ENG2D – University Prep
Unit II: Short Story and Poetry
“The Fall of a City” by Alden Nowlan
Elements of English 10 (pp.130-133)
Mr. P. Langevin
Room 206
Before Reading Discussion
 Describe a time in your life when you got really mad at someone who was making fun of you.
AND/OR
 Explain a time when you felt humiliated by an adult.
During Reading Questions
1. The only literary device NOT present in the first paragraph of the story is: a.
Simile b.
Metaphor c.
Imagery d.
Personification
2. What does the Kingdom of Upalia reveal about the protagonist? a.
That he is creative b.
That he is effeminate (not masculine) c.
That he is crazy d.
All of the above
3. The word “resplendent” in the fourth paragraph means: a.
Stunning and magnificent b.
Dull and dismal c.
Serious and ominous d.
None of the above
4. Why is the imaginary kingdom named Theodoresburg? a.
Because it is a world he has created in which to escape b.
Because Teddy needs one place in the world where he is empowered c.
Because Teddy is a short form for Theodore d.
All of the above
5. In the fourth paragraph on page 132, the word “will” is in italics. This text feature is used to indicate: a.
That the author wants to emphasize the uncle’s tone of voice

ENG2D – University Prep
Unit II: Short Story and Poetry
Mr. P. Langevin
Room 206 b.
That the author wants to highlight the importance of the word c.
That the author wants to emphasize the meaning of the word d.
None of the above
6. The quotation, “Theodoresburg had been growing for a year and, often, it seemed more real than the town, the street and the home in which he lived with his uncle and aunt” (Nowlan 132) is followed by Teddy stating: “There was only an attic full of preposterous cardboard buildings and ridiculous paper people” (Nowlan 133). These quotations show the reader that: a.
Teddy’s hope for the future is gone b.
Teddy does not need to escape his painful life anymore c.
Teddy’s innocent, childhood pastime has been destroyed by his uncle d.
Teddy should not have wasted his time in the attic
After Reading Reflection
SHORT ANSWER RESPONSE
1.
Do you think the story is realistic? Use information from the text and your own ideas to justify your answer.
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Quotation ANALYSIS
Explain the significance of TWO quotations below in relation to the story. Use the
Quotation Analysis chart to complete this exercise.
1.
“Behind him, cloudy white marbles of rain slid down the window” (132).
2.
In the centre of the room stood a fort and a palace, painstakingly constructed from corrugated cardboard cartons” (130).
3.
“His Majesty King Theodore I, resplendent in the red and black uniform of a generalissimo, emerged on the balcony of his winter palace in Theodoresburg, capital of the Kingdom of Upalia” (130).
4.
“Paper dolls and doll houses. An eleven year old boy!...The next thing we know, you’ll be wanting us to put skirts on you” (133).
5.
“Yes, they were paper dolls. There was no King Theodore, no Emperor Kang, no
Theodoresburg, no Upalia, no Danova. There was only an attic full of preposterous cardboard buildings of ridiculous paper people” (133).

ENG2D – University Prep
Unit II: Short Story and Poetry
Mr. P. Langevin
Room 206
Deeper Thinking Questions for “The Fall of a City” by Alden Nowlan
Answer the following questions on a separate piece of paper. Please answer in full sentences, unless otherwise asked to do something different.
1. What literary device is used in the first sentence of the story? Why is it effective?
2. There are two settings in the story. Create a VENN DIAGRAM and write down the similarities and differences between the two. How are these setting important to the story?
3. Describe 3 characteristics of Teddy and use quotations from the story to prove your points.
4. How does Teddy’s character devolve through the story? What are the reasons this happens?
5. What emotion does the reader feel about Teddy? How does the author evoke this feeling from you?
6. What impression do you have of Teddy’s intelligence and personality as he plays with his paper city? What gives you that impression? (look at his use of language and his imagination) Give EXAMPLES!!
7. Why does the boy call the king Theodore?
8. Metaphor is a term used to indicate comparison, where one concept is described in terms of another. a) How are the characters in Teddy’s fantasy world metaphors for his real world? b) How is the setting a metaphor of the “real world” downstairs?
9. What symbolic meaning does King Theodore take on in the story? And Upalia? And the cutout figures?
10. Find at least 4 quotations from the short story that show how much power Teddy’s parents have over him.
11. When Teddy speaks to his aunt and uncle, he uses different language in comparison to the language used when he is building his kingdom in his imagination. Explain the significance of this. Why do you suppose Teddy does this?
12. Why does Teddy destroy his “kingdom” at the end of the story?
13. “The city was as he left it. Yet everything had changed” (133). What happened?