Short Stories Unit Study Guide
Short Story Review Key
Students should review ALL applied notes for the short stories we have read in class. These are your primary study
guides. Answers to some are on Mrs. Meo’s web page. Other answers were given in class; you were expected to take
careful notes on those discussions.
Plotline review:
A.exposition
B.reconstructed past
C.foreshadowing
D.flashback
E.epiphany
F.story climax
G.falling action/denoument
1. _C__ “One thought persisted maddeningly. It was of the crash into his body of a high-velocity bullet.”
2. _A__ Montresor desires revenge on Fortunato.
3._B__ Through dialogue, reader learns that Sherlock Holmes has solved several difficult mysteries in the past.
4._G__ For 50 years, no one has disturbed the bones that Montresor left arranged in the catacombs.
5._A__ “The orphanage is high in the Carolina mountains.”
6._C__ The ibis dies in the yard, after travelling out of its natural habitat, falling to the ground looking uncoordinated and
red.
7. _F__ The gum tree explodes in a lightning strike, and Doodle collapses while trying to keep up with Brother.
8._E & F__ “For the love of God, Montresor!”
9._F__ The young scout races for the treeline as the ginger-bearded man aims.
10._A__ It was in the clove of seasons, summer was dead but autumn had not yet ben born, that the ibis lit in the
bleeding tree.
11._G__ The soldier falls from his horse, the apples spilling on the ground, as the men laugh.
12._F & E__ Miss Clark says, “He has no mother. He has no skates.”
13._E__ Holmes describes the moment when “the probably meaning of the first two questions of the ritual broke
suddenly upon me.”
14._C__ Montresor claims to be a mason, and pulls a trowel from his cloak to prove it.
15._B__ The ginger-bearded man’s laugh lines show that once he was a pleasant, good-natured man.
16._D__ The relics from the storage box that Holmes opens remind him of the Musgrave case, and spur his retelling the
story to Watson, beginning with his conversation with Reginald Musgrave.
17._B__ “You are rich, respected, admired, beloved; you are happy, as I once was.”
18._A__ The story opens with a young man, tense, riding a horse through the woods.
What do these symbolize?
Apples in “War” Life
Ibis in “Scarlet Ibis” Doodle
Gloves in “Mother in Mannville” Protection, love
Questions:
What is meant by Doodle being “all there”? Is he “all there”? Intelligent. Yes.
Why is Doodle “a disappointment”? Weak and unable to play with Brother as a healthy boy.
True or False;
Jerry fixes the walkway so he can get to the narrator’s cabin faster to help her.
Pat does not bark at Jerry because he recalls how Jerry fed him and played with him.
The conflict in “Scarlet Ibis” is character vs. society.
All false
________________________________________________________________________________________________
1._personification____ The pulse of war that beat from the west
2._alliteration____ His task was to find what he feared to find.
3._imagery____ The sweat ran from him, and the pollen dust settling pungently in mouth and nostrils, increased his
thirst.
4._allusion____ He is a bit of a Don Juan, … it is not a very difficult part to play in a quiet country district.
5._onomatopoeia____ The pounding of the cylinders increased: ta-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa-pocketa.
6._hyperbole____ The thousand injuries of Fortunato I had borne as I best could.
7._irony____ The reader perceives that Montresor is deranged, as he calmly listens to Fortunato’s agony.
8._irony & foreshadowing____ “I shall not die of a cough.” “True. True.”
9._allusion____ “We had left no crumbs behind.”
10._simile____ The oriole nest in the elm was untenanted and rocked back and forth like an empty cradle.
11._alliteration____ The pale fence across the yard stands straight and spruce.
12._alliteration____ It was spring and the sick-sweet smell of bay flowers hung everywhere.
13._flashback____ Sometimes as I sit in the cool parlor, the grindstone begins to turn, and I remember Doodle.
14._metaphor____ Pride is a wonderful, terrible thing, a seed that bears two vines, life and death.
15._simile & personification____ Promise hung about us like the leaves. (Which device, besides simile, is this?)
16._imagery____ Wherever we looked, ferns unfurled and birds broke into song.
17._foreshadowing____ Doodle was tired, and when he stepped from the skiff he collapsed onto the mud.
________________________________________________________________________________________
Story Title:_ “The Musgrave Ritual”__________ Author:___Sir Arthur Conan Doyle______________
I.PLOT –
A. Plotline
Exposition Holmes is orderly in thought and sloppy in housekeeping. Watson lives with Holmes.
Complication Musgrave goes to Holmes for help.
Rising Action Several events in the story are part of the rising action. Notable ones are:
Brunton has caused trouble at Hurlstone by being a ladies’ man.
Brunton is caught snooping in the Musgrave family papers.
Brunton disappears. Rachel acts strange. Rachel disappears. The Musgraves have a strange ritual.
Climax Brunton is found dead.
Denoument (Falling Action/Resolution) Again, several events fall into this category. Mainly, the
Musgrave treasure is found to have been the crown of Charles I. The crown is now at Hurlstone. Holmes
figures that Rachel must have helped Brunton.
B. Plot related terms & concepts
Reconstructed Past Holmes has solved other mysteries. Holmes studied sciences while waiting to be
hired as a detective.
Flashback Events from Musgrave’s entrance in Holmes’ office to the explanation of how Brunton died.
Epiphany Musgrave cries, “And under!”
Turning point Several points can be described as the turning point. Mainly, Musgrave’s epiphany
provides a major turning point.
Projected future
C. Conflict
Character vs. Character Holmes/Musgrave vs. Brunton
Character vs. Nature
Character vs. Society
Character vs. Self
II. CHARACTER
A. Character terms
protagonist Holmes
antagonist Brunton
flat possibly Watson
round Holmes, Brunton, Musgrave, Rachel
dynamic possibly Rachel. Student must explain why.
Static Brunton, Holmes, Musgrave
foil Brunton (intelligent) / Musgrave (dim-witted)
B. Characterization
Direct – Watson describes the “anomaly” in Holmes’ personality. Holmes tells that Musgrave has a
diffident (shy) nature. Musgrave says Rachel has a fiery, Welsh temper. Musgrave tells that Brunton is a “Don
Juan” (ladies’ man), and that he is very bright.
Indirect – The reader sees Brunton solving the Musgrave ritual and finding the treasure. The reader
sees Holmes solving the same mystery. The reader hears Musgrave tell that the ritual, a major clue, is “of little
importance”.
III. SETTING
Time Victorian Era (late 19th/early 20th Century)
Place England
Atmosphere
IV. POINT OF VIEW ___X__ 1st Person _____ 3rd Person Limited
_____ 3rd Person Omniscient
Literary devices
Simile p.50 “Like a black-eyed shadow of her former self”
p.52 “Like a broken man”
Metaphor p.53 “There lay the end of this tangled line.”
p.52 “a labyrinth of an old house” p.59 “What smoldering fire of vengeance had suddenly sprung in to flame”
Imagery p.52 “shriek after shriek of laughter” p.59 Paragraph 2, second column, the sentence beginning, “Be
that as it might…”
Irony Holmes is orderly in thought and messy in household.
Burnton’s success at finding the treasure kills him.
Butler outsmarted 10 generations of his masters.
Rachel was asked to help Brunton because she once loved him. In the end, she turns on Brunton.
Allusion p. 50 Don Juan; p.55 Historical allusion to the Norman Conquest
Personification p. 57 “The black hole yawned.”
p. 54 “a patriarch among oaks”
Alliteration p. 49 “extraordinary and inexplicable”
“Butler Brunton”
Onomatopoeia p. 52 “shriek after shriek”
p.59 “drumming of frenzied hands against slab of stone”
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Story Title:_____ “War”__________________________ Author:___Jack London______________
I.PLOT –
A. Plotline
Exposition Young scout; tense atmosphere, trees & brush
Complication “catlike and tense”
Rising Action all events from leading the horse down the slope to gathering apples
Climax the chase and shot of the ginger bearded man
Denoument (Falling Action/Resolution) soldier falling from the horse, apples spilling, laughter of the
men, applause for the long shot
B. Plot related terms & concepts
Reconstructed Past that the ginger bearded man must have smiled a lot, as evidenced by his laugh lines
Foreshadowing pg. 42 “One thought persisted maddeningly…”
Turning point at the first hint that there may be a long shot that hits the soldier.
C. Conflict
Character vs. Character Young soldier vs. ginger bearded man
Character vs. Nature
Character vs. Society war itself
Character vs. Self
II. CHARACTER
A. Character terms
protagonist the young soldier
antagonist the ginger bearded man
flat
the other soldiers
round ginger bearded man and soldier
B. Characterization
Direct – physical descriptions of young soldier & ginger bearded man
The young soldier has only the courage “of the average civilized man”.
Indirect – The young soldier is compassionate. = He does not shoot his enemy; he gathers apples for
comrades.
List main characters. Identify major traits.
Character
Soldier
Ginger bearded man
Traits/Notes
Average courage; physical description; compassion.
Good shot; good-natured; at stream, is anxious and weary
III. SETTING
Time mid-19th Century (carbine, soldier riding a horse)
Place any country with trees, brush, hills, streams, farms, apples, chickens, cows
Atmosphere tense
IV. POINT OF VIEW _____ 1st Person
__x___ 3rd Person Limited
_____ 3rd Person Omniscient
V. THEME War is not fair. War destroys civilization, makes civilized men act in uncivilized fashion.
Literary devices
Simile “catlike and tense”
“buzzing and humming like some incredible insect”(43)
Metaphor “Wall of trees”
“quail, exploding into flight” (p.39) “So tensely was he strung” (39)
“The pulse of war that beat from the west” (39)
“He grinned sheepishly” (39)
Imagery
Irony The man whom the soldier spared ends up taking the soldier’s life.
Allusion The ginger bearded man ===(possibly)=== The Gingerbread Man
A childhood favorite character, as opposed to this man who takes our protagonist’s life
Personification “The pulse of war that beat from the west suggested the companionship of battling
thousands.”(41)
“The woods sprang nearer.” (41)
Symbolism Apples = life;
water = life
Alliteration “Man and horse were littered with leaves.”(39) “like some incredible insect”(43)
Onomatopoeia “A rifle cracked.”(43)
“buzzing and humming”(43)
Hyperbole
Symbol –
Established water = life
Created apples = life
ADDITIONAL NOTES:
No names for the war, the young soldier, or the ginger bearded man = universality
Respect / Lack of respect
Corpses not buried
Laughter at the soldier’s fall from horse
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Story Title:_____”A Mother in Mannville”____________Author:____Marjorie Kinnon Rawlings______
I.PLOT –
A. Plotline
Exposition Orphanage in the mountains. Narrator’s reason to be there.
Complication Jerry looks too small to cut wood.
Rising Action Jerry’s arrival to narrator’s visit to Miss Clark
Climax “He has no mother. He has no skates.”
Denoument (Falling Action/Resolution) None –The author leaves us hanging on to that last revelation.
B. Plot related terms & concepts
Reconstructed Past Narrator has had malaria from too long in the tropics.
Foreshadowing Jerry’s little lie about the narrator asking to see him
Epiphany “He has no mother. He has no skates.”
C. Conflict
Character vs. Character x
Character vs. Nature
Character vs. Society
Character vs. Self
II. CHARACTER
A. Character terms
protagonist narrator
antagonist none
round Jerry, narrator
B. Characterization
Direct – physical descriptions of Jerry; statements that Jerry has integrity
Indirect – Jerry doing chores exceptionally well, showing his integrity. Jerry lying, showing some
conflict. Dog doesn’t bark at Jerry, showing he is simple, kind, comfortable person.
III. SETTING
Time mid 20th century; autumn
Place Carolina mountains, a cabin owned by an orphanage
Atmosphere isolation
IV. POINT OF VIEW __x___ 1st Person
_____ 3rd Person Limited
_____ 3rd Person Omniscient
V. THEME There is more to people than we realize.
Literary devices
Simile The human mind scatters its interests as though made of thistledown.
His eyes were like the mountain sky when rain is pending.
Metaphor “a curtain lifted, so that I saw deep into the clear well of his eyes, and gratitude was there, asn
affection, soft over the firm granite of his character.”
Irony Jerry cuts as much wood as a grown man.
Symbolism Gloves symbolize warmth, love, protection, as a gift from or to a loved one.
Onomatopoeia the “chop” of Jerry’s ax
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Story Title:___ “The Cask of Amontillado”_______
Author:__Edgar Allan Poe______________
GENRE – short story; horror
Short story – NOTE: Poe is considered the father of the short story, since he originated this genre.
I.PLOT –
A. Plotline
Exposition Montresor wants revenge.
Complication “thousand injuries”
Rising Action going to the carnival
Climax Montresor is really leaving Fortunato in the catacombs.
Denoument (Falling Action/Resolution) 50 years later, the bones are undisturbed.
B. Plot related terms & concepts
Reconstructed Past – Subtle hints appear. Explain the meaning of these:
Pg. 95 “The thousand injuries of Fortunato…but when he ventured upon insult…”-Pg. 97 “You are rich, respected, admired. You are happy, as I once was.”-Pg. 100 Fortunato’s plea that his friends and Lady Fortunato would be looking for him. -Foreshadowing “I shall not die of a cough.” “True—true.”
Epiphany “For the love of God, Montresor!”
Projected future – Pg. 100 In the final passages of the story
C. Conflict
X Character vs. Character – Montresor vs. Fortunato
Character vs. Nature
Character vs. Society
Character vs. Self
II. CHARACTER
A. Character terms
protagonist – The narrator, Montresor, is the driving force in the story, and is therefore the protagonist.
In developing horror as a genre, Poe made the “bad guy” the protagonist.
antagonist – Fortunato, as Montresor’s enemy, is the antagonist.
B. Characterization – List main characters. Identify major traits. Most characterization in this story is indirect.
Character
Traits
Examples/Proof (Give page #.)
Montresor
Manipulates people –
(narrator)
Connoisseur of fine wine –
Revengeful –
Unhappy –
Sinister, deranged –
“I trembled.” “My heart grew sick.”(100)
Fortunato -
Connoisseur of fine wine
Successful
Has a cold
Wears motley, bells; has been drinking
III. SETTING
Time Carnival season,
Place Italy
Atmosphere -- Write the contrasting elements in the setting that create an atmosphere of sinister actions
against a backdrop of foolishness.
IV. POINT OF VIEW __x___ 1st Person _____ 3rd Person Limited
_____ 3rd Person Omniscient
Literary devices
Simile
Metaphor
Imagery
Irony
Dramatic (reader knows what narrator does not know)
Reader can tell that Montresor is deranged, when he enjoys sitting on the bones and listening to Fortunato’s
chains as he struggles.
Montresor says he trembled because of the dampness of the catacombs. Reader realizes it is because of his own
tiny bit of horror at what he has done.
Situational (unexpected happens)
Verbal (irony in words or names, sarcastic dialogue)
Allusion
Personification
Alliteration
Onomatopoeia Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!
Hyperbole thousand injuries of Fortunato
Symbol –
Established
Created
Editorializing
Importance of details: Poe used details with deliberate intentions to create an impression. Sometimes his
details mean more than one thing.
Fortunato’s name – ironic
Fortunato’s cough – He is vulnerable.
Numerous bones – horror
Niter – shows passage of vast amounts of time
Montresor coat of arms & motto – reflects family’s revengeful nature
Masons –2-fold meaning: club, and the way Montresor murders Fortunato
Contrasted clothing of Fortunato & Montresor – foolish vs. sinister
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
Story Title:__ “The Scarlet Ibis”________________________ Author:____James Hurst______________
I.PLOT –
A. Plotline
Exposition First paragraph
Complication Doodle is a disappointment; born ill and weak, unable to play with Brother
Rising Action Brother sees Doodle smile for the first time
Climax The lightning strikes the gum tree; Doodle chases Brother and dies of exhaustion
Denoument (Falling Action/Resolution) Brother covers Doodle’s body from the rain.
B. Plot related terms & concepts
Flashback – Almost the entire story, from the third paragraph on.
Foreshadowing The ibis dies.
Epiphany Brother realizes that Doodle is “all there”. The family sees Doodle walk. Brother realizes that
pride made him help his brother.
C. Conflict
Character vs. Character x
Character vs. Nature x
Character vs. Society
Character vs. Self
II. CHARACTER
A. Character terms
protagonist – Brother
antagonist – no one
dynamic
We could argue that Brother and Doodle are each dynamic. An argument could also be
made that neither has a basic personality change. This would be a good essay topic.
static
family; Aunt Nicey
B. Characterization – Give one example of each type of characterization. Include full sentence and page #.
Direct – Physical descriptions of Doodle
Indirect – Brother’s determination in teaching Doodle. Doodle’s childlike simplicity.
III. SETTING
Time 1918
Place American rural area
IV. POINT OF VIEW ___x__ 1st Person _____ 3rd Person Limited
V. THEME People often hurt those whom they love.
_____ 3rd Person Omniscient
Literary devices – Give the number of examples indicated. Write the page number.
Simile Ibis lies like a broken vase of red flowers. Doodle falls like a half empty flour sack.
1. The oriole nest was untenanted and rocked back and forth like an empty cradle.
2. Hope perched like a cardinal.
3. Doodle falls after exerting himself “like an old, worn-out doll.”
Metaphor Pride is a seed that bears two vines, life and death.
Irony Brother expects a great deal from Doodle, although he gives him a name that suggests people shouldn’t
expect much from him.
Allusion historical: names of French towns in WWI; biblical: the Resurrection; fairy tale: we had left no crumbs
behind.
Personification Hope no longer hid in the palmetto bush but perched like a cardinal.
The breeze “whispered softly the names of our dead.”
Symbolism
How does the ibis symbolize Doodle?
1. red, uncoordinated, fragile
2. out of natural habitat
3. dies
What things are red in the story? ibis, bleeding tree, nightshade bush, Doodle’s blood, Doodle’s
complexion as a baby when he exerts himself, cardinal
What might this color symbolize? Life, love, death
Alliteration
1. the sick-sweet smell of bay flowers
Hyperbole Brother lifted Doodle to his feet to try to make him stand 100 times each afternoon.