Short Story Study Guide
This Study Guide is 45 points
“The Most Dangerous Game” pg 4
1. What is plot?
2. What is foreshadowing?
3. What is flashback?
4. Who are the four characters in the story?
5. Define: Exposition, Rising Action, Climax, Falling Action, and Resolution.
6. How does Zaroff justify hunting humans?
“Thank You Ma’am” pg 86
1. What is direct characterization?
2. What is the indirect characterization?
3. What are the five concepts of indirect characterization?
4. What is Mrs. Jones’ character like? How do you know? Use an example from the book.
5. What is Rodger’s character like? How do you know? Use an example from the book.
“The Gift of the Magi” pg 286
1. What is irony?
2. What is dramatic irony?
3. What is situational irony?
4. What is verbal irony?
5. What were Della and Jim’s prize possessions?
6. Why did they have to sell them?
7. What is ironic about their situation at the end of the story?
8. Since the story ended with a plot twist, what type of irony is presented?
“The Sniper” pg 211
1. What is theme?
2. What is the setting of the story? (Where does it take place? Year?)
3. What two groups are at war?
4. What is a sniper?
5. Who are all the people the sniper kills in the story? (3 people)
6. What do you think is the theme of “The Sniper”?
The Golden Kite, the Silver Wind pg 365
1. What event at the beginning of the story upsets and angers the Mandarin?
2. Why do the two cities continually rebuild their walls?
3. Why did people have to get sick and even die before the Mandarins sought to bring an end to
their rivalry?
4. Define the word FABLE.
5. Define the word MORAL.
6. What do you think is the moral of the story?
Practice answering the Open-Ended Question.
“Life is for the strong, to be lived by the strong, and if need be, taken by the strong. The weak
of the world were put here to give the strong pleasure.” – General Zaroff
Analyze the significance of these sentences to the stories plot? How is General Zaroff’s
statement significant to the story’s plot?