This study guide covers several short stories by Mark Twain and other authors and provides discussion questions about key elements of each story such as setting, plot, symbols, themes, and literary techniques. The stories that will be analyzed are Life on the Mississippi, The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County, The Law of Life, The Yellow Wallpaper, and The Story of an Hour. Questions prompt identification of the author, genres of local color and naturalism, narrators, conflicts, tones, and structures of each story. Literary devices like symbolism, point of view, dialect, hyperbole, and understatement are also addressed. General questions cover definitions of core literary concepts.

1. Unit 4 Study Guide
Life on the Mississippi
 Author: _____________________
 In what ways is this story an example of local color and/or naturalism?
 Describe the setting and social context of the story.
 In the two stories we read by Mark Twain, how does he establish his own unique voice? Provide at least
two details from the texts.
 Explain this story’s plot structure.
The Notorious Jumping Frog of Calaveras County
 Author:______________________
 In what ways is this story an example of local color and/or naturalism?
 Describe the setting and social context of the story.
 Define tall tale.
 Find an example of dialect.
 Find an example of hyperbole.
 Find an example of understatement.
The Law of Life
 Author:______________________
 In what ways is this story an example of local color and/or naturalism?
 Describe the setting and social context of the story.

2.  What is a major symbol is this story? What is the meaning of the symbol?
 What are two of the conflicts in this story? For each one, explain whether it is internal or external.
 What is the theme of this story? Provide evidence.
 What is the tone of this story? Provide evidence.
The Yellow Wallpaper
 Author:______________________
 In what ways is this story an example of local color and/or naturalism?
 Describe the setting and social context of the story.
 What is a major symbol is this story? What is the meaning of the symbol?
 What is a reliable narrator? What is an unreliable narrator? How would you describe the narrator of this
story?
 Describe a powerful image from this story in your own words. What is the importance of the image?
The Story of an Hour
 Author:______________________
 In what ways is this story an example of local color and/or naturalism?
 Describe the setting and social context of the story.

3.  What is the conflict the narrator faces? Is it internal or external?
 What is the theme of this story? Provide evidence.
 How does the tone of this story change? Explain and provide evidence.
 Explain this story’s plot structure.
1. What are the components of local color writing?
2. What are the components of naturalist writing?
3. What are the four different types of POV? What is a definition of each?
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4. Define hyperbole and find an example from one of the texts. (Do not use the same example from above.)
5. Define understatement and find an example from one of the texts. (Do not use the same example from above.)
6. Define paraphrasing.
7. What is the term for an author’s choice of words? How does this choice impact a story?