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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. Besides an individually defined character, what does the narrator of a first person story need?

2. What exists to provide justification for unexplained changes?

3. Which form of language requires more precision?

4. What types of details are necessary to make a character believable?

5. Which perspective is placed on the humor by a writer in a comedy?

Short Essay Questions

1. What happens when a reader interprets a change in a character that was not intended?

2. What are the most common tenses used in narration and how does the author describe the risks involved with using different ones?

3. What creates believable characters, according to the author in, "The Serious Character: Make Us Believe"?

4. What is the difference between a presentation and a representation perspective?

5. What is "controlled disbelief"?

6. What are some of the ways a writer can develop a story around characters that do not change?

7. What is comedy usually the result of, and what is humor based on?

8. What is the difference between an omniscient narrator and a viewpoint narrator?

9. How can a presentation perspective and a representation perspective be successfully applied?

10. How does the importance of a character affect the change undergone, and what effect does it have on the writing of the narrative?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Explain the role of truth in fiction by comparing the illusion of truth with the actual depiction of it. Include which one is present in fiction, how the writer adds it, and the way it affects the characters and events. Use the book to also provide examples that support your analysis.

Essay Topic 2

The narrator is a crucial part of fiction because he/she is responsible for telling the story. 1) Describe a first person narrative, its advantages and disadvantages, and the techniques a writer uses when writing in first person.

2) Describe the advantages and disadvantages of a third person narrative, including the differences between the omniscient and viewpoint narrator.

3) Explain the importance of the narration in fiction and how it can be written to engage the reader fully.

Essay Topic 3

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.

(see the answer keys)

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