Short Story Unit Test

Symbolism in the cask

Fortunado's jester costume is a recurring image in the text that represents the innocence and vulnerability of him when he is drunk. Jesters are known to be professional jokers that are comic entertainers. They bring humor to situations and embarrass themselves sometimes to be funny. They are happy and humorous. Fortunado is dressed as a jester, which highlights how h bells jingle in the most suspenseful moments because the sounds of the bells jingling are supposed to be happy and signify his innocence in the most unhappy moments, like when he is drinking the Medoc and as they walked through the catacombs.

climax in the ibis

Climax It started to storm and Doodle and the narrator were scared. Doodle walked faster and faster making his brother struggle to keep up with him and Doodle begam to run, leaving Doodle in the downpour.

Mood of The Most Dangerous Game

Anxious because we don't know what is happening next to Rainsford

Exposition of the gift of the magi

Della Young and Jim Young are introduced. Della cries because she is poor but wants to buy her husband a gift. (This is the exposition because it is where the characters and setting are introduced. It supplied background information on how the Dillingham Youngs were poor and why they were poor.)

Rising action of the gift of the magi

Della sells her hair to buy a gift for Jim. She spends the money for her hair on a beautiful and valuable gold watch chain for Jim, after shopping around her town for two hours. Della is nervous because she doesn't know if Jim will still love her without her hair. (This is the rising action because it raises suspense and since the readers already gotten to know the characters, the readers care about them and want to know what will happen next and whether Jim will still love her without her hair. The plot thickens and the inciting incident is when she chops off her hair.)

irony in the gift of the magi

Della traded her most valuable possession (her hair), to buy something for Jim's watch, and Jim traded his most valuable possession (his watch) to buy something for Della's hair and they both couldn't use the gifts they received because they had their possessions away to give gifts to each other. This is situational irony, the situation that happened is ironic.

irony in the birds

The author uses verbal irony when Mr. Trigg said 'No. Lot of nonsense. They like to scare you on the wireless. I've had more to do today than to go round boarding up my windows' because although he claims the bird situation is nonsense and there's no point in boarding up the windows, not boarding up the windows was what killed him.

Central conflict of the gift of the magi

The central conflict is Della vs. herself, which is man vs. man. This is the main conflict because she had an internal conflict between her relationship with Jim and her own looks and it is what the entire story was about. She knew that her love for Jim was really strong and that she would cut her luscious locks to buy a gift for him, but she struggled during the process because her hair meant so much to her. She also struggled with her appearance and whether it would be enough for Jim to love her.

theme of the birds

The message is that "You should trust your gut, take things seriously, and listen to warnings before it is too late and you die." Nat knew that the town was in danger in his gut, even when nobody believed him, he trusted his gut, saving his and his family's lives. He attempted to tell this to Mr. and Mrs. Trigg and Jim, but they hadn't listened to his warnings and died because they didn't board up the windows and thought the birds couldn't hurt them. They didn't take the issue seriously.

resolution in the ibis

The narrator attempts to wake Doodle up but he doesn't answer so he lifted his forehead only to find his shirt, mouth, and neck covered in blood. He lay over Doodle's body and sobs.

Rising Action The Most Dangerous Game

Zaroff reveals that he hunts people, explains hunt rules, and that he wants Rainsford to hunt with him, Rainsford tells the general he wants to leave the island and Zaroff wants to hunt Rainsford. Rainsford tries many strategies to win and ends up close to the edge of a cliff.

Setting in ibis

early 20th century/WWI North Carolina - farm - isolated events happened in the past past tense -> "I remember" -> "long since" passed -> changes - geographical -> Narrator was telling the story much later in life -> adult

Tone of the Most Dangerous Game

grim because there were dark topics such as cannibalism.

setting in the cask

set in Italy - exotic setting - escapism - travel through art - appeal - allows the artist to take liberties - allows the reader to suspend disbelief - during carnival - pre-lenten celebration - a time of asattic - self deprivation - 30 days/nights- farewell to meat Time: Dusk/6am-12am Feb/March Time is unknown but it is a time without cell phones

setting in the birds

Time: December 3rd Place: Rural area by the ocean-cottage bordered by farm/ocean

Falling action of the most dangerous game

Zaroff doesn't find Rainsford and assumes he died from jumping off the cliff. Zaroff has dinner and he is annoyed over how he didn't get to kill Rainsford himself.

Resolution of the most dangerous game

Zaroff finds Rainsford hiding in his room.

Climax of the Most Dangerous Game

Rainsford jumps off the ocean and he had to make a choice between letting dogs rip him apart or rocks at the bottom of the ocean. He had to make a life-or-death decision so the story reached its peak.

Falling action

1. Events occurring between the climax and resolution 2. Begins to tie up loose ends so a solution to the central conflict can be found

Rising action

1. Introduces central conflict with the inciting incident 2. Complications to the plot arise 3. Builds suspense

Exposition

1. Introduces characters and setting 2. Supplies background information (things the characters have done before the story, history of the setting) 3. Establishes tone and mood of the story

suspense in the birds

"Nat looked about him, seeing what furniture he could destroy to fortify the door. The windows were safe because of the dresser. He was not certain of the door. He went upstairs, but when he reached the landing he paused and listened. There was a soft patter on the floor of the children's bedroom. The birds had broken through. . . . He put his ear to the door. No mistake. He could hear the rustle of wings and the light patter as they searched the floor. The other bedroom was still clear. He went into it and began bringing out the furniture, to pile at the head of the stairs should the door of the children's bedroom go. It was a preparation. It might never be needed. He could not stack the furniture against the door, because it opened inward. The only possible thing was to have it at the top of the stairs. 'Come down, Nat, what are you doing?' called his wife." In this passage, the author is building up suspense by using short sentences to describe the actions that Nat was doing and describing every little step. It makes the readers invested and it makes them continue reading, sometimes at a faster pace just to get to the resolution of the issue. In this passage, the short sentences make readers want to find out what happens to Nat after he found out the birds were in the children's bedroom.

Resolution

1. Resolves the conflict of the story and brings closure 2. Theme becomes apparent

Climax

1. The turning point of the story 2. Suspense/interest reach their peak 3. Protagonist confronts the conflicts

Symbolism in the most dangerous game

A pipe was brought up multiple times and it was a symbol of wealth. General Zaroff and Rainsford both smoked and they did so when they were wealthier not just in money but also in power than the person when they were with.

Symbolism in the birds

Although the birds aren't exactly an image and they are more like characters, I think the author was trying to make the birds a symbol of the problems/bad days in the world. Even when you have many problems/bad days, you have to find a way to survive them, to find solutions, to get through them for your family, just like how Nat had to get through the birds. Another symbol would be Nat's wife's eyes. They are brought up four times, and I think that they represent her vulnerability. You can always see how she is feeling by the ways her eyes look, and it is significant because it tells us more about her personality.

suspense in the cask

At the beginning of the story, the author builds suspense by using dramatic language as Montresor talks directly to the reader desperately about seeking revenge and punishing without impunity. It builds suspense and it makes the readers wonder what's going to happen to Fortunado, if Montresor will get away with it, if he will accomplish what he wants to do. Poe builds suspense by describing the setting in great detail and setting the story in catacombs. Poe describes long walls of skeletons and a dampness in the catacombs, which creates a spooky and scary and mysterious atmosphere in which something bad will happen. Suspense is also built as Montresor is building the wall. Poe vividly describes Fortunado's screaming then silence, then screaming again and Poe describes every step of Montresor building, tier by tier which makes the readers question if he will actually finish it and complete it and kill off Fortunado.

exposition in the ibis

Doodle and his brother are introduced. The narrator sits in the parlor, looking outside and thinking of his brother. Doodle is born when his brother is 6who was born with a tiny boy and a tiny chance of survival. He had many health problems and was named Willaim Armstrong when he turned three months old.He couldn't run, play, hold his breath, climb trees, or fight with his brother. He learned how to crawl but since he crawled backwards, he was given the name of Doodle. Before that his borother had planned to kill him. Their dad built him a go kart so the brother was used to bringing Doodle everywhere he went, They would play in the swamp and collect wildflowers and make crowns and necklaces. His brother showed him his casket. When Doodle was five, the narrator decided to teach him to walk. After many weeks of practicing he could stand and after months he could walk.

rising action in the ibis

Doodle had learned to walk well and he and his brother went to walk often to the swamp. They walked and told stories, and imagined their future. The narrator made a plan to teach his brother many things until the summer so that his brother could go to school. He gave Doodle swimming lessons, taught him to box and climb and row. His brother constantly pushed him until he was sick and feverish. One day, they were having dinner when a bird flew from the sky and landed on the ground, injured. He died and they found out it was a scarlet ibis. Doodle cared very much about the bird so he buried it. The two went to the pond and let their raft drift before the narrator made Doodle row against the tide.

Setting in The gift of the magi

Early 1900s on Christmas Eve in Della's home and around town

falling action of the birds

Falling Action . He went to sleep only to be woken up by his wife saying that the birds were there. The birds had gone down their chimney. Nat killed them by tossing paraffin in the fireplace. Nat had just settled down with the kids when he heard a rasping sound. He went upstairs to find that birds were in the children's room but he shut the door and ignored them. This is the falling action because loose ends are being tied. The solution to the conflict of starving to death without being able to leave the house is evident because he now knows he can leave his home to get food and resources when the tide pulls out. Nat is clearly less afraid of the birds and knows how to manage them.

POV of the cask

First person - "I" and "my", the narrator's thoughts and perspective. Second person- "You"

Is Jim Young in the gift of the magi a round or flat character? static or dynamic?

Flat/static

Resolution of the cask

Fortunado has given up. Montresor felt his heart grow sick because he regrets what he did and feels guilty but says that the pain is because of the dampness of the catacombs. He finished the wall and placed bones against it. It is then revealed that Montresor is telling this story 50 years later and nobody has found out that he murdered Fortunado. Everything is wrapped up. We find out the answers to our questions in the exposition/rising action. There is closure.

Foreshadowing in the cask

Fortunado says 'The cough's a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough' and Montresor responds "True, true." Montresor says that Fortunado won't die of a cough — because he will be killed by murder by Montresor. At another point in the story, Fortunado and Montresor drink a Medoc and they toast. Montresor toasts to Fortunado's "long life", which is a suspicious thing to toast to considering Montresor and Fortunado appear to be young. It foreshadowed the murder of Fortunado - he did not live a long life.

Climax of the cask

Fortunado stupidly walks into the hole and Montresor chains him. Fortunado to scream as Montresor starts to build a wall with building stone and morter. Montresor is overjoyed and stops working as he hears Fortunado's screams. This is the most intense part - where you see if Fortunado falls into the hole, where Fortunado is screaming and you wonder if Montresor will free him. Suspense reaches a peak.

main conflict of the most dangerous game

Rainsford versus General Zaroff which is man vs. man. General Zaroff wants to kill Rainsford. It is the main conflict because it is the center of the story and Rainsford's goal is to make it out alive.

Irony in the most dangerous game

Rainsford was very pretentious about being a hunter and not the huntee but ended up being the one hunted in the end.

The Most Dangerous Game characters

Rainsford, Whitney, General Zaroff.

Characters in the gift of the magi

Jim and Della Young

Climax of The gift of the magi

Jim comes home from work. Della waits anxiously for his response to her haircut. Jim is silent and looks at her with a strange expression on his face. Della cries out to Jim about the reason why she cut her hair but Jim is still comprehending what happened. At last, he told Della that he would love her no matter how she looked. (This is the climax because it is when suspense reaches a peak. Readers are dying to know whether Jim hates Della or not. The main conflict of Jim's love for Della is confronted and Jim's answer could alter Della's life, since she adores Jim and could not live without him.)

central conflict of the birds

Man vs Nature, which is Nat vs. Birds. This is the central conflict because the birds kept attacking Nat and his family and he needed to find a way to survive while hiding from the birds in his cottage. It is the focus of the story and even in the title.

Rising Action of the cask

Montresor leads Fortunado down to the basement. Fortunado becomes more intoxicated as Montresor gives him a draft of Médoc. Three times, Montresor tries to make Fortunado make the decision to continue instead of turning back so that he can make excuses if Fortunado dies and also say that Fortunado and him were drunk. They go on and the author reveals the reason why Montesquieu wants to kill Fortunado. (Through foreshadowing it is clear he will attempt to murder Fortunado). They reach the supposed Armadillo, which is really just a closet deep hole in the ground. The inciting incident happens when Fortunado decides to go with Montresor to his house. Suspense is building up - what will Montresor do to Fortunado? Will he accomplish it? Will Montresor get in trouble?

Exposition of the cask

Montresor talks dirextly to the reader. H explains how he had caused many injuries to Fortunado but he ventured upon insult so he vowed revenge. Monosquer said that he would be avengef for sure, but he has to cunsjder risk. He says he will punish Fortunado but with impunity. He says that a wrong is unredressed when retribution overtakes its redresser and it is equally unredressed when the avenger fails to make himself felt as such to him who has done the wrong. He reveals that Fortunado does not doubt Montosqur's good will and he has smile, but at his immolation. He reveals that Fortunado is feared and respected but his weak point is his connoisseurship in wine - they both had it. He meets Fortunado drunk and dressed as a jeste. He told Fortunado that he had Armadillo but also had. doubts about it and he will go to Luchrechi and examine to see if it is Armadillo, knowing that Fortunado hates Luchrechi and believes he is unskilled. Fortunado insists to look at the pipe himself and they go to Montresor. It is clear that this is the exposition. Montresor and Fortunado are introduced. The protaigonist's motive is revealed. The setting is made clear (it is dusk).

central conflict in the cask

Montresor vs Fortunado because it is the focus of the story - Montresor is trying to kill Fortunado becuase of

characters in the cask

Montresor/narrator Wants revenge Getting revenge doesn't erase the emotional and physical pain and trauma He thinks the revenge will be satisfying Wants to not get in trouble Planned for a long time Wants to enjoy it Knows it's bad - not a psychopath Wants to painstakingly hurt enemy Wants to connect you, try to get you to trust him Trying to confuse us with complicating introduction Wants to convince reader to be on his side He wants us to see things the way he does He's begging for our approval Pretentious, guilty, evasive, Petty, calculated, Wants Fortunato to feel his pain Rich Protagonist Flat - doesn't really change throughout the story? Dynamic - layers of personality. He is revengeful, petty, calculated, evasive, but also guilty and empathetic. Fortunato Rich Loves tasting wine - his "weak point" Feared and respected Powerful Condescending Antagonist Static - doesn't change throughout the story Flat - only personality trait being rich and pretentious besides when drunk

characters in the ibis

Narrator - boy that has brother Doodle - smart - daredevil - adventurous - petty - determined - ambitious - close to his brother - forceful - expects a lot of his brother - close to Doodle Doodle - brother of narrator - a nice kind of crazy - physically weak - not expected to do much - talkative- imaginative- good liar- close to brother

exposition in the birds

Nat Hocken is introduced. He is enjoying a pastry on the farm as a break and bird-watching when he realizes the birds are very restless.

characters in the birds

Nat Hocken works part time on a farm due to his wartime disability. He is married with children but likes to work alone. He enjoys mending things by the sea and eating a pastry baked by his wife while sitting on the cliff's edge and bird-watching. Lives in a cottage. He is a round character but static because he did not change over the story. However, he is multi-faceted. Throughout the story, we see his bravery, strength, caringness, lovingness, and compassioness. He is a good father but an anxious person, and he is thoughtful and intelligent. Nat's wife is flat and static because she doesn't change throughout the story and her only personality trait is that she is caring and worrisome. She cares about Nat and her kids and worries about them. The birds are flat and static because they don't change throughout the story and they are just vicious, violent, and unintelligent.

rising action of the irds

Nat goes to the farmer and the farmer tells him that the birds' restlessness was because of the weather changing. Later on, Nat woke up at night and heard tapping on the window, and opened the window to find a bird brushing his hand and made his knuckles bleed. He went back to bed and soon, both he and his wife woke up to the sound. Nat opened the window and six birds flew into his face. His wife didn't believe that birds attacked him, and Nat's daughter Jill was frightened so he went to see her. The birds attacked his children then him, so he defended himself against them but many of them died. He told his wife the birds died from the weather, then walked Jill to the bus. Nat went to the farm to find out if they heard anything in the night only to find that the boss left for the market. He tried to tell Mrs. Trigg what happened but she believed it was a nightmare. Jim wasn't interested either. Nat removed the dead birds and buried them on the shore, but the wind took them away. Tens of thousands of birds flew to the beach and Nat found out that this was happening all over the country, the birds attacking people and causing obstruction and damage. Nat decided to see to the windows and chimneys to protect them from the birds. Nat was told the birds were hungry. His wife thought the army should shoot them all but he thought every householder should protect themselves. He saw birds again and said he'd take Jill home from the bus stop. He told his wife to close curtains, keep the door shut, and light candles, and keep Johnny inside. Nat took a weapon to protect himself and called in to report the birds. The kids found him having a weapon weird and wanted to play in the lane ,but he said they should get home. jill got upset about the birds, so Nat asked for a ride from Mr. Trigg's home. Mr. Trigg was going to shoot the birds with Jim and offered Nat a gun. Nat refused and asked him to bring Jill home. The birds were heading towards the farm. The town thought Russians poisoned the birds. Mr. Trigg didn't want to board up his windows but Nat urged him to do it. This is the rising action because it is building up suspense. Readers want to find out what will happen to Mr. Trigg, Jim, Mrs. Trigg, and Nat's family. It introduces the central conflict when the birds attacked him, which was the inciting incident. The plot "thickens" as complications (neighbors do not listen to his warning) to the plot arise.

Climax of the birds

On his way home, gulls attacked him once again. He had wounds all over his body. Jill could hear birds trying to enter through the boarded-up windows. He decided that the family should sleep on mattresses in the kitchen to be safe. On the 6' o clock news, in London, a national emergency was declared at 4. Citizens were told to stay indoors and take precautions to their buildings. Nat heard an airplane, then 3 crashes. The sounds stopped and Nat realized the birds came in with the tide. He decided to wait until morning to go to the farm and see if they could get news and see how the farm is doing This is the climax because it is the turning point of the story where there is a possibility of the government doing something to stop the birds. Suspense and interest reach their peak as the issue is now declared a national emergency and readers want to know if the government actually does something to the birds. He confronts the central conflict by deciding to leave the cottage to find supplies and resources to help his family survive while they were locked up in the cottage. He found out that the birds come in with the tide and makes a decision to take a risk to leave his home and the discovery alters the course of his life because he will not starve to death at home without food.

The Most Dangerous Game inciting incident

Rainsford and the general are having a good time at first dinner, but Zaroff says he is going to hunt him

symbolism in the gift of the magi

One recurring image in the text is the figurative language of Della's hair being like a waterfall. This is a significant image because the author keeps comparing her hair to a waterfall to illustrate how beautiful it was and how important it was to Della. Of course, the beauty of something shouldn't determine its worth, but either the author is or he intended the story to be sexist and old-fashioned, where women are just objects that belong to men and their only role is to make dinner, go grocery shopping, sew, do household chores, and look pretty. The beauty of something determines its worth in the story at least in Della's world. The waterfall image is demonstrating how beautiful Della is, how her hair shines, and how long it is. Another symbol that is constantly being repeated is the use of the word "marks". This symbol is significant because its true meaning is "feelings", but it is being called "marks" to be more poetic. Whenever marks are mentioned, it is representing the characters' feelings. "She started to try to cover the sad marks of what she had done. Love and large-hearted giving, when added together, can leave deep marks. It is never easy to cover these marks, dear friends—never easy." It can be seen that each "marks" can be replaced with the word "feelings". Della felt sad about what she had done, but she had to cover it up and make it seem like she had no regrets so that her husband wouldn't feel bad or get mad at her for regretting it. Giving with big hearts can make a lasting impact on somebody and leave "deep marks".

Theme in the cask

Revenge is a wonderful, terrible thing.

The Most Dangerous Game settings

Ship-Trap island Rainsford and Whitney's yacht on the Amazon River, Brazil

Falling actipnn in the ibis

THe narrator ran far from his brother and then waited for him but he never came so he walked back. He found his brother huddled behind a bush, his knees drawn up and his face buried in his arms resting atop of his knees.

resolution of the birds

The 7'o clock news never came on so Nat decided to go to the farm and take everybody with him to find food, fuel, and candles. He found that the birds killed Mrs. Trigg, Mr. Trigg, and Jim. He made multiple trips from the cottage to the farm and back with the kids to fill the car up with coal, paraffin, and more. Once he got home, it was night. The story fades out as he is smoking a cigarette. This is the resolution because although it doesn't bring closure, it is clear what Nat will do to make sure his family survives while being locked up in the cottage. The themes become apparent and it is clear that you should trust your gut, take things seriously, and listen to warnings before it is too late and you die.

suspence in the gift of the magi

The author builds suspense in the climax where Della is waiting for Jim to respond to her haircut. There was a lot of emphasis on how Jim was shocked and didn't say anything about Della's hair for a while and it leaves readers wondering if he was okay with the haircut, or if he hated it and hated her and no longer wanted to be with her. "Jim stopped inside the door. He was as quiet as a hunting dog when it is near a bird. His eyes looked strangely at Della, and there was an expression in them that she could not understand. It filled her with fear. It was not anger, nor surprise, nor anything she had been ready for. He simply looked at her with that strange expression on his face. [...]'You've cut off your hair?' asked Jim slowly. He seemed to labor to understand what had happened. He seemed not to feel sure he knew. [...] Jim looked around the room. 'You say your hair is gone?' he said." The author holds out the moment for as long as possible, making the readers anxious to know what happens up and further building up suspense.

irony in the cask

The author used verbal irony when Fortunado says 'The cough's a mere nothing; it will not kill me. I shall not die of a cough' and Montresor responds "True, true." This is verbal irony because Montresor says that Fortunado won't die of a cough — because he will be killed by murder by Montresor. The author uses this to foreshadow that Montresor will murder Fortunado. It is also situational irony when Fortunado's jester costume bells jingle in the most suspenseful moments because the sounds of the bells jingling are supposed to be happy and signify his innocence in the most unhappy moments, like when he is drinking the Medoc and as they walked through the catacombs.

Resolution of the gift of the magi

The two decide to put their Christmas gifts away for a while because they can't use them and they have their dinner. (The conflict of the story is resolved and the readers know that Della and Jim are happy together and have a strong love for each other. There is closure and there are no remaining questions left unanswered. The theme is also apparent.)

pov of the gift of the magi

Third person limited because we are not in the bodies of any characters and hearing every thought and action they take, but there is a narrator describing what the characters are doing. Specifically, because Della is the main character, we get to hear her thoughts and her views and perspectives on things. However, we don't get to see that from anybody else. So the perspective is third person, but limited to Della's thoughts.

POV of the most dangerous game

Third person limited, limited to Rainsford's thoughts

pov of the birds

Third person limited, readers know the thoughts of Nat and Nat only, but the story is not told from his perspective and there is a narrator.

Theme of the gift of the magi

Those that give gifts and receive gifts are the most wise. The narrator tells this message at the end of the book but the message is also shown through the story. The theme is that people that give gifts and receive gifts are the smartest because they know that by giving gifts, you get happiness, whether you give material gifts or non-material gifts. You get happiness from knowing the receiver appreciates your gift and they treat you better, and sometimes you get material gifts in return. This is shown in "The Gift of the Magi" because both Jim and Della gave gifts to each other and although the gifts were useless, they felt even more love for each other and got happiness in return.

Falling action of the cask

When Montresor has one block left, Fortunado begs Montresor to not do this to him, to stop and let him go and be free. Montresor laughs at him. There is silence and Montresor calls out to Fortunado but he doesn't answer. Things start to be wrapped up.

fpreshadowing in the birds

When Mr. Trigg said 'No. Lot of nonsense. They like to scare you on the wireless. I've had more to do today than to go round boarding up my windows [...]' it foreshadowed that the birds would kill him because we know that the birds are dangerous and it is necessary to protect your house from them and because he didn't believe in the danger, he would ultimately get killed by the danger.

foreshadowing in the gift of the magi

When the author wrote, "Only $ 1.87 to buy a gift for Jim. Her Jim. She had had many happy hours planning something nice for him. Something nearly good enough. Something almost worth the honor of belonging to Jim", it foreshadowed that Della would find a way to buy a good gift for Jim because the readers now know that her motive and goal in the story, something she really wants is to be able to purchase a gift for Jim. Readers can predict that Della accomplishes this task because it would end the story on a happy note and readers like happy endings.

Exposition of the Most Dangerous Game

Whitney notices an island, he and Rainsford discuss how sailors avoid it. Whitney goes to sleep. Rainsford falls off the bus.

Theme of the most dangerous game

You'll never know how it feels to be looked down upon until you're in that position and never take what you have for granted.

Is Della Young in the gift of the magi a round or flat character?static or dynamic?

static and flat