Activity 1. MAGIC SQUARE: HOW WELL DO YOU KNOW LITERARY TERMS?

Select from the numbered statements the best answer for each of the literary terms.
Put the number in the proper space in the magic square box. The total of the numbers
will be the same across each row and down each column.

Literary Terms Statements

A. Point of view 1. Mental pictures within a story
B. Symbolism 2. Events and happenings in a story
C. Theme 3. The “when” and “where” of the story
D. Mood 4. The overriding feeling in a work
E. Plot 5. Something that stands for something else
F. Metaphor 6. An exaggeration of great proportions
G. Structure 7. What unifies a story as a whole
H. Myth 8. Saying one thing but meaning another
I. Setting 9. The central insight
J. Simile 10. A comparison introduced by as or like
K. Hyperbole 11. An implied comparison
L. Allegory 12. Saying less, but meaning more
M. Foreshadowing 13. Clues to future happenings
N. Irony 14. A tale of human life told in supernatural proportions
O. Understatement 15. The equating of objects and characters with meanings that
P. Imagery lie outside the story
16. The vantage point form which everything is known or
interpreted

A B C D

E F G H

I J K L

M N O P

Magic Number =
Vision out of the Corner of One Eye
by Luisa Valenzuela

It’s true, he put his hand on my ass and I was about to scream bloody murder
when the bus passed by a church and he crossed himself. He’s a good son after all, I said
to myself. Maybe he didn’t do it on purpose or maybe his right hand didn’t know what
his left hand was up to. I tried to move farther back in the bus – searching for
explanations is one thing and letting yourself be pawed is another – but more passengers
go on and there was no way I could do it. My wiggling to get out of his reach only let
him get a better hold on me and even fondle me. I was nervous and finally moved over.
He moved over, too. We passed by another church but he didn’t notice it and when he
raised his hand on his face it was to wipe the sweat off his forehead. I watched him out
of a corner of one eye, pretending that nothing was happening, or at any rate not making
him think I liked it. It was impossible to move any farther and he started jiggling me I
decided to get even and put my hand on his behind. A few blocks later I got separated
from him by a bunch of people. Then, I was swept along by the passengers getting off
the bus and now I’m sorry I lost him so suddenly because there was only 7,500 pesos in
his wallet and I’d have gotten more out of him if we’d been alone. He seemed
affectionate. And very generous.

1. “… and he crossed himself.” What did the man do?

A. moved to another seat C. made the sign of the cross
B. crossed his legs D. put his arms on his chest
2. Which symbolizes the brief and temporary state of events in the story?
A. passengers B. moving bus C. churches D. lost money
3. “He raised his hand on his face to wipe the sweat off his forehead.” Which describes how
the man feels in this situation?
A. nervous B. scared C. aroused D. agitated
4. What could be the gender of the narrator?
A. female B. male C. homosexual D. lesbian
5. “He put his hand on my ass … he crossed himself.” What type of irony does this show?
A. verbal B. dramatic C. situational
6. “… he put his hand on my ass and I was about to scream bloody murder when the bus passed
by a church …” What does the narrator wish to do?
A. kill the man C. create a scene
B. report a murderer D. shout for help
7. “– searching for explanations is one is one thing and letting yourself be pawed is another –”
What do the dashes in this sentence imply?
A. an unexpressed wish C. an afterthought
B. a whisper to another person D. an unspoken idea
8. “I was nervous and finally moved over.” What did the narrator do?
A. moved away from the man C. moved sideways towards the man
B. moved closer to the man D. stood up
9. What is the point of view used in the story?
A. first person narrator C. third person
B. first person observer D. omniscient
10. What is tone of the last sentence?
A. grateful B. sarcastic C. relieved D. saddened