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

Short Answer Questions

1. In what part of the story does the exposition appear?

2. What is the tone in the beginning of Mel's story about the old couple?

3. Which character has the dominant role in the story?

4. Which of the following is the resolution to the story of the old couple?

5. According to the author, what role do analysis and science play in the meaning of love?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Symbolism is an important tool authors use to effectively communicate ideas and meanings to the reader. Identify one symbol Carver uses in his story and describe what it symbolizes. What purpose does it serve to have this particular symbol in the story?

Essay Topic 2

Connotation and denotation help a reader understand the meaning of a particular word or concept. Define both connotation and denotation. Identify a word used by Carver in this story and define its denotation and possible connotations. In this specific story, how does the connotation of terms contribute to the reader's understanding of the work?

Essay Topic 3

Foreshadowing is a common literary technique that indicates what will happen later in the story. Describe 2-3 instances of foreshadowing in this story. Did the author use them effectively?

(see the answer keys)

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