Free Printable Short Story Elements

Worksheets

Short Story Elements

Total questions: 46

Worksheet time: 3hrs 40mins

Name

Class

Date

What is the Setting of a story?

It introduces the characters, describes the setting and establishes the problem in the story

Turning point in the story or highest point. Usually the most exciting part of the story.

The outcome of the story. How things end up or turn out for the characters

When and where the story takes place

A person, animal, or thing that moves the story forward is which of the follow?

Protagonist

Character

Antagonist

Conflict

A message or lesson about life or human nature that the writer shares through the story with the reader is which of the following?

Climax

Exposition

Theme

Setting

What is the Conflict of the story?

Events that take off from the start of the story and build suspense where the problem gets worse and becomes more complicated.

Events that happen after the climax that lead to a resolution or ending to the story

Involves a struggle between two opposing forces usually a protagonist and an antagonist

The outcome of the story. How things end up or turn out for the characters

Which part of the plot introduces the characters?

Exposition

Climax

Rising Action

Falling Action

What is the definition of plot?

The lesson in the story

The turning point of the story

The sequence of events in the story

The conflict in the story

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

exposition

falling action

rising action

resolution

This part of the story begins to develop

the conflict(s). A building of interest or

suspense occurs.

climax

rising action

falling action

conflict

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

climax

falling action

rising action

resolution

10.

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

resolution

climax

rising action

falling action

11.

This part of the story begins to develop

the conflict(s). A building of interest or

suspense occurs.

climax

rising action

falling action

conflict

12.

Name what type of conflict is used in this situation:
two girls compete for the same role in the school play

character vs. nature

character vs. technology

character vs. character

character vs. self

13.

An external conflict that puts a character up against things like insects or weather is character vs. _______________

mother nature

nature

man

self

14.

When a character goes up against the laws or beliefs of a group, it is called character vs. __________.

society

self

technology

character

15.

A plane crashed on an island in the middle of the ocean. Chuck had to survive ... all on his own!

character vs. self

character vs. character

character vs. nature

character vs. society

16.

character vs.character is ...

a character in conflict with society

Internal/mental conflict

Two or more characters in conflict

Environmental conflict such as a hurricane

17.

What is an example of an INTERNAL conflict?

character vs. character

character vs. society

character vs. nature

character vs. self

18.

Nancy is tempted to steal money from her employer to feed her hungry children.

Man vs. Man

Man vs. Nature

Man vs. Self

Man vs. Society

19.

A husband and wife disagree about where to spend the holiday.

Man vs. Self

Man vs. Society

Man vs. Nature

Man vs.Man

20.

A police officer writes Dr. Stevens a ticket after he sped through a red light.

Man vs. Self

Man vs. Society

Man vs. Nature

Man vs. Man

21.

A character with a complex personality

Flat Character

Round Character

22.

This type of character faces aa major conflict in his or her life.

Static Character

Dynamic Character

23.

This type of character causes a problem or is the problem in the novel.

Protagonist

Antagonist

24.

This type of character is not complex. He or she has only one or two main ideas or emotions.

Round Character

Flat Character

25.

In "The Bass, The River and Sheila Mant", Sheila does not change or grow throughout the story. She is best described as which type of character?

Round

Flat

Static

Dynamic

26.

Round characters display many personality traits.

True

False

27.

How is a round character different than a dynamic character?

A round character never changes throughout a story.

Dynamic characters can be round, and they will change or grow throughout a story.

28.

Craig plays football and shows up at practice every day an hour early to begin his training.

What character trait describes Craig?

tired

fast

hard-working

early bird

29.

You asked him nicely to borrow his pencil, but Pete yelled, "No! If you didn't come prepared, it's not my fault!"

What character trait describes Pete?

inconsiderate

upset

selfish

mad

30.

What character trait is revealed?
After pulling an all-nighter studying, Sarah moved through the dance routine sluggishly. She was off beat and missed several moves.

passionate

nervous

tired

bored

31.

What character trait is revealed here?
After glancing around to make sure she wasn't being watched, Marissa slide the candy bar into her pocket. She walked out of store casually, not stopping to pay.

selfish

sneaky

thrifty

rude

32.

What character trait is revealed in this passage?
Jonathan looked at the homeless dog walking down the street of his neighborhood. He approached the dog, slowly cautiously, with his hands stretched outward. After gaining his trust, Jonathan took the dog home, gave him a warm bath, and big bowl of food.

impulsive

obsessed

humble

compassionate

33.

What type of character trait is the following example?
Tiffany loved when her teachers gave her creative projects. Her favorite things to do were paint, write music, play her guitar, and mold pottery.

direct characterization

indirect characterization

34.

What type of character trait is the following example?
Jake walked around the lunchroom. For every new student he saw, he stopped and said hello and gave them a fist bump.

talented

friendly

adventurous

humorous

35.

A character, Nicki, is friendly. The author shows this by having Nicki sit down at a lunch table with a group of kids she doesn’t know and introduce herself. What is the author using to show Nicki’s trait?

Nicki's thoughts

Nicki's feelings

Nicki's actions

36.

Theme is the writer's message about life, communicated through the events of the story.

True

False

37.

The theme "never give up" is considered universal because . . .

it can be found as a message in numerous (many) stories, movies, songs, or TV shows.

it is only applied to the old fable of the tortoise and the hare.

it is a phrase, not just a statement.

it's a summary of the story.

38.

A theme is the same thing as a summary, or the main idea of a text

True.

False.

39.

The theme of a story is the

main character

message about life that the author expresses

sequence of events

short summary of what the story is about

40.

Which of the following could be a theme of a story?

A 35-year-old woman named Essie and her brother

a small apartment in Marfa, Texas

Telling the truth may cause pain, but in the end, it's better than lying.

Essie lied to her brother about her identitiy for two years, but she finally decided to tell him the truth.

41.

One summer's day, a merry Grasshopper was dancing, singing and playing his violin with all his heart. He saw an Ant passing by working hard to store food for the winter. “Come and sing with me instead of working so hard,” said the Grasshopper “Let’s have fun together.” “I must store food for the winter,” said the Ant,“ and I advise you to do the same.” “Don’t worry about winter, it’s still very far away,” said the Grasshopper, laughing at him. But the Ant wouldn’t listen and continued to work. When winter came, the starving Grasshopper went to the Ant’s house and humbly begged for something to eat. “If you had listened to my advice in the summer you would not now be in need,” said the Ant. “I’m afraid you will have to go without supper,” and he closed the door.
What is the theme?

share with your neighbor

work before you play

be respectful

don't be greedy

42.

Passage 1

Annie and the Bike Race

During a trial bike race with her friend, Mike, Annie is left in the dust and becomes discouraged. As she's resting, she thinks about the story of "The Tortoise and the Hare." Annie hops back on her bike and beats Mike, who has been wasting his time along the bike trail.

Passage 2

The Tortoise and the Hare

When a determined tortoise challenges a boastful hare to a race, the hare is sure he will win. As the race begins, the hare is so confident that he takes his time. In fact, he naps along the way. The tortoise plods along, slow and steady, and beats the hare to the finish line.

adapted from "The Tortoise and the Hare" by Aesop

What do the hare and Mike have in common in these stories?

They both like to nap along the way.

They both lie to get what they want.

They are both so over-confident that they end up losing the race.

They are both slow and steady.

43.

A Dog, to whom the butcher had thrown a bone, was hurrying home with his prize as fast as he could go. As he crossed a narrow bridge, he looked down and saw his reflection in the quiet water as if in a mirror. But the greedy Dog thought he saw a real Dog carrying a bone much bigger than his own. If he had stopped to think he would have known better. But instead of thinking, he dropped his bone and sprang at the Dog in the river, only to find himself swimming for dear life to reach the shore. At last he managed to scramble out, and as he stood sadly thinking about the good bone he had lost, he realized what a foolish Dog he had been.
What is the theme?

Be honest.

Don't be greedy.

Always share your things with others.

Be respectful to others.

44.

During a baseball game, Tanner tried to tag a player leaving first base. When the umpire called the player out, Tanner immediately informed the umpire that he in fact did not tag the runner. Two weeks later, the very same umpire was at another one of Tanner’s baseball games. Tanner was playing short stop and tagged a runner as they approached third base. When the umpire called the player safe, Tanner didn’t say a word, but the umpire noticed the surprised look on Tanner’s face. “Did you tag the runner?” she asked Tanner. When Tanner told her that he did tag the runner, the umpire changed her decision and called the player out. The coaches and parents were furious, but the umpire stood by her decision.
What is the theme?

You should cheat to win.

Always work hard.

It pays to be honest.

Teamwork is best.

45.

share with your neighbor

work before you play

be respectful

don't be greedy

46.

Becky sobbed for hours trying to think of a way out of having to tell her father she wrecked her new car. After thinking over it for quite some time, she called her father on his cell phone. "Thank you for telling me," he said.

What is the theme of this passage?

Driving a car takes responsibility

Sometimes crying is good for you.

Being honest is always the best option

100 %

Short Story Elements

Total questions: 46

Worksheet time: 3hrs 40mins

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