Activity 1 – Elements of Fiction
Getting Ready for the Test
Now that you have read the short story Test by Theodore Thomas, answer the following reading comprehension and creative writing questions in the space provided below each question.
Reading Comprehension Questions:
Read the text below.
Definitions of science fiction differ greatly. However, the basic principles usually attributed to this genre of literature are the following:
The setting must be different from our everyday world; such as in the future, in space, or in an alternate past or timeline.
The plot of the story must rely upon imaginary, but somewhat plausible, scientific or technological elements.
Science fiction stories often act as warnings, forcing readers to consider the possible impacts of our present actions, and development of technology on the future of our world.
Fantasy fiction, like science fiction, is largely based upon imaginary elements. However, the fantastical elements in this genre are not possible or inexplicable by known scientific laws. Some examples of these elements include magic, and the supernatural. Fairy tales such as Alice in Wonderland and magic realism such as Lord of the Rings are both examples of fantasy fiction.
1. The short story Test can be classified as either science fiction or fantasy fiction. Use specific examples from the story to explain whether or not you agree with this statement. I believe that the short story Test is classified as science fiction and fantasy fiction. The author has used through government agents represented as uniformed men in the story the power of hypnosis to state fantasy fiction. This will allow them to test their abilities before presenting them with their drivers licence. As quoted in the story “We hypnotized you to make you think you were in an accident. We do it to everybody these days before they get their driver’s licence. Makes better drivers of them. Makes drivers more carful for the rest of their lives”. As science fiction is defined as a setting in the future, past or even in space, the author throughout the story brings us to a place of the future. “Killing people doesn’t seem to bother you. We can’t let your kind run around loose any more”. They have used the power of the future to put the new found drivers in a simulator to find out how they would react to such experiences. No one has ever had the feeling of killing a human being without it actually happening. It leads them to acknowledge who would make good drivers and keep the roads safe. These are the reasons I agree that the short story Test can be classified as either science fiction or fantasy fiction.
2. The climax is the most crucial part of the story, during which the protagonist faces a major conflict and often goes through a turning point. Keeping in mind this definition, identify the climax of the story, using specific examples from the story to support your answer. The climax of the short story is the moment when Robert Proctor comes to the realisation that his third accident will lead to him killing an innocent human being. It is that short moment before the collision when Robert makes eye contact with the man behind the wheel of the other car and the girl sitting beside him that fills Roberts eyes with fear. It is there in that moment that Roberts life will forever be changed. This is therefore the highest point in the short story.
3. The setting is the time and location of a story. Identify and describe the two distinct settings in the story Test. The two distinct settings in the story Test are on the Highway (Turnpike) as well as in the testing center room where the hypnosis of Robert Proctor took place.
4. Throughout the story, Robert Proctor is faced with several conflicts, which he must overcome. Provide two examples of conflicts from the story, explaining who or what is opposing him in each situation. Robert Proctor is faced with many different conflicts throughout
Related Documents: English: State Fantasy Fiction Essay
question is whether it is possible to distinguish between fantasy and true science fiction. I am reminded of the analogy, attributable I believe, to Theodore Sturgeon, of the elf ascending vertically the side of a brick wall. In a science fiction story the knees of the elf would be bent, his center of gravity thrown forward, his stocking cap hanging down his neck, with his feet quite possibly equipped with some form of suction cups. In a fantasy, on the other hand, the elf would simply stride up the…
A dystopia is therefore a vision of someone else’s ideal society imposed upon you, usually extended out to a nightmarish pitch for the specific purpose of satire. Many of you would find my ideal state and my ideals, applied to the real world, to be your own private little hell: dystopia, though really, it is good for you, I swear. The traditional interpretation of dystopia, and its literary use as satire, tends to assume that the flexibility, understanding and sympathy that temper our opinions, morals…
Castillo Professor Bennett English 270 08 December 2013 Children's Literature as a Moral Compass Children's' Literature began to be more widely published during the seventeen hundreds. At the time children's books were didactic or they were written to teach moral and spirituality (State University). Since its beginnings to the twenty one century, the books written for children have transform enormously to include picture books and almost all the genres for adult readers (State University). The original…
Comparing and Contrasting 2001: A Space Odyssey and “The Sentinel” Tracy Goldman HUMN425: Science Fiction Georgia State University Comparing and Contrasting 2001: A Space Odyssey and “The Sentinel” 2001: A Space Odyssey is a film based on Arthur Clarke's short story, "The Sentinel." The purpose of this paper is to explain the similarities and differences between “The Sentinel” and 2001: A Space Odyssey. There are many similarities and differences between “The Sentinel” and 2001: A Space Odyssey…
The Science Fiction Museum and Hall of Fame appropriately stands in the shadow of Seattle’s futuristic landmark, the Space Needle. Set in a multicolored, globular Frank Gehry-designed building that looks like a cut-up guitar (a “ridiculous . . . monstrosity of postmodern architecture” is another writer’s take), it shares the space with the Experience Music Project, a museum for rock and roll music. The odd juxtaposition of the two museums is actually quite simple: science fiction and Jimi Hendrix’s…
Hashemzadeh 1 Sara Hashemzadeh Mr. Holt English 11 IB Period 1 17 October 2012 1) In Latin the word Orbis means world and the word Tertius means third. Put the words together and Tlon, Uqbar is the third world country, meaning that it might be underdeveloped. Underdeveloped, for not everyone yet believes that Tlon is a real place. It develops in our minds and you can start creating this world and in order it to be finished it needs to be done in ones mind, “I owe the discovery of Uqbar to…
our lives when you see the illustrations they make to go along with any of the stories that they have illustrated. (Macmillan) This dynamic couple has won many awards for their illustrations. In the 60’s and 70’s they also illustrated fantasy- science fiction covers for Harlan Ellison and Ray Bradbury. (Macmillan) (Articles of Washington post.com) They have won 4 New York Times Best Illustrated Awards, 2 Coretta Scott King Awards, (Macmillan) 3 Coretta Scott King Honors, and Society of Illustrators…
Elizabeth The English Empire & The New World during the Renaissance 1603. Reign of Queen Elizabeth 1588 Defeat of the Spanish Armada (highpoint of the English Renaissance?) 1603 Ascension of James I (Stuart royal family of Scotland) Subjugation of Scotland and Ireland Founding of Jamestown, Va and the birth of the British Empire 16th-18th C. The “New World” and the popularity of travel literature, as embodied in the “Fantasy Island” of The Tempest…
The Rhetorical Triangle Key #1 Persona a mask, the character the audience perceived behind the text, the character a writer or speaker conveys to the audience "It is to my other self, to Borges, that things happen. I walk about Buenos Aires and I pause, almost mechanically, to contemplate the arch of an entry or the portal of a church; news of Borges comes to me in the mail, and I see his name on a short list of professors or in a biographical dictionary. I am fond of hourglasses, maps,…
‘It is this feeling which, emerging in the mind of primeval man, forms the starting point for the entire religious development in history. ‘Daemons’ and ‘gods’ alike spring from this root, and all the products of ‘mythological apperception’ or ‘fantasy’ are nothing but different modes in which it has been objectified.’ 3 By this he means the fear and awe we feel whilst viewing vampires in horror films is in fact that same feeling experienced in many world religions – ‘shock and awe.’ The Oxford…