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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What type of imperfections can be appealing to readers?

2. What two ideals is the author blending in Chapter 9?

3. What is likely to cause an audience to connect with a character emotionally?

4. How many ways are there to know a character?

5. How many basic types of characters are there?

Short Essay Questions

1. What is the contract that a writer makes with a reader, and when is it introduced?

2. What technique does the author recommend when first introducing a character?

3. What does a character who becomes more heroic convey to the reader?

4. How can writers find characters within themselves?

5. What is the role of a major character?

6. How well do readers want to know the fictional characters they are reading about, and what is the purpose of fiction in general?

7. In what way can the story itself provide a writer with additional characters?

8. Which traits will trigger dislike for a character?

9. What is an event-focused narrative and how much characterization is necessary for it?

10. What kind of act is writing and how does it compare to other mediums?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Analyze the differences between the "showing" and "telling" style of narration, the purposes of each, and the techniques used for them. Use the book to describe at least 2 examples of each style and what they add to the story.

Essay Topic 2

A writer can use a number of different techniques to define their characters.

1) Analyze stereotyping, its uses and application, and examples of how it can be used to introduce characters as well as develop them.

2) Describe a character's network and how it can be used to develop that character.

Essay Topic 3

Analyze the hero in fiction as it is described in the book. Explain the definition of a hero, what traits contribute to a heroic character, which situations can cause characters to reveal their heroic side, and how an ordinary person doing extraordinary things can add to the drama of a story. Include examples of literature to illustrate the way a hero can be created and developed effectively.

(see the answer keys)

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