Literature Test
Short Stories
Stories:
 The Invisible Japanese
Gentlemen
 Genesis and Catastrophe
 The Lumberroom
 Sredni Vashtar
1. Why do you think the story is called the “Invisible Japanese Gentlemen”? what is so
invisible about them (or rather: to whom are they invisible, and why is that so
ironic?)
2. Describe the characters of the young couple in “The Invisible Japanese Gentlemen.”
Try to link those characters to the story.
3. The narrator of “The Invisible Japanese Gentlemen” is part of the story. What effect
does this have?
4. Irony is an important element of “Genesis and Catastrophe” . Explain how and why.
Try to give as many examples as you can.
5. Describe the characters of Klara and Alois in “Genesis and Catastrophe” in at least
fifty words.
6. There are many parallels between “The Lumber Room” and “Sredni Vashtar”. Explain
what is so similar about these stories in at least a hundred words. Pay attention to
plot, images and characterization.
7. Give the theme of every story.
8. Pick a story and describe its images. What is the deeper meaning of these images ?
Not every question indicates how many words you have to use to answer the
question. Suffice it to say that generally the more words you use, the better it is.
Moreover, always try to support your ideas and arguments with examples from the
stories.
http://www.scribd.com/doc/26604045/The-Invisible-Japanese-Gentlemen-ByGraham-Greene
http://arsethica.files.wordpress.com/2008/03/genesiscatastrophe_dahl.pdf
http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/SreVas.shtml
http://www.eastoftheweb.com/short-stories/UBooks/LumRoo.shtml