View a FREE sample

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

Short Answer Questions

1. How often are sources of inspiration altered?

2. In Chapter 8, how does the author want the reader to be engaged with a character?

3. What part of a character's name provides a clear starting point for defining that character's context?

4. What type of physical appearance can make a character more engaging?

5. What are three good example of character definition in fiction?

Short Essay Questions

1. What are the main functions of major and minor characters, and how can a writer achieve them?

2. What is the difference between "walk-ons" and minor characters?

3. How can writers find characters within themselves?

4. What does the author mean when he writes about "raising the emotional stakes"?

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

6. How can a negative character become more intriguing?

7. Is it possible to use less characterization in a story?

8. As explained in the Introduction, on what are the author's suggestions based?

9. What is a helpful tip about keeping track of character names that the author provides at the end of Chapter 4?

10. Which traits will trigger dislike for a character?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Describe the different techniques used to make a character more appealing and the ones used to generate a negative response. Also, explain how the events are affected by characters, the initial impressions, and how they are developed throughout a narrative. Be sure to include examples that display the overall purposes for a positive or negative character.

Essay Topic 2

Although the sources of inspiration are unlimited, analyze the following three places that a writer can find ideas for new characters.

1) Describe all of the people, places, and events in a person's life that can provide ideas for characters.

2) Explain how writers can find new characters within themselves and how those characters can be applied to fiction.

3) Describe the process for finding new characters in the story itself as well as the past experiences of existing characters.

Essay Topic 3

Comedy contains various elements that work together to provide humor in sometimes unexpected situations.

1) Explain how a comedy is normally based on a form of pain or suffering.

2) Describe the way comedic characters and events are derived from a sense of truth and why.

3) Analyze the different techniques used to interject humor into a story, the way they are used, and at least 3 examples of them.

4) Describe what controlled disbelief is, which characters are the most likely to use it, and why.

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 995 words (approx. 4 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample