Below, you will find questions for the short stories "The Interlopers", "Lamb To The Slaughter", "Gore", "Save The Moon For Kerdy Dickus", and "Once Upon A Time".
“The Interlopers” by Saki
1) What is Ulrich von Gradwitz hunting on the stormy night when this story takes place?
2) What are the two neighbours, Ulrich and Georg feuding over?
3) Why do Ulrich and Georg not shoot each other when they come face to face in the middle of the forest?
4) What is the “deed of nature’s own violence” that overwhelmed the two men on that stormy night?
5) Why do Ulrich and Georg each think they will be rescued by their own men?
6) Who makes the first overture of friendship? Explain what this is and how it is received.
7) Which man is the first to propose a truce be called between the two families?
8) Why did each man hope that their men would be the first to arrive and save them?
9) The word interloper is defined as “someone who intrudes on the privacy or property of another without permission.” Who are the interlopers in this story? Explain your answer using an example from the text.
10) What is the theme of “The Interlopers”? Explain your answer.
11) How does the author create suspense in the last section of the story?
“Lamb to the Slaughter” by Roald Dahl
1) What is Mary Maloney preparing for?
2) What is the first indicator that something is bothering Patrick?
3) a. What is the bad news that Patrick gives Mary?
b. Describe Mary’s reaction to Patrick’s news?
4) Patrick seems more concerned about his job than about Mary. What does this say about his character?
5) How is it that Mary knows the penalty for her crime?
6) Why does Mary rehearse speaking in the mirror? What does it imply about what she is going to do?
7) When Mary returns home she “discovers” Patrick’s dead body and begins to cry. Do you think that she is genuinely grieving for Patrick? Why or why not?
8) How do the police treat Mary during the investigation?
9) What do the police think was the murder weapon?
10) Why do you suppose Mary calls Sargeant Noonan by his first name?
11) Identify and discuss two examples of conflict in “Lamb to the Slaughter”.
“Gore” by Sarah Ellis
- What point of view is used in this story? Provide a sentence as an example to support your answer.
- How does the point of view affect your understanding of the story’s plot, setting and characters?
- Is the narrator reliable? Explain your answer.
- What analogy does the narrator use to describe the reasons for getting her mother to intervene when Lucas “attacks” her?
- What does the narrator mean by the metaphor “the chocolate cheesecake of false bribery?”
- Find two similies in the story and explain why they are effective.
- What type of conflict is found within this story? Provide a quote from the story to support your answer.
- What do you believe is the main theme of this story? Write a paragraph using the point/proof/explanation/summary method taught to you in class.
“Save the Moon for Kerdy Dickus” – Questions
- What aspects of the introduction to this story make it seem like a true story?
- Describe the family’s pre-Christmas tradition, including food.
- What evidence proves that the stranger does not hear well?
- What makes the stranger decide to leave?
- What does the loan of the poncho and flashlight reveal about the Moris?
- The people mentioned by the stranger do not have phones. Why not?
- Which details of the Moris home and lifestyle contribute to the stranger’s confused state of mind? Why do these details confuse the stranger?
- Describe the setting (time, place, atmosphere) and explain why it is so important to the story.
“Once Upon A Time” by Nadine Gordimer
- What prevents this couple from living happily ever after? How are these four words, introduced in the first two paragraphs, important to the story: love, trust, insurance, and fear?
- Why are the burglar alarms not effective in preventing crimes?
- What leads the little boy to the coils? Explain in detail.
- This story has a very ironic ending. Define irony and comment on how this attempt at protection backfired on the couple who wanted to live happily ever after.
- What type of conflict is being used in the story? Fully explain your answer (point/proof/explanation).
- Identify the story’s point of view and provide reasons for your choice.
- What seems to be the cause of the burglaries and crimes in this community? Instead of barricading themselves in, what could members of the community do to reduce crime?
- Identify one theme you see reflected in this story and provide a quote to support your answer (point/proof/explanation).
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