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Quiz about The Short Story
Quiz about The Short Story

The Short Story Trivia Quiz


The short story is a unique literary form that has been employed for centuries. This quiz surveys famous short story writers as well as the history of the form.

A multiple-choice quiz by skylarb. Estimated time: 6 mins.
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Author
skylarb
Time
6 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
120,142
Updated
Mar 13 22
# Qns
20
Difficulty
Tough
Avg Score
12 / 20
Plays
1082
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 20
1. Some of the earliest short stories can be found in the Bible. But the short story, as a form, took a major shift in the 14th century, thanks in part to this writer. Hint


Question 2 of 20
2. When did the English short story begin to take the form of prose rather than verse? Hint


Question 3 of 20
3. This short story writer had a theory about the form. He believed a true short story required a "single effect" and insisted that "[i]n the whole composition there should be no word written of which the tendency, direct or indirect, is not to the one pre-established design." Hint


Question 4 of 20
4. This short story writer, however, considered the story to be nothing more than "a frame on which to stretch [his] materials," and he aimed at a "familiar and faithful exhibition of scenes in common life." Hint


Question 5 of 20
5. Which of the following short story writers turned out his works during the 19th century? Hint


Question 6 of 20
6. His tales include a cast of strange characters. One involves a minister who inexplicably dons a black veil. An even stranger tale tells of a man who one day walks out of his house on the pretence of taking a journey. Instead, he takes up lodging one block away. There he lives for twenty years, unknown to his wife, until one day he finally returns and simply resumes his domestic life. Hint


Question 7 of 20
7. He wrote a short story about a copyist who, when asked to do any work by his employer, always replied, "I prefer not." Hint


Question 8 of 20
8. This naturalist writer gave us "The Open Boat." Hint


Question 9 of 20
9. Which of the following is a short story writer who did NOT write all of their works in the twentieth century? Hint


Question 10 of 20
10. The incidents that occur in short stories by this German-language writer are so surreal that a term has even been developed from his name to describe strange experiences. Hint


Question 11 of 20
11. Literary critic Forest Ingram introduced the term "short story cycle" to describe a collection of stories with recurring themes, symbols, and characters united by a setting or chronology. Which of the following is _not_ a short story cycle? Hint


Question 12 of 20
12. This short story cycle focuses on Esperanza Cordero, who is both the protagonist and the narrator. Hint


Question 13 of 20
13. His story, "The Strange Ride of Morrowbie Jukes," gave us the phrase "to eat crow." Hint


Question 14 of 20
14. His stories have three basic plots: (1) someone is buried alive, or (2) someone is alive who should have been dead, or (3) someone dies. Hint


Question 15 of 20
15. In a short story by this author, society, in an attempt to make everyone equal, was forced to make pretty people ugly and graceful people clumsy. One day, Harrison Bergeron attempted to break free of these confines, but he was quickly brought back into line. Hint


Question 16 of 20
16. He was well known for his Christmas short stories, including "The Cricket on the Hearth." Hint


Question 17 of 20
17. This author of "The Martian Chronicles" never wanted to be pegged as a writer of science-fiction. Hint


Question 18 of 20
18. If you come across Kilgore Trout, then you are probably reading a short story by this author. Hint


Question 19 of 20
19. His short story cycle includes such stories as "Two Gallants," "An Encounter," and "A Little Cloud." Hint


Question 20 of 20
20. Characters in his short stories include Luca, Rider, Carothers, Nat, and Caas McCaslin. Hint



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Some of the earliest short stories can be found in the Bible. But the short story, as a form, took a major shift in the 14th century, thanks in part to this writer.

Answer: Boccaccio

Up until the 14th century, short stories were primarily written in order to provide exempla and convey Judeo-Christian morals. With Boccacio's "The Decameron" and Chaucer's "Canterbury Tales," however, the shift moved from the sacred to the profane. These writers focused primarily on human folly rather than on religious instruction.
2. When did the English short story begin to take the form of prose rather than verse?

Answer: 15th century

While the Old English short stories ("Dream of the Rood," "Beowulf," etc.) and the Middle English short stories ("Canterbury Tales") were written in verse form, in the 15th century there began to be a shift toward prose.
3. This short story writer had a theory about the form. He believed a true short story required a "single effect" and insisted that "[i]n the whole composition there should be no word written of which the tendency, direct or indirect, is not to the one pre-established design."

Answer: Edgar Allan Poe

In a prose essay, Poe argued, "A skillful artist has constructed a tale. He has not fashioned his thoughts to accommodate his incidents, but having deliberately conceived a certain single effect to be wrought, he then invents such incidents, he then combines such events, and discusses them in such tone as may best serve him in establishing this preconceived effect. If his very first sentence tend not to the outbringing of this effect, then in his very first step has he committed a blunder."
4. This short story writer, however, considered the story to be nothing more than "a frame on which to stretch [his] materials," and he aimed at a "familiar and faithful exhibition of scenes in common life."

Answer: Washington Irving

"It is the play of thought," wrote Irving, "and sentiment and language; the weaving of characters, lightly yet expressively delineated; the familiar and faithful exhibition of scenes in common life; and the half-concealed vein of humor that is often playing through the whole--these are among what I aim at."
5. Which of the following short story writers turned out his works during the 19th century?

Answer: Nathaniel Hawthorne

Cervantes wrote in the 17th century and Faulkner in the 20th.
6. His tales include a cast of strange characters. One involves a minister who inexplicably dons a black veil. An even stranger tale tells of a man who one day walks out of his house on the pretence of taking a journey. Instead, he takes up lodging one block away. There he lives for twenty years, unknown to his wife, until one day he finally returns and simply resumes his domestic life.

Answer: Nathaniel Hawthorne

These characters come from "The Minister's Black Veil" and "Wakefield." Hawthorne was a prolific short story writer, producing such collections as "Twice Told Tales."
7. He wrote a short story about a copyist who, when asked to do any work by his employer, always replied, "I prefer not."

Answer: Herman Melville

"Bartelby the Scrivener," though written in the 19th century, is a surprisingly modern tale about human isolation. Bartleby insists on going to work even though he does not work; he appears to live in the office; and when his employer has him forcibly removed to an institution, he dies with his face toward the wall. Funny, strange, and sad all at the same time, this is one powerful short story.
8. This naturalist writer gave us "The Open Boat."

Answer: Stephen Crane

Crane is best known for his novel, "The Red Badge of Courage," but he also wrote short stories and a considerable amount of free verse poetry.
9. Which of the following is a short story writer who did NOT write all of their works in the twentieth century?

Answer: Mark Twain

Twain wrote primarily in the 19th century. His tales include "The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County" and "A Strange Dream", among others.
10. The incidents that occur in short stories by this German-language writer are so surreal that a term has even been developed from his name to describe strange experiences.

Answer: Franz Kafka

A character in his "The Metamorphosis" awakens one day to discover he has been transformed into an insect. The story proceeds very nonchalantly as the author narrates to us the main character's unfortunate difficulties. It is this type of surreal occurrence that has given us the term "Kafkaesque."
11. Literary critic Forest Ingram introduced the term "short story cycle" to describe a collection of stories with recurring themes, symbols, and characters united by a setting or chronology. Which of the following is _not_ a short story cycle?

Answer: "Twice Told Tales," Nathaniel Hawthorne

"Twice Told Tales" is a collection of unrelated short stories that may share some common themes, but which are not linked together by character, setting, or chronology. "Dubliners" and "Winesburg" both share a single setting--a town. The stories in "Go Down Moses" are linked together by recurring characters and a chronology.
12. This short story cycle focuses on Esperanza Cordero, who is both the protagonist and the narrator.

Answer: The House On Mango Street

The collection by Sandra Cisneros is a very tightly bound cycle, with all of the stories set on a single city street. The stories focus on different points in the life of the main protagonist, from childhood, thorough adolescence, and on to adulthood.
13. His story, "The Strange Ride of Morrowbie Jukes," gave us the phrase "to eat crow."

Answer: Rudyard Kipling

Kipling's short stories were set in India, where he was raised. Interestingly, however, he lived for a time in Vermont (U.S.A.).
14. His stories have three basic plots: (1) someone is buried alive, or (2) someone is alive who should have been dead, or (3) someone dies.

Answer: Edgar Allan Poe

I was, of course, being a bit hyperbolic. Poe also wrote mystery stories. His notorious "buried alive" story is "The Cask of Amontillado."
15. In a short story by this author, society, in an attempt to make everyone equal, was forced to make pretty people ugly and graceful people clumsy. One day, Harrison Bergeron attempted to break free of these confines, but he was quickly brought back into line.

Answer: Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Despite his socialist tendencies, Vonnegut painted a pretty bleak view of a world bent on ensuring equality.
16. He was well known for his Christmas short stories, including "The Cricket on the Hearth."

Answer: Charles Dickens

Dickens wrote scores of Christmas tales, and these short stories became an annual expectation among his many devout readers. He is best known for his "Christmas Carol," which is a novel.
17. This author of "The Martian Chronicles" never wanted to be pegged as a writer of science-fiction.

Answer: Ray Bradbury

Bradbury has written a wide variety of short stories, but more than a few have involved life on other planets, or strange events often marked with the label "science-fiction." He is also well known for his novels, including "Fahrenheit 451."
18. If you come across Kilgore Trout, then you are probably reading a short story by this author.

Answer: Kurt Vonnegut, Jr.

Kilgore Trout is a recurring character who pops in and out of several Vonnegut stories and novels. The character is himself a writer, much like his creator.
19. His short story cycle includes such stories as "Two Gallants," "An Encounter," and "A Little Cloud."

Answer: James Joyce

"Dubliners" also includes the famous stories "The Sisters" and "The Dead."
20. Characters in his short stories include Luca, Rider, Carothers, Nat, and Caas McCaslin.

Answer: William Faulkner

These all appear in his short story cycle "Go Down Moses," which explores issues of race.
Source: Author skylarb

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Bruyere before going online.
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Related Quizzes
This quiz is part of series Themed Literature Quizzes:

Each of these literature quizzes focuses on a specific theme - women authors, the short story, fanfiction, spurned suitors, and religious fiction.

  1. Spurned Suitors Tough
  2. A Smorgasbord of Female Writers Tough
  3. The Short Story Tough
  4. Fanfiction Average
  5. Religious Fiction Through the Ages Difficult

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