Name______
Practice Summative Assessment Key: THE ESCAPE
I can explain how the elements of a story interact.
All questions assess a Proficient level of understanding. Students may demonstrate Mastery through complex analysis and advanced use of academic vocabulary.
- In what ways does the setting affect the story (in terms of plot, conflict, theme, and/or mood)?
The setting is a prison, over a day and into the night. It is storming, and lightning is flashing. Boris is in solitary confinement in a cell. The setting is important to the story because it:
SETS MOOD. The dark and lonely nature of the setting, along with the storm, give the story a dark and dreary mood, which works for a story with an ending such as this. The lightning is also important to the PLOT because without it, Boris would not have found the tunnel or read the note, thus allowing for the inciting force.
Is ANTAGONISTIC. Boris is afraid of being alone, and when he is thrown into solitary this creates the conflict. Eventually, he gets stuck in the tunnel which provides the resolution.
- Identify the inciting force of the story, and using your understanding of conflict, explain why you think this is the inciting force.
The inciting force is when Boris finds the tunnel. It is the inciting force because this is what allows him to get into the tunnel, which is ultimately what leads to the resolution.
OR (not as good but acceptable)
When Boris gets thrown into solitary in the first place. This is what causes his character vs. self conflict—he is afraid of being alone and this solitary situation prompts him to try and escape, which leads to the eventual resolution of his death.
- First, identify the climax. Then explain how you determined this moment was the climax using your understanding of conflict, crisis, and/or resolution.
The climax in the story is when Boris sees the moonlight. This is the climax because it represents a turning point between Boris beginning his escape and the reader finding out that the moonlight is showing through a metal gate, which is when we find out he does not make it. When the reader learns he sees the moon, we wonder if there is hope for Boris—he may get out, but we don’t know for certain. It is a change in the situation of Boris’ descent into the unknown.
- Explain what the climax reveals about Boris.
The climax reveals Boris is static—he continues to pursue his goal of escape, even though his previous attempts lead to poor outcomes. He has learned nothing from his mistakes, and it leads to his downfall. Boris is both determined and stubborn, and this causes his demise.
- Identify one or more of Boris’ (the protagonist’s)character traits. Support your answer with text evidence.
Then explain how the traits affected the plotor theme.
Boris is determined. This is shown when he persists in his travel through the tunnel even though he is afraid of rats. For example, in the story, the text states, “Boris opened his mouth to scream. But he knew he had to be quiet. He dug a fist into his mouth. He made himself move forward into the tunnel.” This shows he is determined because he moves forward in spite of his fear.Because Boris is determined, this affects the plot, because this trait is what allows him to continue trying to escape, thus leading him into the tunnel, and, ultimately, to the resolution of his death.
- Identify the theme, and explain your answer using your knowledge of character or conflict and resolution.
One possible theme is “learn from previous mistakes.” The character of Boris supports this theme. Because he is static, he does not learn from his first escape attempt, even after he is thrown into solitary as punishment. He continues to try to get out, probably because he is afraid of being alone and/or locked up (character v. self). Since he never learns, he repeats his mistake, which leads to the resolution of our protagonist ending up trapped with the rats at the end of the tunnel. If he had learned from his mistakes, he would have survived, thus showing the author’s message.