FRQ 1: CharacterizationRead the excerpt from The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin. Analyze how the author uses characterization to reveal Mrs. Mallard’s internal conflict. In your response, discuss specific language, imagery, and narrative techniques that illustrate her evolving emotions.
FRQ 2: SettingConsider the setting in Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher. How does the setting contribute to the story’s atmosphere and themes? Use specific textual evidence to support your analysis of how the physical environment mirrors the characters’ psychological states.
FRQ 3: Plot and Narrative StructureJames Joyce’s Araby uses a first-person narrator to recount a pivotal moment of disillusionment. Analyze how Joyce structures the plot to reflect the narrator’s shifting perspective, and explain how this structure enhances the story’s central themes.
FRQ 4: ConflictIn Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery, the tension builds toward a shocking conclusion. Discuss the nature of the central conflict in the story and how it reflects larger societal or cultural critiques. Support your analysis with references to specific events and dialogue.
FRQ 5: Authorial Intent and ThemeIn Kate Chopin’s Desiree’s Baby, the theme of identity is intertwined with societal prejudices. Analyze how Chopin develops this theme through her use of symbolism, setting, and character relationships. What do these elements suggest about the author’s perspective on race and gender?
FRQ 6: Comparative AnalysisCompare the use of unreliable narrators in Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart and Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper. How do these narrators influence readers’ understanding of the plot and themes? Use specific examples to discuss how narrative voice shapes the reader’s interpretation.
FRQ 2: SettingConsider the setting in Edgar Allan Poe’s The Fall of the House of Usher. How does the setting contribute to the story’s atmosphere and themes? Use specific textual evidence to support your analysis of how the physical environment mirrors the characters’ psychological states.
FRQ 3: Plot and Narrative StructureJames Joyce’s Araby uses a first-person narrator to recount a pivotal moment of disillusionment. Analyze how Joyce structures the plot to reflect the narrator’s shifting perspective, and explain how this structure enhances the story’s central themes.
FRQ 4: ConflictIn Shirley Jackson’s The Lottery, the tension builds toward a shocking conclusion. Discuss the nature of the central conflict in the story and how it reflects larger societal or cultural critiques. Support your analysis with references to specific events and dialogue.
FRQ 5: Authorial Intent and ThemeIn Kate Chopin’s Desiree’s Baby, the theme of identity is intertwined with societal prejudices. Analyze how Chopin develops this theme through her use of symbolism, setting, and character relationships. What do these elements suggest about the author’s perspective on race and gender?
FRQ 6: Comparative AnalysisCompare the use of unreliable narrators in Edgar Allan Poe’s The Tell-Tale Heart and Charlotte Perkins Gilman’s The Yellow Wallpaper. How do these narrators influence readers’ understanding of the plot and themes? Use specific examples to discuss how narrative voice shapes the reader’s interpretation.