to waste time

• to reveal more about the protagonist

• to add an alternative persepctive