The Destiny of Milton Gomrath

• Engels
• Middelbare school
• vwo
• Leerjaar 3,4

T4 Short Story Practice Test

Knowledge of literary terms

Practice questions related to a short story

Literary Terms

Which literary term do the cartoons represent

Cartoon 1:

1. Irony
2. Paradox
3. Hyperbole
4. Euphemism

Cartoon 2:

1. Onomatopoeia
2. Personification
3. Paradox
4. Symbolism

Cartoon 3: 

1. Personification
2. Pun
3. Metaphor
4. Paradox

Cartoon 4:

1. Euphemism
2. Paradox
3. Alliteration
4. Metaphor

Cartoon 5:

1. Oxymoron
2. Paradox
3. Metaphor
4. Irony

Cartoon 6:

1. Paradox
2. Irony
3. Metaphor
4. Allusion

Read:

The Destiny of Milton Gomrath

Questions about Short Story elements will follow

Answers must include examples from the story

Who is the protagonist in this story?

Give two character traits for Milton. Explain using examples from the story

Character traits

Character traits: aspects of a character that define his identity

  

• He is not very smart -> only graduated by the grace of the school
  
• He is bored with his life -> dreams of a better life, is a garbage man
  
• He is an orphan ->  was left in a wicker basket.
  

Give an example of onomatopoeia from the story.

What is this story's inciting incident?

Milton is waiting for “the appearance of a mother, uncle, or cousin come to claim him and take him to the perpetual June, where he of right belonged.” (lines 9 and 10). 

What literary term could we use to describe “perpetual June” and what does it stand for?

What literary term could we use to describe “perpetual June” and what does it stand for?

What can you tell me about the 'Setting' of this story?

Explain the plot twist.

What do you think the 'Theme' of this story is?

What do you think the 'Theme' of this story is?

“One cannot escape his/her destiny” – even though Milton might want a better life, there is no better life for him.

Give an example of imagery from the story.

Imagery

“he hated the endless serial procession of gray days.”

“all the while holding onto the same well-polished dream.”