Read the excerpt from "The Storyteller." "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.” There was a murmur of approval at the excellence of the Prince's decision; so many people would have decided the other way. How does the characterization of the children create satire?
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. How does the characterization of the aunt contribute to the satire?
Read the excerpt from "The Storyteller." The child moved reluctantly to the window. "Why are those sheep being driven out of that field?” he asked. "I expect they are being driven to another field where there is more grass,” said the aunt weakly. "But there is lots of grass in that field,” protested the boy; "there’s nothing else but grass there. Aunt, there’s lots of grass in that field.” "Perhaps the grass in the other field is better,” suggested the aunt fatuously. "Why is it better?” came the swift, inevitable question. "Oh, look at those cows!” exclaimed the aunt. Nearly every field along the line had contained cows or bullocks, but she spoke as though she were drawing attention to a rarity. "Why is the grass in the other field better?” persisted Cyril. Which instances of situational irony occur in the passage? Choose two correct answers.
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. Which statement best explains the situational irony that occurs in the passage?
Read the excerpt from "The Storyteller.” "You don’t seem to be a success as a storyteller,” said the bachelor suddenly from his corner. The aunt bristled in instant defense at this unexpected attack. "It’s a very difficult thing to tell stories that children can both understand and appreciate,” she said stiffly. "I don’t agree with you,” said the bachelor. "Perhaps you would like to tell them a story,” was the aunt’s retort. "Tell us a story,” demanded the bigger of the small girls. "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. Which statement best explains the situational irony that occurs in the passage?
How does the characterization of Cyril contribute to the satire in "The Storyteller."?
What theme is best supported by the story the bachelor tells in "The Storyteller”?
What evidence in "The Storyteller." best highlights the flaws in the aunt in order to create satire? Choose three correct answers.
Which excerpt from "The Storyteller” best supports the theme that the purpose of stories is to entertain?
Did you find these answers helpful?