Reading And Writing Response Questions

Front 1

Characters:

Back 1

Are the characters like real people?

Front 2

Characters:

Back 2

How is a character in your book like someone you know?

Front 3

Characters:

Back 3

Do they face real problems?

Front 4

Characters:

Back 4

Do they talk like real people?

Front 5

Characters:

Back 5

Are you like any of the characters?

Front 6

Characters:

Back 6

Do you identify with any of the situations they face?

Front 7

Characters:

Back 7

Would you want to be friends with any of the characters in your book?

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Characters:

Back 8

Why would he or she make a good friend?

Front 9

Characters:

Back 9

If you could get inside your book and tell a character something, what would it be and why would you say that?

Front 10

Characters:

Back 10

Imagine you are a character in your book. Write a diary entry that this character could have written. Include the characters secret thoughts and feelings.

Front 11

Characters:

Back 11

Describe some dialogue or action that you feel especially reveals who a certain character is and what he or she is like.

Front 12

Characters:

Back 12

Does the character in your book change?

Front 13

Characters:

Back 13

How does he or she change?

Front 14

Characters:

Back 14

What causes the change to happen?

Front 15

Characters:

Back 15

Was it a good or bad change?

Front 16

Plot:

Back 16

Is the plot realistic?

Front 17

Plot:

Back 17

Could this really happen?

Front 18

Plot:

Back 18

Is the plot suspenseful?

Front 19

Plot:

Back 19

What is it that keeps you on the edge of your seat, desperately turning pages, unable to put the book down?

Front 20

Plot:

Back 20

If you are in the beginning or middle of your book, write out a prediction of how you think it will end.

Front 21

Plot:

Back 21

If you are finished with your book, write an alternative ending to it.

Front 22

Plot:

Back 22

How would you like to have it ended. Try to write in the author's same style.

Front 23

Plot:

Back 23

What is the most important event in the book?

Front 24

Plot:

Back 24

What makes it so important?

Front 25

Plot:

Back 25

How does the event impact the plot and/or characters?

Front 26

Plot:

Back 26

Do you find yourself thinking about the book when you are not reading it? What events or characters do you think about?

Front 27

Plot:

Back 27

Why do you think they made such an impression on you?

Front 28

Miscellaneous:

Back 28

What is the tone or the mood of the story?
How can you tell what it is?
What does the author do to create the tone or mood?

Front 29

Miscellaneous:

Back 29

Is the setting described in a way that you can picture?
What sensory words are used to describe it?
How does the setting help you understand the characters better?
How does it show you what the characters are really like?

Front 30

Miscellaneous:

Back 30

Discuss the theme of our book.
How can you apply this lesson to your own life?
Do you disagree with the theme in any way?

Front 31

ELEMENTS OF A STORY

Back 31

"Structure" includes all the elements in a story. The final objective is to see the story as a whole and to become aware of how the parts are put together to produce a unified effect.

Front 32

ELEMENTS OF PLOT

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All fiction is based on conflict and this conflict is presented in a structured format called PLOT.

Front 33

Exposition:

Back 33

Exposition:
The introductory material which gives the setting, creates the tone, presents the characters, and presents other facts necessary to understanding the story.

Front 34

Foreshadowing:

Back 34

Foreshadowing:
The use of hints or clues to suggest what will happen later in the story.
An author’s use of hints or clues to suggest events that will occur later in the story. Not all foreshadowing is obvious. Frequently, future events are merely hinted at through dialogue, description, or the attitudes and reactions of the characters.
Foreshadowing frequently serves two purposes. It builds suspense by raising questions that encourage the reader to go on and find out more about the event that is being foreshadowed. Foreshadowing is also a means of making a narrative more believable by partially preparing the reader for events which are to follow.

Front 35

Inciting Force:

Back 35

Inciting Force:
The event or character that triggers the conflict.

Front 36

Conflict:

Back 36

Conflict:
The essence of fiction. It creates plot. The conflicts we encounter can usually be identified as one of four kinds. (Man versus…Man, Nature, Society, or Self).

Front 37

Rising Action:

Back 37

Rising Action:
A series of events that builds from the conflict. It begins with the inciting force and ends with the climax.

Front 38

Crisis:

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Crisis:
The conflict reaches a turning point. At this point the opposing forces in the story meet and the conflict becomes most intense. The crisis occurs before or at the same time as the climax.

Front 39

Climax:

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Climax:
The climax is the result of the crisis. It is the high point of the story for the reader. Frequently, it is the moment of the highest interest and greatest emotion. The point at which the outcome of the conflict can be predicted.

Front 40

Falling Action:

Back 40

Falling Action:
The events after the climax which close the story.

Front 41

Resolution (Denouement):

Back 41

Resolution (Denouement):
Rounds out and concludes the action.

Front 42

MAJOR CHARACTERS

Back 42

Almost always round or three-dimensional characters. They have good and bad qualities. Their goals, ambitions and values change. A round character changes as a result of what happens to him or her. A character who changes inside as a result of what happens to him is referred to in literature as a DYNAMIC character. A dynamic character grows or progresses to a higher level of understanding in the course of the story.

Front 43

Protagonist:

Back 43

Protagonist:
The main character in the story.

Front 44

Antagonist:

Back 44

Antagonist:
The character or force that opposes the protagonist.

Front 45

Foil:

Back 45

Foil:
A character who provides a contrast to the protagonist.

Front 46

MINOR CHARACTERS

Back 46

Almost always flat or two-dimensional characters. They have only one or two striking qualities. Their predominant quality is not balanced by an opposite quality. They are usually all good or all bad. Such characters can be interesting or amusing in their own right, but they lack depth. Flat characters are sometimes referred to as STATIC characters because they do not change in the course of the story.

Front 47

Resolution (Denouement):

Back 47

Resolution (Denouement):
Rounds out and concludes the action.

Front 48

MAJOR CHARACTERS

Back 48

Almost always round or three-dimensional characters. They have good and bad qualities. Their goals, ambitions and values change. A round character changes as a result of what happens to him or her. A character who changes inside as a result of what happens to him is referred to in literature as a DYNAMIC character. A dynamic character grows or progresses to a higher level of understanding in the course of the story.

Front 49

Protagonist:

Back 49

Protagonist:
The main character in the story.

Front 50

Antagonist:

Back 50

Antagonist:
The character or force that opposes the protagonist.

Front 51

Foil:

Back 51

Foil:
A character who provides a contrast to the protagonist.

Front 52

MINOR CHARACTERS

Back 52

Almost always flat or two-dimensional characters. They have only one or two striking qualities. Their predominant quality is not balanced by an opposite quality. They are usually all good or all bad. Such characters can be interesting or amusing in their own right, but they lack depth. Flat characters are sometimes referred to as STATIC characters because they do not change in the course of the story.

Front 53

POINT OF VIEW

Back 53

The perspective that the story is told in.

Front 54

First Person:

Back 54

First Person:
The narrator is a character in the story who can reveal only personal thoughts and feelings and what he or she sees and is told by other characters. He can’t tell us thoughts of other characters.

Front 55

Third-Person Objective:

Back 55

Third-Person Objective:
The narrator is an outsider who can report only what he or she sees and hears. This narrator can tell us what is happening, but he can’t tell us the thoughts of the characters.

Front 56

Third-Person Limited:

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Third-Person Limited:
The narrator is an outsider who sees into the mind of one of the characters.

Front 57

Omniscient:

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Omniscient:
The narrator is an all-knowing outsider who can enter the minds of more than one of the characters.

Front 58

CONFLICT

Back 58

Conflict is the essence of fiction. It creates plot. The conflicts we encounter can usually be identified as one of four kinds.Often, more than one kind of conflict is taking place at the same time. In every case, however, the existence of conflict enhances the reader’s understanding of a character and creates the suspense and interest that make you want to continue reading.

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Human versus Man:

Back 59

Human versus Human:
Conflict that pits one person against another.

Front 60

Human versus Nature:

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Human versus Nature:
A run-in with the forces of nature. On the one hand, it expresses the insignificance of a single human life in the cosmic scheme of things. On the other hand, it tests the limits of a person’s strength and will to live.

Front 61

Human versus Society:

Back 61

Man versus Society:
The values and customs by which everyone else lives are being challenged. The character may come to an untimely end as a result of his or her own convictions. The character may, on the other hand, bring others around to a sympathetic point of view, or it may be decided that society was right after all.

Front 62

Human versus Self:

Back 62

Human versus Self:
Internal conflict. Not all conflict involves other people. Sometimes people are their own worst enemies. An internal conflict is a good test of a character’s values. Does he or she give in to temptation or rise above it? Does he or she demand the most from himself/herself or settle for something less? Does he or she even bother to struggle? The internal conflicts of a character and how they are resolved are good clues to the character’s inner strength.

Front 63

IRONY

Back 63

Irony is the contrast between what is expected or what appears to be and what actually is.

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Verbal Irony:

Back 64

Verbal Irony:
The contrast between what is said and what is actually meant.

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Irony of Situation:

Back 65

Irony of Situation:
This refers to a happening that is the opposite of what is expected or intended.

Front 66

Dramatic Irony:

Back 66

Dramatic Irony:
This occurs when the audience or reader knows more than the characters know.

Front 67

Tone:

Back 67

Tone:
The author’s attitude, stated or implied, toward a subject. Some possible attitudes are pessimism, optimism, earnestness, seriousness, bitterness, humorous, and joyful. An author’s tone can be revealed through choice of words and details.

Front 68

Mood:

Back 68

Mood:
The climate of  feeling in a literary work. The choice of setting, objects, details, images, and words all contribute towards creating a specific mood. For example, an author may create a mood of mystery around a character or setting but may treat that character or setting in an ironic, serious, or humorous tone.

Front 69

SYMBOLISM

Back 69

Symbolism:
A person, place or object which has a meaning in itself but suggests other meanings as well. Things, characters and actions can be symbols. Anything that suggests a meaning beyond the obvious.
Some symbols are conventional, generally meaning the same thing to all readers.
For example: bright sunshine symbolizes goodness and water is a symbolic cleanser.

Front 70

THEME

Back 70

THEME
The main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work. A theme may be stated or implied. Theme differs from the subject or topic of a literary work in that it involves a statement or opinion about the topic. Not every literary work has a theme. Themes may be major or minor. A major theme is an idea the author returns to time and again. It becomes one of the most important ideas in the story. Minor themes are ideas that may appear from time to time.

Front 71

Theme vs. Subject

Back 71

It is important to recognize the difference between the theme of a literary work and the subject of a literary work. The subject is the topic on which an author has chosen to write. The theme, however, makes some statement about or expresses some opinion on that topic. For example, the subject of a story might be war while the theme might be the idea that war is useless.

Front 72

Four ways in which an author can express themes are as follows:
1) 2)

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1. Themes are expressed and emphasized by the way the author makes us feel.. By sharing feelings of the main character you also share the ideas that go through his mind.
2. Themes are presented in thoughts and conversations. Authors put words in their character’s mouths only for good reasons. One of these is to develop a story’s themes. The things a person says are much on their mind. Look for thoughts that are repeated throughout the story.

Front 73

Four ways in which an author can express themes are as follows:
3) 4)

Back 73

3. Themes are suggested through the characters. The main character usually illustrates the most important theme of the story. A good way to get at this theme is to ask yourself the question, what does the main character learn in the course of the story?
4. The actions or events in the story are used to suggest theme. People naturally express ideas and feelings through their actions. One thing authors think about is what an action will "say". In other words, how will the action express an idea or theme?

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IMAGERY

Back 74

Language that appeals to the senses. Descriptions of people or objects stated in terms of our senses.

Front 75

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

Back 75

Whenever you describe something by comparing it with something else, you are using figurative language. Any language that goes beyond the literal meaning of words in order to furnish new effects or fresh insights into an idea or a subject. The most common figures of speech are simile, metaphor, and alliteration.

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Simile:

Back 76

Simile:
A figure of speech which involves a direct comparison between two unlike things, usually with the words like or as. Example: The muscles on his brawny arms are strong as iron bands.

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Metaphor:

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Metaphor:
A figure of speech which involves an implied comparison between two relatively unlike things using a form of be. The comparison is not announced by like or as. Example: The road was a ribbon of moonlight.

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Alliteration:

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Alliteration:
Repeated consonant sounds occurring at the beginning of words or within words. Alliteration is used to create melody, establish mood, call attention to important words, and point out similarities and contrasts. Example: wide-eyed and wondering while we wait for others to waken.

Front 79

Personification:

Back 79

Personification:
A figure of speech which gives the qualities of a person to an animal, an object, or an idea. It is a comparison which the author uses to show something in an entirely new light, to communicate a certain feeling or attitude towards it and to control the way a reader perceives it. Example: a brave handsome brute fell with a creaking rending cry--the author is giving a tree human qualities.

Front 80

Onomatopoeia:

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Onomatopoeia:
The use of words that mimic sounds. They appeal to our sense of hearing and they help bring a description to life. A string of syllables the author has made up to represent the way a sound really sounds. Example: Caarackle!

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Hyperbole:

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Hyperbole:
An exaggerated statement used to heighten effect. It is not used to mislead the reader, but to emphasize a point. Example: She’s said so on several millions of occasions.