English Exam Review PDF

1. “The Possibility of Evil” by Shirley Jackson Plot ​ Introduction: Miss Adela Strangeworth is an elderly woman in a small town. She prides herself on being a respectable citizen and is known for her rose garden. She secretly writes anonymous letters to townspeople, accusing them o...

1. “The Possibility of Evil” by Shirley Jackson Plot ​ Introduction: Miss Adela Strangeworth is an elderly woman in a small town. She prides herself on being a respectable citizen and is known for her rose garden. She secretly writes anonymous letters to townspeople, accusing them of immoral acts, which she believes are necessary to maintain the town’s “goodness.” ​ Inciting Incident: Miss Strangeworth’s letters are discovered by one of the townspeople, and her sense of control starts to unravel. ​ Rising Action: Miss Strangeworth continues to write her letters, even though some of the people she targets are beginning to notice and become upset. She feels justified in her actions, believing that she is preventing evil from spreading. ​ Climax: A young man, having received one of her letters, seeks revenge. He destroys her rose garden, symbolizing the collapse of her illusion of moral superiority. ​ Falling Action: Miss Strangeworth returns home to find her prized roses destroyed. Her once pristine image of goodness is shattered, as she realizes the town now knows the truth about her actions. ​ Conclusion: Miss Strangeworth is left to confront the consequences of her actions, feeling a profound sense of loss as her reputation crumbles. Conflicts ​ Person vs. Person: Miss Strangeworth vs. the townspeople she targets with her letters. ​ Person vs. Self: Miss Strangeworth’s internal struggle with her need for control and moral superiority vs. the harm she causes others. ​ Person vs. Society: Miss Strangeworth’s belief that she has the right to influence the town's morals clashes with the community's sense of propriety and justice. Characters & Characterization ​ Protagonist: ○​ Adjectives: Proud (she takes great pride in her role as the town's moral arbiter), Secretive (hides her true actions and motivations). ​ Antagonist: ○​ Adjectives: Vindictive (he destroys Miss Strangeworth’s roses to get back at her for the harm she caused), Angry (his actions are driven by a desire for revenge).  ​ Other Characters: ○​ Don and Helen Crane: The couple who receive one of Miss Strangeworth’s letters. Don becomes particularly angry when they realize they’ve been wrongly accused. Setting: A small, quiet town in America, with a focus on Miss Strangeworth’s house and rose garden, which represent her facade of control and virtue. Themes: ​ The danger of moral superiority ​ The impact of small actions on a community ​ The illusion of control Point-of-View: Third-person omniscient, which allows the reader to see Miss Strangeworth’s inner thoughts and justifications, creating a sense of dramatic irony. We understand that she believes her actions are righteous, but the reader sees the harm she causes. ​ Pros: Gives deep insight into the protagonist’s character. ​ Cons: We see the situation only through Miss Strangeworth's biased perspective, which may mislead the reader. 2. “Just Lather, That’s All” by Hernando Téllez Plot ​ Introduction: The story is set during a time of civil war in Colombia. A revolutionary, who is also a barber, has the opportunity to kill a military officer, Captain Torres, who is known for his brutal actions against the revolutionaries. ​ Inciting Incident: Captain Torres comes into the barber shop for a shave. He is unaware that the barber is a revolutionary. ​ Rising Action: The barber prepares to kill Captain Torres but struggles with the decision. As he shaves Torres, he contemplates the consequences of killing him and his own personal ethics. ​ Climax: The barber reaches a breaking point but ultimately decides not to kill Captain Torres. He continues the shave, quietly reflecting on his decision. ​ Falling Action: After the shave, Captain Torres reveals he knew the barber was a revolutionary all along, but he’s impressed by the barber’s restraint. ​ Conclusion: The barber is left to reconcile with his decision not to kill Torres. Captain Torres leaves, and the barber is left alone with his thoughts, feeling conflicted. Conflicts ​ Person vs. Person: The barber vs. Captain Torres (potential death of Torres). ​ Person vs. Self: The barber’s internal conflict about whether or not to kill Torres. His ethics and desire for revenge struggle with his professional duty. ​ Person vs. Society: The barber’s role as a revolutionary vs. the societal norm of not committing murder. Characters & Characterization ​ Protagonist: ○​ Adjectives: Ethical (struggles with the decision to kill Torres based on his moral beliefs), Pensive (spends much of the story reflecting on his decision). ​ Antagonist: ○​ Adjectives: Authoritative (Captain Torres is a high-ranking officer), Fearless (he confidently enters the barber’s shop knowing he may be in danger). ​ Other Characters: ○​ None – the story is largely a dialogue between the barber and Captain Torres, with no other significant characters. Setting: A barber shop in a small town, during the Colombian civil war. The confined, intimate setting heightens the tension of the story. Themes: ​ Moral dilemmas and personal ethics ​ The power of restraint and forgiveness ​ The impact of violence and revenge Point-of-View: First-person from the barber’s perspective, creating a deeply personal narrative that reflects the barber’s internal conflict and emotions. ​ Pros: The reader experiences the barber’s dilemma up close and can understand his thought process. ​ Cons: Limited perspective – the reader only knows what the barber knows. 3. “The Fall of a City” by Alden Nowlan Plot ​ Introduction: The story centers on the fall of a small, seemingly idyllic city and the sudden collapse of the protagonist’s life. ​ Inciting Incident: The city is suddenly attacked, and the protagonist is forced to confront his own insignificance in the face of larger events. ​ Rising Action: The protagonist witnesses the chaos and destruction around him and begins to reflect on the nature of power, control, and human existence. ​ Climax: The city is overtaken, and the protagonist is left to ponder the futility of trying to control one’s fate. ​ Falling Action: The aftermath of the city’s fall reveals that the protagonist’s existence is now marked by a lack of purpose. ​ Conclusion: The protagonist is left in a state of despair, contemplating the meaning of life in a world that seems beyond individual control. Conflicts ​ Person vs. Society: The protagonist vs. the collapsing city and its society. ​ Person vs. Self: The protagonist's internal struggle to accept the fall of the city and his loss of control. ​ Person vs. Fate: The protagonist’s struggle with the seeming inevitability of the city’s fall and the meaninglessness of his actions. Characters & Characterization ​ Protagonist: ○​ Adjectives: Helpless (he cannot prevent the fall of the city or the chaos around him), Reflective (he spends much of the story pondering the futility of his situation). ​ Antagonist: ○​ Adjectives: Impersonal (the external forces leading to the city’s fall), Overwhelming (the forces of destruction are beyond the protagonist’s control). ​ Other Characters: ○​ None – the focus is mainly on the protagonist’s internal monologue and observations. Setting: A once-thriving city in a time of upheaval and war, symbolizing the fragility of human endeavors. Themes: ​ The fragility of civilization ​ The conflict between individual agency and fate ​ The meaninglessness of life in the face of destruction Point-of-View: Third-person limited, focused on the protagonist’s thoughts and feelings, which creates a sense of isolation and despair. ​ Pros: Allows for insight into the protagonist’s inner turmoil. ​ Cons: Limits the scope of the story, as we only see the world through his perspective. 4. “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin Plot ​ Introduction: Louise Mallard is a woman with heart trouble who receives the news that her husband, Brently, has died in a train accident. ​ Inciting Incident: Louise learns of her husband's death. ​ Rising Action: Louise retreats to her room, where she begins to experience a sense of freedom at the thought of her new life without her husband. ​ Climax: Louise emerges from her room, joyfully anticipating her future independence, only to see her husband walk through the door, very much alive. ​ Falling Action: Louise’s heart gives out at the shock of seeing her husband alive. ​ Conclusion: Louise dies, and doctors claim she died of "the joy that kills." Conflicts ​ Person vs. Self: Louise’s internal struggle with her feelings about her marriage and the Literary device definitions 1. Flashback A flashback is a scene in a story that takes the narrative back in time from the current point in the story. It’s used to provide background or context to the main events. ​ Example: In The Great Gatsby, we learn about Gatsby's past through flashbacks. 2. Simile A simile is a figure of speech that directly compares two things using the words "like" or "as." ​ Example: "Her smile was as bright as the sun." 3. Metaphor A metaphor is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things by saying one is the other, without using "like" or "as." ​ Example: "Time is a thief." 4. Situational Irony Situational irony occurs when there is a discrepancy between what is expected to happen and what actually happens. ​ Example: A fire station burns down. 5. Foreshadowing Foreshadowing is a literary device where hints or clues are given about what will happen later in the story. ​ Example: In Romeo and Juliet, the repeated references to death foreshadow the tragic ending. 6. Imagery Imagery involves using descriptive language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste) to create vivid pictures in the reader’s mind. ​ Example: "The fresh, juicy apple glistened in the sunlight, its sweetness filling the air." 7. Personification Personification is when non-human objects or abstract concepts are given human characteristics. ​ Example: "The wind whispered through the trees." 8. Motif A motif is a recurring element, idea, or theme in a story or work of literature that has symbolic significance. ​ Example: The motif of light and dark in Romeo and Juliet (light symbolizes love, darkness symbolizes danger). 9. Pathetic Fallacy Pathetic fallacy is a type of personification where human emotions or characteristics are attributed to nature or inanimate objects, often to reflect the emotional state of characters. ​ Example: In Wuthering Heights, the stormy weather often reflects the tumultuous emotions of the characters. 10. Oxymoron An oxymoron is a figure of speech where two contradictory terms are combined to create a paradoxical effect. ​ Example: "Deafening silence." 11. Symbol A symbol is an object, character, or event that represents a larger idea or concept beyond its literal meaning. ​ Example: In The Great Gatsby, the green light symbolizes Gatsby’s unattainable dreams. 12. Dramatic Irony Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows something that the characters in the story do not, creating tension or humor. ​ Example: In Romeo and Juliet, the audience knows Juliet is alive, but Romeo believes she is dead. 13. Hyperbole Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement or claim not meant to be taken literally, used for emphasis or effect. ​ Example: "I’ve told you a million times." 14. Allusion An allusion is a reference to another work of literature, person, place, or event, often from history or mythology. ​ Example: "He was a real Romeo with the ladies." (Reference to Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet) 15. Pathos Pathos is an appeal to the audience’s emotions, intended to evoke feelings of pity, sympathy, or sorrow.  ​ Example: A commercial showing sad images of abandoned animals to stir sympathy for adoption. 16. Aside / Soliloquy ​ Aside: A brief remark made by a character directly to the audience or to themselves, unheard by other characters on stage. ○​ Example: In Shakespeare’s plays, a character might speak an aside to reveal their true thoughts. ​ Soliloquy: A long, often introspective speech delivered by a character alone on stage, revealing their inner thoughts or feelings. ○​ Example: Hamlet's famous "To be, or not to be" speech. 17. Symbolism Symbolism refers to the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities beyond their literal meaning. ​ Example: The raven in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" symbolizes death and the supernatural. 18. Mood Mood refers to the atmosphere or emotional tone of a story, created through setting, imagery, dialogue, and description. It affects the reader’s emotional response. ​ Example: The mood of Frankenstein is dark, ominous, and foreboding. 19. Tone Tone is the author’s attitude toward the subject, characters, or audience, conveyed through word choice and writing style. ​ Example: The tone of Pride and Prejudice is ironic and satirical. Elements of suspense 1. Point-of-View Point-of-view (POV) refers to the perspective from which a story is told. It determines how much the reader knows about the thoughts and experiences of the characters. In suspenseful stories, the POV can influence how information is revealed, keeping the reader on edge. ​ Types of POV: ○​ First-person: The narrator is a character in the story, using "I." ○​ Second-person: The reader is directly addressed ("you"). ○​ Third-person: The narrator is outside the story and uses "he," "she," or "they." It can be limited (focusing on one character's thoughts) or omniscient (knowing all characters' thoughts and events). ​ Example: In suspense, a first-person POV often creates a closer, more immediate sense of danger, as the reader shares the character’s limited or distorted perspective. 2. Setting & Imagery Setting is the time and place in which the events of a story occur. Imagery refers to the descriptive language that creates vivid pictures in the reader's mind, appealing to the senses (sight, sound, smell, etc.). ​ Setting: In suspense, the setting often plays a crucial role in creating tension. A dark, stormy night, or a desolate, isolated location heightens the sense of danger. ​ Imagery: The use of vivid descriptions of the setting or actions helps build atmosphere, enhancing the suspense. Describing a creaky door or the sound of footsteps behind a character can make the reader feel nervous and uncertain. ​ Example: “The room was dim, the only light coming from a flickering candle. The wind howled outside, and the floorboards creaked with every step.” 3. Style & Form Style refers to the way an author expresses their thoughts through word choice, sentence structure, and overall approach to writing. Form refers to the structure of the narrative, including its length, chapters, and division of scenes.  ​ Style: In suspense stories, an author might use short, choppy sentences, or repetition to create tension, and slow down time for dramatic effect. ​ Form: Suspense can be amplified through the structure of the story—such as withholding crucial information until a climactic moment or alternating between multiple perspectives. ​ Example: In a suspense thriller, the style might include fragmented thoughts or brief, fragmented sentences that mimic the character's anxiety. The form might consist of short chapters that end on cliffhangers. 4. Dramatic Irony Dramatic irony occurs when the audience knows something that the characters in the story do not. This creates suspense because the reader or viewer is aware of impending danger or conflict while the characters remain unaware. ​ Example: In Romeo and Juliet, the audience knows Juliet isn't really dead, but Romeo does not. This creates tension as he prepares to kill himself. ​ Suspense Effect: Dramatic irony builds suspense because the reader anticipates the consequences of the characters’ ignorance, heightening the emotional stakes. 5. Cliffhanger A cliffhanger is a story device that leaves a plot unresolved at the end of a chapter or episode, creating suspense by forcing the reader or viewer to continue to find out what happens next. ​ Example: At the end of a mystery novel, the protagonist might discover a critical clue and then immediately be confronted by an unknown danger, leaving the chapter open-ended. ​ Suspense Effect: A cliffhanger forces the reader to continue reading, as they need resolution or closure to the ongoing tension or conflict. 6. Mood Mood refers to the emotional atmosphere created by the author through their writing, which affects the reader's emotional response. ​ In Suspense: The mood is often tense, eerie, or ominous. The author might use dark or foreboding imagery to evoke feelings of fear, anxiety, or excitement.  ​ Example: "The storm outside raged, and the trees banged against the window like desperate fingers trying to get inside." 7. Tone Tone refers to the author’s attitude toward the subject, characters, or audience. It can be formal, informal, humorous, serious, or sarcastic, among others. In suspense, tone is often dark, tense, or mysterious, contributing to the feeling of anticipation or dread. ​ In Suspense: The tone often adds to the feelings of danger or uncertainty. A serious or ominous tone builds the atmosphere for the unfolding tension. ​ Example: "The walls felt like they were closing in, and with each tick of the clock, time seemed to grow shorter." Summary of How These Terms Work Together to Create Suspense: ​ Point-of-view controls how much the audience knows about the characters’ thoughts and the story, which can either heighten or obscure tension. ​ Setting and imagery immerse the reader in an environment where danger or uncertainty looms, adding to the suspense. ​ Style and form impact pacing—quick, fragmented sentences can speed up tension, while slower descriptions might build suspense. ​ Dramatic irony keeps the reader on edge, knowing more than the characters and anticipating the consequences. ​ Cliffhangers keep the reader hooked by leaving unresolved tension at critical moments. ​ Mood and tone create the emotional atmosphere of the story, amplifying the suspenseful emotions the reader experiences. By carefully manipulating these elements, an author can create a sense of constant tension, keeping readers engaged and on edge until the story reaches its resolution.