Short Story Test

Instructions:
1. Share your teacher on your test Google Doc.
2. Read the short story “​Mother and Daughter​” by Gary Soto
3. Identify four of the terms provided below in the story and add all relevant information to the column. You may not use any
notes or outside sources during this test; use only your brain and the story.
4. Upload your test as a PDF file ​on Canvas​ by 10:05am.

Evidence from the text:
Term Explain how/why your Analysis: Examine the example
identified: evidence is an example of and term in ​relation to the
the term: author's purpose, overall
message, and/or impact on the
audience.

(5 pts each) (8 pts each) (12 pts each--see rubric below)

1. “What could she
do? Everyone would laugh.
They would know she dyed an
old dress because she couldn’t
afford a new one” (Soto 4).
Internal Conflict The term is used in this quote The author’s purpose of bringing this
because she is having issues up is to relate to the overall message
with the dress and doesn’t know which is to accept what you have even
what to do. if it is an old dyed dress.

2. “Yollie was slender as a tulip, direct This quote explains how the This relates to the overall message
pretty, and one of the smartest Characterization character is smart, slender, which tells how the character studies
kids at Saint Theresa’s. She pretty, and also explains what hard for her mother to buy her anything
was captain of she does. that she wants like the dress.
crossing guards, an altar girl,6
and a whiz in the school’s
monthly spelling bees” (Soto 2).

3. “We don’t have the money,” said Theme Because it shows how her It relates to the overall message which
her mother, genuinely sad mother works hard to make her is to always be thankful for what you’re
because they couldn’t buy the daughter happy and that also given even though it’s not what you
outfit, even emphasizes the title. want.
though there was a little money
stashed away for college” (Soto
2).

4. “I’ve been saving a little money Resolution This is the resolution now that This related to the overall message
every month,” said Mrs. Moreno. the character solve the issue now that it showed how the things are
 “For you, m’ija.” Her mother held between her mother and her given not every time and that love from
up and also solved the issue of the mother to daughter will happen always.
five twenties, a blossom of dress
green that smelled sweeter than
flowers on that Saturday” (Soto
5).

Short Story Terms:

direct characterization allusion

indirect characterization symbolism 4 pts:​ You mention the term, but do not analyze the s
setting oxymoron message, and/or impact on the audience.
foreshadowing simile
exposition metaphor
rising action Hyperbole
2 pts:​ Your analysis is unclear and/or unrelated to the
climax
falling action
resolution (denouement)
Analysis Rubric
internal conflict
external conflict: character vs. 0 pts: ​You did not provide a response.
character 12 pts:​ Your analysis is clear and specific. You insightfully and convincingly connect the term and ex
external conflict: character vs. society the author's purpose, overall message, and/or impact on the audience.
external conflict: character vs. nature (or the
supernatural)
point of view: 3rd person omniscient 10 pts: ​Your analysis is mostly clear and specific. You connect the term and example to the author's
narrator overall message, and/or impact on the audience.
point of view: 3rd person limited narrator
point of view: 1st person
tone
8 pts: ​Your analysis is mostly clear and specific, with some lapses. You mention how the term and e
mood/ atmosphere relate to the author's purpose, overall message, and/or impact on the audience.
style/diction
situational irony
verbal irony
dramatic irony 6 pts: ​You describe the term and/or paraphrase your evidence. You do not examine the term and ex
relation to the author's purpose, overall message, and/or impact on the audience.
theme
imagery
personification