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ENG 4U
Short Story Unit – STUDY QUESTIONS
NOTE: Unless otherwise instructed, all questions should be answered using complete
sentences. To create good study notes, you should include phrasing from the question to
make the context of your answer clear.
“SHINING HOUSES” by Alice Munro p. 63
1. Describe fully the physical setting of this short story. Explain why this setting is so critical to both
plot and theme.
2. What is the motivation of the people who ‘win’ in this story?
3. What underlying beliefs and motivations are revealed in their (the ‘winners’’) words and behaviour?
4. Do you agree with Mary that they are ‘good people’? Explain your point of view.
5. To what extent does Alice Munro offer a fair and balanced portrait of these characters?
6. Create a two-column chart. In the first column, record three quotations that you believe are
central to the story. In the second column, explain the context and significance of each.
7. Describe Mrs. Fullerton’s character. How does it relate to a theme of the story?
8. Select two themes of this short story and prove each theme with several direct references to the
story.
9. Explain, in the light of the entire story, the irony in the last two paragraphs of “Shining Houses”.
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“WAR” by Timothy Findley p. 120
1. What is the setting of this story? Do you find this setting to be appropriate for the content of the
story? Explain your reasons.
2. Explain why, when on p. 122 Neil is discussing the gifts he has for his parents, this situation could
be an example of foreshadowing.
3. Explain the significance to the story of the following: the worm, Mrs. Currie’s pale face, Uncle
Frank, the string of red beads, and a photograph.
4. What is the literal and figurative significance of the title?
5. Identify and prove a definite character trait of each of the children.
6. Describe and illustrate two themes that might be applied to this story.
7. Find and list at least three examples of vocabulary, expressions, and/or syntax in the story that are
typical of a young person.
8. At one point in the story, the narrator switches from normal narrative conventions to a dramatic
version of a conversation. What effect does this seem to have? Why do you think Findley chose to
do this?
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“THE ROCKING HORSE WINNER” by D.H. Lawrence p. 18
1. Examine the opening of the story. What style does it imitate? (Try to think of what type of story it
might remind you of). Why is this appropriate for the story?
2. Why exactly did Paul ride his rocking horse to find a winner?
3. Quote two places in the text that show the mother to be aloof (distant, cool).
4. Why had her love for her husband turned to dust?
5. Lawrence says near the end of the story: “. . . all her tormented motherhood flooding upon her,
rushed to gather him up.” What has happened at this moment to Paul’s mother?
6. Note the ongoing description of Paul’s eyes. What does this description suggest about Paul?
7. What does Paul’s mother teach him about luck?
8. Explain what the whispering house adds to the atmosphere of the story. Why does the whispering
get even louder after Paul’s mother has received the 5000 pounds, rather than become quieter?
What is Lawrence saying here about money?
9. In what way is Paul’s furious riding on the rocking horse an appropriate symbol for materialistic
pursuits? Explain the symbolism of the rocking horse. How does it emphasize the idea of the
futility of finding love through materialistic means.
10. Why don’t we find out details such as the name of Paul’s mother until later in the story?
11. Explain how Paul’s death is symbolic?
12. Comment on Uncle Oscar’s behaviour. Especially comment on his remark, “My God Hester. You’re
eighty-odd thousand tot he good and a poor divil of a son to the bad.” Lawrence is probably
speaking through Uncle Oscar when he says, “But, poor devil, poor devil, he’s best gone out of a
life where he rides his rocking-horse to find a winner.” Explain what point he is trying to make here.
13. Write a well-worded and all inclusive statement of the theme of the story.
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14. In a very well-developed paragraph, outline some of the principle literary and stylistic
methods Lawrence uses to convey this theme effectively. Be sure to include quotations
for support, followed by analysis. This paragraph should be an absolute minimum of
250 words, and the better answers will be as long as 400 - 500 words. THIS
PARAGRAPH WILL BE HANDED IN FOR EVALUATION, SO PLEASE DOUBLE SPACE IT.
(Typed is preferable, but hand-written is fine).