Study Guide for Reading Test on Friday, April 30Th

Study guide for Reading test on Friday, April 30th

1)  Definitions (some review)

Know these definitions (will be fill-in-the blank on test)

·  Myth – A story that usually explains something about the world and involves gods and superheroes

·  Short story ---

·  Science fiction ---

·  Fable – A brief story that teaches a moral, or lesson about how to succeed in life

·  Fairy tale --- a story, usually for children, involving fantastic forces or beings; considered a type of folk tale

·  Theme --- universal truth about life revealed in literature

·  Moral --- a lesson about how to succeed in life by making wise choices

2)  Short Story vocabulary (Will be matching on test)

1.  plot- what happens in a story; chain of events

2.  setting – time and place of a story

3.  exposition – provides the background needed to properly understand the story

4.  conflict – a struggle between characters or opposing forces

There are four types of conflict:

·  man vs. man

·  man vs. nature

·  man vs. society/government

·  man vs. self

5.  complications – problems that come up as characters struggle to reach their goals (sometimes called rising action)

6.  climax – the most exciting moment of the story where the reader learns how the conflict will turn out

7.  resolution – the part of the story in which the loose ends of the plot are tied up and any remaining questions are answered (sometimes called falling action)

8.  protagonist – main character in a story, drama, or other literary work

9.  antagonist – one who struggles with or contends with the main character

10.  theme – universal truth about life revealed in literature

11.  characters – people or animals in a story

3)  Be able to match Aesop’s fables (which we looked at in class) with

the corresponding morals. These morals are listed on the teacher web

pages. There will be six of these.

4)  Choose two of Aesop’s fable and describe how they could apply to life today.

YOU WILL ALSO NEED TO BE ABLE TO:

5) Read a fable and write a moral.

6)  Read a short story and list the “formula” for determining theme

(sort of a prewrite). Then list the story’s theme.

Before deciding theme :

1.  List the protagonist and three abstract nouns that describe his/her qualities

2.  Briefly describe the conflict

3.  List the antagonist and three abstract nouns that describe his/her qualities

4.  List the outcome (resolution of the conflict)

5.  Use this information to write a broad statement that would apply universally to many situations and settings

EXTRA CREDIT* Write an additional theme for the same story.