English Short Story Exam
INSTRUCTIONS: Read the short story, "Zora and the Land Ethic Nomads" by Mary Turzillo. Find it on Web Links. Keep the text open in front of you and, if you like, use the Checklists for Writing on our course website and the Gardner textbook to help you compose this 'open book' midterm essay exam. Use the textbook to remind you how to format a quote and the checklists to review the elements of the short story. When you quote from the story, use an MLA-style citation (author's last name and the page number). You do not have to construct a Works Cited page.
Find a quiet place to work and read the short story through at least twice, taking notes. Then, formulate a thesis that names the specific element of your focus, explaining that it has an impact on your interpretation, including the "so what" factor (i.e. ...because why?).Use at least 2-3 specific quotes from the story as evidence to support your claim.
ASSIGNMENT: Write a 300-500 word essay interpreting the short story "The Land Ethic Nomads" by Mary Turzillo (find it on our Blackboard Web Links).The word count is approximate - just say what you have to say.
- Your job is to examine in detail how a literary element* in the story -- the setting, a character, a particular symbol or a critical plot point -- helps us in understanding an important theme or take-away message.
- Begin the essay with a brief synopsis of the story itself.
- Your thesis should claim that the setting, a character, a particular symbol or a plot point* has a meaningful impact on your understanding of what the story is all about. What theme or take-home message emerges?
TIPS:
- Read the story several times, noting key passages. Choose the literary element that stands out the most for you and note quotes that illustrate its presence and impact.
- Use the Checklists "Writing about..." setting, character, symbol, or plot for review.
- Remember to use quotes from the story to describe the literary element--the setting, character, symbol or plot point you'll be analyzing.
- Here are the PLOT POINTS: exposition, conflict, plot complication(s) crises, climax, and resolution (see checklist for definitions).
- Compose a brief synopsis of the story - who is where and what happens? Re-telling the story and making comments as you go can receive NO BETTER THAN A PASSING GRADE (a C) in this advanced expository writing class.
- Pick the setting, a character, a symbol or a plot point for your focus. What does this literary element bring to the "message" or meaning of the story? CHOOSE ONLY ONE ELEMENT.
- If you focus on the setting*, describe "the hab" on Mars clearly and in detail. If relevant, also describe the Martian landscape. Then explain in what ways the location -- the WHERE of the story -- is important. Remember that setting is a primary element in SCIENCE FICTION. What themes or messages does the setting bring to the forefront? Why is it so important to the meaning of the story? (See the BIG PICTURE point below.)
- If you focus on a character*, it's always best to select the protagonist (Zora) or the antagonist (Valkiri). What motivates the character and/or what important character traits help emphasize a theme or a message? What do readers learn by the example set by this character? What's the point of that teaching?
- If you focus on a symbol*, describe it and then explain where and how its physical presence in the landscape of the story resonates, underscoring a theme. What are some of its possible meanings? Why does the object come to mean more than the thing itself? What important message might it illuminate?
- If you focus on a plot point*, begin by explaining why this particular moment strikes you as significant. (All of the plot points are significant, but just choose one or two.) Clearly name and define the plot point and describe exactly what happens at the pivotal moment of your focus. The rest of the essay must illustrate why the moment matters - what issue or theme does it underscore or emphasize?
BIG PICTURE THEMES & ISSUES:
- As American engineers on Mars, Zora and Marcus"believed that humanity had an imperative to go forth and know the universe." They were on Mars to explore it. In contrast, the Land Ethic Nomads "had a different idea. They believed the land, meaning the surface of planets, moons, and asteroids, was sacred"(3). The nomads (also human) said they had to live on Mars to tell everyone to go back to earth. What theme or issue does this contrast suggest?
- What is the Corp? How does it treat its employees Zora and Marcus? What does this tell us about what the engineers on Mars may really be doing? Are they being exploited? Does this suggest a critique of how some big businesses operate in a capitalist system? How so?
- We're told very little about the antagonist Valkiri, but consider what we do know of her people, her purpose, and her motives. Notice the word "ethic"in the nomads' moniker? What might that mean, in this context? Is there an implied or active critique ofthe assumption of rights when it comes to exploration? Is it possible that the nomads have the winning ethical view here? (This would suggest that the engineers are really the bad guys, innocent as they may seem to be.)
- So what if Zora is pregnant? What does this mean in the larger scheme of things? Is she right to keep this fact from her husband? What, in particular, motivates Zora? Does this point to a 'dark side' in Zora's nature, or to the possibility that Zora has character issues?
[This last section is just food for thought - use what you like and ignore the rest.]