SAMPLE SHORT STORY ESSAY QUESTIONS

1) Choose TWO stories you have studied in which there is a rural setting.

Write an essay in which you describe the setting in EACH story. In this essay, you must also
compare and contrast how the setting for EACH story contributes to mood and characterization.

2) Choose TWO short stories you have studied in which family is important.
Write an essay in which you describe the family in EACH story. In this essay, you must discuss
how a character impacts his/her family or how the family impacts the character. Finally, examine
how one narrative technique is used to convey this relationship.

3) ‘Legends are often presented in short stories’.

Choose TWO short stories and write an essay in which you describe the legend presented in
EACH. In this essay, you must also discuss the presentation of ONE character in ONE of the
stories, and examine how point of view is used in EACH story to present the legend.