Read the passage from "The Storyteller.”The children moved listlessly towards the aunt’s end of the carriage. Evidently her reputation as a storyteller did not rank high in their estimation.In a low, confidential voice, interrupted at frequent intervals by loud, petulant questionings from her listeners, she began an unenterprising and deplorably uninteresting story about a little girl who was good, and made friends with every one on account of her goodness, and was finally saved from a mad bull by a number of rescuers who admired her moral character."Wouldn’t they have saved her if she hadn’t been good?” demanded the bigger of the small girls. It was exactly the question that the bachelor had wanted to ask."Well, yes,” admitted the aunt lamely, "but I don’t think they would have run quite so fast to her help if they had not liked her so much.”"It’s the stupidest story I’ve ever heard,” said the bigger of the small girls, with immense conviction."I didn’t listen after the first bit, it was so stupid,” said Cyril.The smaller girl made no actual comment on the story, but she had long ago recommenced a murmured repetition of her favourite line.
How does characterization support satire? Select three options.It pokes fun at characters by placing them in extreme situations.It makes fun of human weaknesses through humorous characters.It exposes human flaws by exaggerating characters’ weaknesses.It reveals a gap between belief and reality by making characters unaware of their weaknesses.It ridicules socially acceptable behavior by showing how characters’ good intentions backfire.
What theme is best supported by the story the bachelor tells in "The Storyteller”?
Which examples of situational irony does Saki use to create satire? Select two options.
Read the excerpt from "The Storyteller."In a low, confidential voice, interrupted at frequent intervals by loud, petulant questionings from her listeners, she began an unenterprising and deplorably uninteresting story about a little girl who was good, and made friends with every one on account of her goodness, and was finally saved from a mad bull by a number of rescuers who admired her moral character."Wouldn’t they have saved her if she hadn’t been good?” demanded the bigger of the small girls. It was exactly the question that the bachelor had wanted to ask."Well, yes,” admitted the aunt lamely, "but I don’t think they would have run quite so fast to her help if they had not liked her so much.”
Which is the best definition of satire?
What evidence from "The Storyteller” supports the theme that pride goes before a fall? Select two options.“‘It’s a very difficult thing to tell stories that children can both understand and appreciate,’ she said stiffly.”“‘Once upon a time,’ began the bachelor, ‘there was a little girl called Bertha, who was extraordinarily good.’“The children’s momentarily-aroused interest began at once to flicker; all stories seemed dreadfully alike, no matter who told them.”“‘Was she pretty?’ asked the bigger of the small girls.“‘Not as pretty as any of you,’ said the bachelor, ‘but she was horribly good.’“There was a wave of reaction in favour of the story; the word horrible in connection with goodness was a novelty that commended itself. It seemed to introduce a ring of truth that was absent from the aunt’s tales of infant life.”“‘Why weren’t there any flowers?’“‘Because the pigs had eaten them all,’ said the bachelor promptly. ‘The gardeners had told the Prince that you couldn’t have pigs and flowers, so he decided to have pigs and no flowers.’”“‘Unhappy woman!’ he observed to himself as he walked down the platform of Templecombe station; ‘for the next six months or so those children will assail her in public with demands for an improper story!’”
Read the excerpt from "The Storyteller."The frown on the bachelor's face was deepening to a scowl. He was a hard, unsympathetic man, the aunt decided in her mind. She was utterly unable to come to any satisfactory decision about the grass in the other field.
Which excerpt from "The Storyteller” best supports the theme that the purpose of stories is to entertain?
What evidence in "The Storyteller." best highlights the flaws in the aunt in order to create satire? Select three options.“An aunt belonging to the children occupied one corner seat.”“In a low, confidential voice, interrupted at frequent intervals by loud, petulant questionings from her listeners, she began an unenterprising and deplorably uninteresting story about a little girl who was good.”“‘It’s a very difficult thing to tell stories that children can both understand and appreciate,’ she said stiffly.”“The aunt suppressed a gasp of admiration.”“A most improper story to tell to young children! You have undermined the effect of years of careful teaching.”
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