Name: ________________________________ Date: __________
SHORT STORIES
JOURNAL PROJECT
60 points
Directions: Create a comprehensive journal with detailed notes and completed questions or assignments for each
short story that you read.
You will submit electronic copies of your journal entries in your English folder in a subfolder titled “Short Stories.”
These must be completed by 11:59pm on the night they are assigned. No changes may be made after midnight for
full credit.
“The Necklace” by Guy du Maupassant (10 points)
1. Biographical information about author – (Research from reliable sources. How does this information
inform your understanding of the author’s tone and purpose for writing? How does it inform your
understanding of the theme?)
2.
Setting – (What is the setting? Does the setting impact the tone or theme of the story? If so, how?)
3.
Characters - (Who is the protagonist/antagonist?) List details about the characters/cite textual evidence &
make inferences about character(s) and the author based on these details. Are characters flat, round, static,
dynamic, etc.?
1. List 5 character traits about Mme. Loisel (Mathilde); based on how the author describes her, what
can we infer about her? What can we infer about the author’s attitude towards her/women in
general during the time period?
2. List 5 character traits about M. Loisel; based on how the author describes him, what can we infer
about him? What can we infer about the author’s attitude towards him/clerks in general during the
time period?
3. List 4 character traits about Mme. Forester.
4.
Mapping plot - (Describe the exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, and
resolution.)
5.
Conflict(s) - (Be specific about what they are. Are they internal and/or external?)
6.
Theme(s) – (Provide textual evidence to support your claims.)
7.
Connections (to other stories) - (Do you see any similarities and/or differences between this story and
another you have read? Does it relate to anything?)
8.
Additional focus: situational irony (provide an example)
“The Necklace” Guiding Questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Why is Mme. Loisel unhappy with her life at the beginning of the story?
What kind of life does Mathilde want?
Describe Mme. Loisel’s reaction on reading the invitation.
Why had M. Loisel been saving 400 Francs?
Why was Mme. Loisel anxious to hurry away from the ball?
How did M. Loisel contribute to the cost of the new necklace?
Describe how the Loisel’s life changed after they had paid for the new necklace.
What was MMe. Forestier’s reaction when the necklace was returned?
“The Open Window” by Saki (10 points)
1. Biographical information about author – (Research from reliable sources. How does this information
inform your understanding of the author’s tone and purpose for writing? How does it inform your
understanding of the theme?)
2.
Setting – (What is the setting? Does the setting impact the tone or theme of the story?)
3.
Characters - (protagonist/antagonist?) List details about characters/cite textual evidence/make inferences
about characters and author. Are characters flat, round, static, dynamic, etc.?
4.
Mapping plot - (Describe the exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, and
resolution.)
5.
Conflict(s) –
6.
Theme(s) – (Provide textual evidence to support your claims.)
7.
Connections (to other stories) -
8.
Additional focuses:
a. situational irony (list an example)
b. point of view (What point of view is the story told in? How would the story be different if it were
told in a new point of view)
c. mood (Describe the mood using adjectives, and cite textual evidence.)
d. symbols (what are they, and what do they represent?)
“The Open Window” Guiding Questions:
1. How do you know Frampton has never met the Sappletons before the visit? Why is it important to the
story that he know nothing about the Sappeltons?
2. Why is Frampton living in the country? What is this detail critical to the outcome of the story?
3. How does Vera explain the open window?
4. What does Mrs. Sappleton talk about when she meets Frampton? Why do her words and actions seem
“purely horrible” to him?
5. How does Vera explain why Frampton rushes from the house?
How Much Land Does a Man Need?” by Leo Tolstoy (10 points)
1. Biographical information about author – (Research from reliable sources. How does this information
inform your understanding of the author’s tone and purpose for writing? How does it inform your
understanding of the theme?)
2.
Setting – (What is the setting? Does the setting impact the tone or theme of the story?)
3.
Characters - (Who is the protagonist/antagonist?) List details about characters/cite textual evidence & make
inferences about character(s) and author from these details. Are characters flat, round, static, dynamic, etc.?
4.
Mapping plot - (Describe the exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, and
resolution.)
5.
Conflict(s) –
6.
Theme(s) – (Provide textual evidence to support your claims.)
7.
Connections (to other stories) -
8.
Additional focuses:
a. situational irony (give an example)
b. foreshadowing (cite textual evidence)
“How Much Land Does a Man Need?” Guiding Questions:
1. What event allows Pahom to buy his first parcel of land?
2. What is Pahom’s main reason for wanting this land?
3. What effect does owning land have on Pahom’s relationships and life?
4. If Pahom had no chances to acquire more land, do you think he could find happiness with what he
already has? Explain.
5. What is the author’s attitude towards ambition? Towards materialism?
6. What events take place on the last day of Pahom’s life? Explain the meaning of the last sentence
of the story both as a description of Pahom’s fate and as an answer to the title of the story.
7. Draw a conclusion about the Bashkir’s values based on their attitude towards land. Which details
about the Bashkirs contribute to the theme?
“Mother Savage” by Guy du Maupassant (20 points)
1. Biographical information about author – (Research from reliable sources. How does this information
inform your understanding of the author’s tone and purpose for writing? How does it inform your
understanding of the theme?)
2.
Setting – (What is the setting? Does the setting impact the tone or theme of the story?)
3.
Characters - (Who is the protagonist/antagonist?) List details about characters/cite textual evidence & make
inferences about character(s) and author from these details. Are characters flat, round, static, dynamic, etc.?
4.
Mapping Plot - (Describe the exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, and
resolution.)
5.
Conflict(s) –
6.
Theme(s) – (Provide textual evidence to support your claims.)
7.
Connections (to other stories) -
8.
Additional focuses:
a. foreshadowing (cite textual evidence that illustrates lit device)
b. flashback (cite textual evidence that illustrates lit device)
c. suspense (cite textual evidence that illustrates lit device)
“Mother Savage” Creative Writing Assignment:
We never really learn what Mother Savage’s family life was like, or why the entire family may have earned the
name “the Savages.” You will be writing the backstory to the Savage family.
Using either Mother Savage, her husband, or her son, write a short story about the Savages. (1-2 pages, doublespaced)
1. Decide the point of view you are using (I or They)
2. Identify your main characters—you can write from the perspective of one of the Savages or you can write from
the perspective of a friend, visitor, townsperson, etc. (For example, Serval was a neighbor).
3. Select an event that may have occurred before the story (for example, when the husband was out poaching, when
he was shot for poaching, or what led Mother Savage to carry a gun everywhere she went in a small country town
like Virelonge).
4. Give your reader a sense of characterization—explain what your character is like, what the character is thinking,
feeling, and how she/he is coping with the event.
5. Include flashback, suspense, and foreshadowing (you can foreshadow events in the story we read). UNDERLINE
your use of each literary technique. It may be easier to write your story first and add foreshadowing, flashback, and
suspense later.
6. Include dialogue.
7. This is a creative writing assignment….Be creative!
8. Even though you are just writing a rough draft, double-space your writing.
“A Problem” by Anton Chekhov (10 points)
1. Biographical information about author – (Research from reliable sources. How does this information
inform your understanding of the author’s tone and purpose for writing? Of the theme?)
2.
Setting – (What is the setting? Does the setting impact the tone or theme of the story?)
3.
Characters - (Who is the protagonist/antagonist?) List details about characters/cite textual evidence & make
inferences about character(s) and author from these details. Are characters flat, round, static, dynamic, etc.?
4.
Mapping Plot - (Describe the exposition, inciting incident, rising action, climax, falling action, and
resolution.)
5.
Conflict(s) –
6.
Theme(s) – (Provide textual evidence to support your claims.)
7.
Connections (to other stories) -
8.
Additional focus: situational irony (provide an example)
“A Problem” Guiding Questions:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Compare/Contrast the two uncles’ arguments—the last paragraph on page 597 through page
598—for or against the case against Sasha. How does one uncle’s notion of honor affect his
opinion about how to treat Sasha?
What inferences can you make about Ivan based on his speech?
What is Sasha’s attitude toward his misdeed as he sits outside the room listening to the argument
of his uncles?
How does Sasha feel about family honor?
What can you infer about Sasha based on his reaction when he first sees his uncles on the bottom
of page 601?
Do you think Uncle Ivan’s attitude helps or harms Sasha?