What You Need to Know: Midterm Review Sheet Short Fiction. 2012-13
Define and apply short story structure: exposition, narrative hook, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution
Be able to define the following terms and use them to analyze a story: theme, setting, point-of-view, motif,
symbolism, narration, dialogue, tone, epiphany, conflict; third person objective
Not only should you be able to recall the plot and details of each story, but also you should be prepared to
identify and articulate the subjects, themes, conflicts, characterizations, symbols, etc., unique to each story.
THE STORIES
Coming of Age
“Through the Tunnel” by Lessing
“Araby” by Joyce
“Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Oates
“A+P” by Updike
“Doe Season” by Kaplan
“Shaving” by Leslie Norris
Men and Women
“The Chrysanthemums” by Steinbeck
“Hills Like White Elephants” by Hemingway
“The Yellow Wallpaper” by Perkins
“Boys” by Moody
“Girl” by Kincaid
Family Unit
“Teenage Wasteland” by Tyler
“Rocking Horse Winner” by Lawrence
“Paul’s Case” by Cather
“The Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”
“The Incarnation of Burned Children” by Wallace
Aging and Death
“The Swing” by Gladwell
“The Cranes” by Meinke
Other
“Smokers”
“Reunion”
“The Use of Force”
“The Story of an Hour”
“Gryphon”
“How to Tell a True War Story”
THE BOOKS
Goodbye, Columbus
The Palace Thief stories
Vocabulary (definitions only)
Coming of Age
chignon
a roll or knot of hair worn at the back of the head by a woman
discourse
verbal exchange; conversation
enigma
an obscure riddle; something puzzling, ambiguous
fastidious
careful in all details; meticulous; exacting
staunch
firm and steadfast; true
refractory
obstinate; unmanageable
temperate
exercising moderation or self-restraint
paltry
petty, trifling, insignificant
provincial
limited in perspective; narrow and self-centered; not fashionable,
unsophisticated
sordid
filthy or dirty; foul, squalid, wretched
furbish
to brighten by cleaning or rubbing; to restore, renovate
suffuse
to spread through or over, as with liquid, color, light
odious
exciting hatred or repugnance; offensive
vacillate
to swing indecisively; to waver
wizened
shriveled, withered, dried up
indignant
aroused by something unjust, mean, or unworthy
dissonance
a harsh or disagreeable combination of sounds; discord
truculent
savage or cruel; fierce; pugnacious; defiant
resplendent
shining brilliantly; filled with splendor
loquacious
very talkative
Men and Women
brood
to ponder moodily; to sulk
fawning
whiningly affectionate; obsequious; seeking by excessive flattery
smug
complacent or self-righteous
definitive
explicit; determining finally; conclusive; decisive
pumice
a porous, light volcanic rock used as a polish or abrasive
felicity
great happiness, bliss: an instance of this
repellent
repulsive; inspiring aversion or distaste
lurid
causing shock or horror
skulk
to lurk; to lie in hiding; to move about stealthily
frieze
any decorative horizontal band, as along the upper part of a wall in a
room.
undulate
to move in a wave; to ripple
florid
flushed with a rosy color, ruddy; heavily decorated, flowery
arabesque
an ornate design of intertwined floral, foliate, and geometrical figures
flourish
disconsolate
to grow well or luxuriantly; to propser
hopelessly sad; cheerless, gloomy, dismal
epithet
an abusive or contemptuous word used to describe a person
depilate
to remove hair from the body
efflorescent
flowering or blooming forth
manifesto
a public declaration of principles, intentions, as in politics
rakish
showy, jaunty, smart
Goodbye, Columbus
gullet
esophagus, throat
amenity
a gesture observed in social relationships
ingratiate
to gain favor by deliberate effort
facetious
joking, often inappropriate; witty
myopic
shortsighted in thinking or planning; nearsighted
dithyramb
a frenzied and impassioned choric hymn
sententious
using wise sayings or proverbs; using pompous language
bacchanalia
a drunken orgy
incongruous
not consistent with or suitable to the surroundings
obtuse
not pointed or acute; blunt; not sharp or quick of wit
inveigle
to win over or acquire by ingenuity or flattery
surrogate
deputy; substitute
prophesy
to speak or utter by divine intervention; to predict
rueful
filled with regret or sorrow
fetid
having an offensive smell; stinking
marquee
a rooflike structure with a signboard projecting
over an entrance
attestation
a statement that certifies; testament, testimony
acquisitive
eager to obtain and possess; greedy
pariah
outcast
inordinate
exceeding reasonable limits; immoderate