Title: Working With Literature
Course: Question Banks

Q: Who is the person that a reader can look to in order to figure out the point of view?
- The author (Incorrect. The author will not always show the point of view, unless they are also the narrator.)
- Both the narrator and the author (Incorrect. Even if the narrator uses "I," the author is not the focus of the point of view.)
- The protagonist (Incorrect. Sometimes the protagonist is the narrator, but not all the time.)
- The narrator (Correct. The narrator is the person telling the story and will always be the key to what the point of view is.)
A: The narrator

Q: Why is it important to understand point of view in a story?
- Understanding point of view gives the reader more information than the characters have. (Incorrect. This might be the case, but it also might not.)
- It explains why a character acts the way they do. (Incorrect. Point of view may tell the reader about the characters, but this is not the essential reason for understanding it.)
- Point of view gives information about all characters in the story. (Incorrect. Not all points of view expand upon or detail all characters in a given story.)
- Depending on point of view, the reader might not be getting all sides of the story. (Correct. Understanding who is telling the story will allow a reader to better understand what biases may be taking place and realize what may be missing.)
A: Depending on point of view, the reader might not be getting all sides of the story.

Q: Which of the following is not a type of point of view?
- First person (Incorrect. First person uses “I,” “me,” “my,” “our,” etc.)
- Second person (Incorrect. Second person uses “you” and “your.”)
- Third person (Incorrect. There are different types of third person points of view.)
- Artificial person (Correct. Artificial person is not a type of point of view.)
A: Artificial person

Q: In the book, The Hunger Games, Katniss Everdeen volunteered to be tribute to save her sister from the fate of death. What information does this tell the reader about Katniss and her character?
- It tells the reader that Katniss isn’t afraid to die. (Incorrect. As evidenced by the rest of the book, it doesn’t say she isn’t afraid of death. It also doesn’t say that here. It just says she loves her sister.)
- It tells the reader that she didn’t believe in her sister. (Incorrect. It may tell the reader this, but more than that, it tells the reader that Katniss wanted to avoid her death.)
- There is not enough information for this to be helpful to the reader. (Incorrect. More information would be helpful, but there is enough information here to help the reader understand Katniss more.)
- It tells the audience her motivation for volunteering. (Correct. This specifically shows Katniss’s motivation behind volunteering and can greatly impact the reader’s understanding and perception of her.)
A: It tells the audience her motivation for volunteering.

Q: Which of the following is not an element of characterization in fiction?
- Values (Incorrect. We're looking for elements of characterization, and values are certainly important in understanding character.)
- Motives (Incorrect. We're looking for elements of characterization, and motives are certainly important in understanding character.)
- Perceptions of self (Incorrect. We're looking for elements of characterization, and the character's perceptions of self are certainly important in understanding where they're coming from.)
- Denouement (Correct. Denouement refers to plot (it's the resolution of the plot).)
A: Denouement

Q: Which of the following can help the reader know if a character is a protagonist or an antagonist?
- Noticing how soon the character first appears in the story (Incorrect. Technically, this used to be the definition of protagonist (the first character to walk out on stage), but it's no longer the main definition of protagonist and antagonist.)
- Knowing whether the story is a comedy or a tragedy (Incorrect. This doesn't have much bearing on whether a character is a protagonist or an antagonist.)
- Noticing whether the character has a name or not. (Incorrect. Both protagonists and antagonists usually have names, but sometimes they don't.)
- Observing the character's interactions with other characters (Correct. Interactions with other characters tells us a lot about the character, including whether they're a leading character or an opposing character.)
A: Observing the character's interactions with other characters

Q: In terms of plot, what makes a piece of writing a comedy?
- The content is humorous and entertaining. (Incorrect. Comedies, in literary pieces, do not have to be funny. In fact, many are not.)
- There is at least one comedic character. (Incorrect. There may be one (or more) comedic characters, but comedies do not require a comedic person.)
- Nothing sad or bad happens in the story. (Incorrect. Comedies may not have any bad or sad things happen, but many comedies are not happy all of the time.)
- The action after the climax shows improvement. (Correct. Not all comedies are funny. The main point of a comedy is to show that things improved, regardless of the negative or stressful parts.)
A: The action after the climax shows improvement.

Q: Hamlet is the story of a prince who tries to avenge the murder of his father. What is the main reason it is classified as a tragedy?
- There is a lot of fighting and bloodshed. (Incorrect. Though there is a lot of blood shed in Hamlet, this isn't the main reason it's a tragedy.)
- Hamlet contains some of Shakespeare's saddest and gloomiest writing. (Incorrect. Hamlet has its share of gloominess, but this isn't what makes it a tragedy.)
- At the end of Hamlet, the two romantic leads don't get together. (Incorrect. This is true of Hamlet, but this isn't what makes it a tragedy.)
- The play ends with the downfall and death of the protagonist. (Correct. Stories that end with downfall and death are usually tragedies.)
A: The play ends with the downfall and death of the protagonist.

Q: Which of the following would NOT be used to define poetry?
- Not always written in complete sentences (Incorrect. This is a characteristic of poetry since complete sentences are not required.)
- Reserved for specific artistic purposes (Incorrect. Poetry is reserved for specific artistic purposes, so this would be used to define it.)
- Distinctive style and rhythm to words (Incorrect. Poetry can be defined by its distinctive style and the rhythm to the words.)
- Lines run all the way to the margins (Correct. Generally, poetry is defined by lines that DO NOT run all the way to the margins.)
A: Lines run all the way to the margins

Q: Which of the following statements is true about poetry?
- Poetry and prose write about different content. (Incorrect. Content can be the same for both poetry and for prose.)
- Poetry must fall within a certain length. (Incorrect. There is no length requirement for poetry.)
- Writers cannot tell complex stories through poetry. (Incorrect. Poems like <em>Beowulf</em> and <em>Omeros</em> are able to tell complex stories, so this is possible to do through poetry.)
- Poetry employs abstract images and figurative language. (Correct. This is a true statement because imagery and specific language can define poetry.)
A: Poetry employs abstract images and figurative language.

Q: A classmate argues that Beowulf cannot be considered poetry because it is too long. What could you say in response to argue that Beowulf can be defined as poetry?
- Your classmate is correct -- poetry has a definite length and cannot be too long or too short. (Incorrect. There is no required length for poetry.)
- Beowulf contains rhyming words, meaning that it is poetry. (Incorrect. Rhyming words do not define poetry and can be used in prose as well.)
- It is poetry because the lines of Beowulf run straight to the margin. (Incorrect. If the lines run straight to the margin, this is usually a characteristic of prose and not of poetry.)
- Beowulf's structure and word arrangement follow the characteristics of poetry. (Correct. The structure of a work is what distinguishes it as poetry or prose.)
A: Beowulf's structure and word arrangement follow the characteristics of poetry.

Q: Micah is learning about characteristics of poetry and doesn’t understand how rhyme is used. Which of the following statements is true that you could share with him?
- Rhyme must be included in order for the work to be defined as poetry. (Incorrect. Rhyme isn’t necessary for a work to be defined as poetry.)
- A certain number of rhyming lines is required for a poem -- not too many and not too few. (Incorrect. Rhyme isn’t necessary for a work to be defined as poetry.)
- The rhyme scheme must remain consistent for the entire poem. (Incorrect. Rhyme isn’t necessary for a work to be defined as poetry.)
- Rhyme is just one tool that poets might use to create their art, but it is not a required element. (Correct. Rhyme isn’t necessary for a work to be defined as poetry.)
A: Rhyme is just one tool that poets might use to create their art, but it is not a required element.

Q: Abigail is writing a poem and wants her readers to hear sounds (like buzz or pop) when they speak the words aloud. Which poetic device would work best for her?
- Alliteration (Incorrect. Alliteration is the repetition of a sound or letter in multiple words.)
- Imagery (Incorrect. Imagery is illustration through language.)
- Metaphor (Incorrect. Metaphor is a comparison between two things that are unrelated to one another.)
- Onomatopoeia (Correct. Onomatopoeia is when a word reflects the sound to which it refers.)
A: Onomatopoeia

Q: Why would a poet choose to use imagery in his/her poems?
- This allows the reader to hear the sounds while reading aloud (pop, buzz, etc.) (Incorrect. Onomatopoeia is when a word reflects the sound to which it refers.)
- Repeating the same vowel sound over and over is interesting to readers. (Incorrect. Alliteration is the repetition of a sound or letter in multiple words.)
- Imagery compares to something the reader already knows. (Incorrect. Imagery is illustration through language.)
- It creates a mental image using words that appeal to the five senses. (Correct. Imagery is illustration through language.)
A: It creates a mental image using words that appeal to the five senses.

Q: Why might a poet choose to repeat sounds that are “round and smooth” in a poem?
- Metaphor and simile connect to something a reader already knows. (Incorrect. Repeating sounds that are “round and smooth” is not related to metaphor and simile.)
- Imagery uses the reader’s senses to create a mental image. (Incorrect. Repeating sounds that are “round and smooth” is not related to imagery.)
- Repetition allows the poet to show the importance of the repeated word. (Incorrect. The example in the question focuses on repeated sounds, not repeated words.)
- Alliteration and assonance can affect the mood of the poem. (Correct. Repeating “round and smooth” consonants or vowels can create a different mood.)
A: Alliteration and assonance can affect the mood of the poem.

Q: What is the main difference between a theatrical performance and a film or show on a T.V. or streaming service?
- Theater has protagonists and antagonists, whereas film and television tend to focus on protagonists. (Incorrect. Both theater and film usually have protagonists and antagonists.)
- Theater actors are better actors than movie stars. (Incorrect. The quality of the actor depends on the actor! Also, many actors go back and forth between film and theater.)
- Film and television tend to follow conventional plot structures, while theater is usually more unconventional in its structure. (Incorrect. Film, television, and theater all tend to follow plot conventions, although all three can also break convention.)
- Live theater is immediate and ephemeral, which means that once it is finished, it lives only in memory. (Correct. One of the most important elements of live theater is the dynamic between the actors and the audience.)
A: Live theater is immediate and ephemeral, which means that once it is finished, it lives only in memory.

Q: Which of the following is the most important advice for reading a play?
- Make sure you understand all the words. If you miss the meaning of a word, you can misunderstand an entire scene. (Incorrect.)
- Make sure to read it all at once: it's important that the experience of reading a play is whole and immediate. (Incorrect. While live plays are usually experienced all at once, reading tends not to work this way.)
- Always read plays aloud. They don't make sense if you read them silently. (Incorrect. While it can be helpful to read plays aloud, you can also read them silently.)
- Use your imagination to think about how each scene would look on stage. (Correct. Even when we're reading a play, it's important to remember that it was intended to be staged.)
A: Use your imagination to think about how each scene would look on stage.

Q: In film studies, why should you pay attention to the shots in a particular scene?
- Any time a gun goes off it's important for the action of a movie. (Incorrect. These kinds of shots are important too, but this isn't the kind of shots we're looking at here.)
- The way two scenes are spliced together establishes rhythm and sets the tone of a movie. (Incorrect. This would refer to cuts, not shots.)
- Sound effects and music—diegetic and extradiegetic—are extremely important in film analysis. (Incorrect. "Shots" doesn't refer to sound.)
- The way the camera frames people and objects guides our impressions of them. (Correct. A shot refers to the camera's distance with respect to a person or object.)
A: The way the camera frames people and objects guides our impressions of them.

Q: Which of the following describes one major difference between films and plays?
- Films have a lot of action and excitement, while plays are more philosophical and thoughtful. (Incorrect. Both films and plays can be exciting <em>and</em> philosophical.)
- Plays can be analyzed and interpreted, whereas films are just meant to be enjoyed. (Incorrect. Both films and plays can be analyzed and interpreted, and also enjoyed.)
- Films are put together by many people, while theatrical performances are the work of one person. (Incorrect. Many people are involved in both kinds of productions.)
- Films usually have a soundtrack (extradiegetic sound), whereas plays usually don't. (Correct. The soundtrack of film is one of the differences between film and plays (though there are some films without a soundtrack and some plays with one!))
A: Films usually have a soundtrack (extradiegetic sound), whereas plays usually don't.

Q: Which of the following would be true of a reader-response criticism for Nathaniel Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter?
- It would highlight the roles and portrayals of women in a work largely dominated by men. (Incorrect. This defines feminist criticism, not reader-response criticism.)
- It would highlight the influence of Hawthorne’s biographical facts and major life experiences on the text. (Incorrect. This defines biographical criticism, not reader-response criticism.)
- It would try to understand The Scarlet Letter by understanding the historical, cultural, and literary contexts in Puritan Massachusetts Bay. (Incorrect. This defines historical criticism, not reader-response criticism.)
- It would consider the relationship between the individual reader and the text. (Correct. This is the definition of reader-response criticism.)
A: It would consider the relationship between the individual reader and the text.

Q: Jovan wants to use psychological criticism for a reading of To Kill a Mockingbird. What would be the focus of his essay using psychological criticism?
- The literary text itself, aside from questions about its author or the historical and cultural contexts of its creation (Incorrect. This defines formalism/New criticism, not psychological criticism.)
- Systemic racism and the dynamics of race and race relationships (Incorrect. This defines critical race theory, not psychological criticism.)
- The historical and social circumstances that surrounded the writing of To Kill a Mockingbird (Incorrect. This defines historical criticism, not psychological criticism.)
- The inner mental lives of the characters (Correct. This describes how psychological criticism would be applied.)
A: The inner mental lives of the characters

Q: Which of the following is NOT recommended if you’re surveying the terrain?
- Read the author bio to get a sense of who’s talking. (Incorrect. This is recommended before you jump in and start reading.)
- Note the year of publication. (Incorrect. This is recommended because it can provide you some context.)
- Determine the place where the article or essay was published. (Incorrect. This is recommended so you have a better idea of what was happening in that area.)
- Dive in and start reading an article or essay on the first line. (Correct. You’ll want to look at a few other aspects before you start reading.)
A: Dive in and start reading an article or essay on the first line.

Q: Walter asks you for a strategy while reading critical analyses and interpretations of literary works. Which of the following would be best when diving in and reading?
- Only read straight through -- don’t mark any of your thoughts during the reading but save them for the end. (Incorrect. You might forget those thoughts after you finish, so it’s wise to mark them during the reading.)
- Because you are a student, read only to learn and not to respond to the material. (Incorrect. We want you to add your voice to the ongoing conversation!)
- Mark the quotes from outside sources throughout, but nothing else. (Incorrect. You can mark quotes, but you can mark other parts, too.)
- Annotate it with highlights, underlinings, marginal notes, or anything else that will help you fully engage with it. (Correct. Making marks throughout will remind you of your thoughts throughout and could be examined further afterwards.)
A: Annotate it with highlights, underlinings, marginal notes, or anything else that will help you fully engage with it.

Q: How is reading the introduction and conclusion and determining the author’s main point about the literary work before starting to read straight through beneficial to you?
- The main point is only found in the conclusion so it’s best to start there. (Incorrect. The main point is developed and supported throughout the article.)
- The introduction and conclusion contain the most important information, so you only need to skim the body section. (Incorrect. You’ll want to do a close reading of the body section for more details.)
- This isn’t a benefit to the reader -- it’s best not to determine the author’s main point until after finishing the article. (Incorrect. This is a benefit so that you can use that information as a guide while you read.)
- Identifying the main point ahead of time will help you stay focused and follow the argument as it unfolds. (Correct. It’s helpful to have a roadmap or something to connect the ideas.)
A: Identifying the main point ahead of time will help you stay focused and follow the argument as it unfolds.

Q: Which of the following is NOT a reason to use secondary sources to help you write about a literary work?
- Their analysis can illustrate, inform, and add depth and texture to your own thoughts. (Incorrect. This is a reason that can be beneficial as you form your ideas.)
- They can stimulate your thoughts by presenting viewpoints that you disagree with. (Incorrect. Reading an opposing position can help you either find more support for your own side or change your mind.)
- They help strengthen and develop your mental muscles for talking and thinking about literature. (Incorrect. Reading analyses can be like peer review -- you can see how someone else is writing and organizing material, which might be helpful as you write and organize material, too.)
- You can use a quote from another author as your thesis statement. (Correct. The information from secondary sources should only help you develop your own ideas.)
A: You can use a quote from another author as your thesis statement.

Q: When looking for works of literary criticism to incorporate into your own writing about literature, where is a good place to find peer-reviewed articles?
- Facebook and other social media sites (Incorrect. Looking at a specific database with peer-reviewed articles is a better choice than going through everything.)
- Peer-reviewed articles are not available for student use (Incorrect. Anyone can read and access peer-reviewed articles!)
- Bookstores, since peer-reviewed articles are only available in print (Incorrect. Peer-reviewed articles are also available online through databases.)
- College or school library and/or library website (Correct. The databases here have lots of great information for free.)
A: College or school library and/or library website

Q: If you’ve found too much information from your research, which is a good suggestion to help you determine which articles to read entirely?
- Use the articles that come up first from your search results. (Incorrect. The information that you need might be later in the search results.)
- Read all of them entirely so you don’t miss anything that might be useful. (Incorrect. This takes a lot of time! There is another option that would be better.)
- Start with the shortest articles since they will save you time. (Incorrect. The shortest articles might not have the information you need.)
- Read or skim the abstract (summary) to see which articles meet your needs. (Correct. The abstract will give you a quick rundown of the main points of the article.)
A: Read or skim the abstract (summary) to see which articles meet your needs.

Q: You read the short story that you’ll be analyzing in your literary analysis essay one time through. What is NOT the best plan for your next step?
- Reread the work slowly and carefully to absorb its subtleties and complexities. (Incorrect. This is a good choice for your next step before starting your essay.)
- Look for patterns or interruptions of patterns throughout the short story. (Incorrect. This is a good choice for your next step before starting your essay.)
- Analyze literary elements like imagery and figurative language that stick out. (Incorrect. This is a good choice for your next step before starting your essay.)
- Start writing your essay immediately so you don’t forget the story. (Correct. You’ll want to go through the literary work again in a close reading.)
A: Start writing your essay immediately so you don’t forget the story.

Q: Which of the following statements is true about forming a perspective on your topic?
- Apply your own assumptions, biases, or desires about what the work says or ought to say. (Incorrect. You should instead focus on your perspective about the work rather than criticizing.)
- A literary critical school of thought will tell you how you perceive a text. (Incorrect. The critical school of thought can provide a lens through which you can read the literary work, but it will not tell you how to perceive it.)
- Forming a perspective isn’t as important as creating a well-written summary. (Incorrect. In a literary analysis essay, summary is only used to support your perspective.)
- Be sure that your perspective is supported by the actual text of the literary work. (Correct. You’ll use information from the text as evidence or support for your ideas.)
A: Be sure that your perspective is supported by the actual text of the literary work.

Q: Which of the following is NOT a component of an effective argument paragraph for a literary analysis essay?
- Claim (Incorrect. Each paragraph should make a very specific claim that the paragraph will argue is true.)
- Evidence (Incorrect. Evidence provides the textual support for the claim and should be found in each paragraph.)
- Analysis (Incorrect. Analysis explains how the evidence actually relates to the argument.)
- Thesis statement (Correct. This should come at the end of the introduction paragraph.)
A: Thesis statement

Q: Which of the following is true about the structure of an effective literary analysis essay?
- The structure of the essay should mirror the structure of the literary work. (Incorrect. For instance, literary works are often organized chronologically, which doesn’t lend itself to a good structure for the analysis.)
- The literary analysis essay should only summarize the literary work. (Incorrect. Summary can be used for support, but the focus should be on analysis.)
- Body paragraphs should be short to keep the reader’s attention. (Incorrect. Body paragraphs need to be developed enough to support your claim.)
- You may integrate some secondary sources into your argument. (Correct. Using outside sources can be a good choice for support for your claims.)
A: You may integrate some secondary sources into your argument.