Narrative Reading Test Practice

Round 2-- Mythology

Theme and supporting evidence
1. What is one possible theme from Arachne? What evidence from the text supports
this theme?
Possible answer: One possible theme for Arachne is if you are ridiculously
proud, your downfall might be more severe. The evidence from the text to
support this comes from Arachnes treatment of Athene. Arachne doesnt
ever back down, swallow her pride, and admit she might not be the best at
weaving. Because of this overwhelming pride, she has a torturous
consequence-- she is turned into a spider!
2. What is one possible theme from Prometheus and Pandora? What evidence from
the text supports this theme?
Possible answer: One possible theme for Prometheus and Pandora is
revenge can cost you-- and others-- dearly. The evidence from the text to
support this comes from Prometheus and Epimetheus. Their consequences
for messing with Zeus are long-lived and hurt more than just themselves.
Since Zeus hid fire from them, they decided to get even by stealing it back.
This revenge unleashed a chain reaction which resulted in sickness, hatred and
other evils being set free on all men.

1.

Vocabulary or unfamiliar words/phrases in context

In the following passage, what does the word "obscure" mean?
"She lived in an obscure little village..."

Possible answer: Obscure means the village is not well known or very
popular.
2. In the following passage from Prometheus and Pandora, what would be another
word for intrigue?
After hours of waiting, her intrigue got the best of her...
Possible answer: Another word for intrigue would be curiosity.

3. In the following passage from Prometheus and Pandora, why is the word planted
an appropriate word choice?
...the curiosity that the gods had planted deep inside her bubbled to the surface.
Possible answer: The word planted is appropriate in this context since
the gods put it there in her body while they were building Pandora. She
did not create this curiosity, but rather the gods had put it there.
Planted also shows that it will grow-- and it does! She lets the
curiosity get the best of her.
4. In the following passage from Prometheus and Pandora, what would be another
word for crafty?
...Prometheus the crafty Titan deceived him...
Possible answer: Another word for crafty would be tricky or
clever.
5. In the following passage from Prometheus and Pandora, what would be another
word for fashion?
Put in it the voice and strength or humankind, and fashion a sweet, lovely
maiden-shape, who looks like the stunning immortal goddesses.
Possible answer: Another word for fashion would be make.

Genre and story elements

1. What is the setting of Arachne?
Possible answer: Arachne is set in ancient Greece, in a tiny, unknown village.
Most of the story takes place in a small cottage in this village.
2. What is the main conflict of Prometheus and Pandora? How is that conflict
resolved?
Possible answer: The main conflict is Zeus has hatched a plan to get even
with the mortals who are playing tricks on him. This plan involves sending a
woman-- beautiful and desirable on the outside, but crafty and evil on the

inside-- to the men to pay them back. It also involves sending a jar full of
yuck to the people so they will be to blame for the evil in the world, not
Zeus. This twisted conflict is resolved when Pandora opens the jar and frees
the ills on the world, but she also keeps hope to hold on to.
3. Who is the protagonist in Prometheus and Pandora? Who is the antagonist?
Possible answer: Pandora is the best shot at a protagonist in this story-she certainly isnt causing problems on purpose, but she does prevent the
conflict from working itself out well. She also holds on to hope at the end,
which gives a glimmer of working out the conflict. The antagonists are
many-- Zeus, Prometheus and Epimetheus all keep the conflict going.

Analysis of story elements (how plot, characters,

setting, and theme interact)
1a. In the myth called Arachne, what is the author showing the readers about Arachne
in the following passage:
"Arachne was used to being wondered at, and she was immensely proud of her
skill that had brought so many to look on her. Praise was all she lived for, and it
displeased her greatly that people should think anyone, even a goddess, could
teach her anything."
Possible answer: The author is showing Arachne was full of pride-- and she
had no humble spirit about her. She was arrogant about her skills.
1b. In Arachne, how does this character trait (from the above passage in #1a)
contribute to the events at the end of the story?
Possible answer: This trait of arrogant pride is what blinds Arachne, causing
her to not back down to Athene, which in the end leads to her being turned to
a spider. If she would have been more humble, Arachne would not have been
so offended.
2. In Arachne, how does the setting affect the plot of the story? (In other words, why
does it need to be in this setting to work?)

Possible answer: The setting of long ago and in Greece-- in a small, remote
village-- makes sense to work with the idea of goddesses appearing and with a
weaving contest. If it were modern times in the USA, we wouldnt expect an
interaction with goddesses or a weaving contest.
3. Why would the village being obscure be important to the story of Arachne? In other
words, how does an obscure village help drive home the message or theme of the
story?
Possible answer: The setting of an obscure village makes sense so that there
isnt much else to see there besides Arachne weaving-- she is the main
attraction. Without this, there would be other things to distract the
onlookers, and Athene wouldnt have such a big audience for her show.
4a. In Prometheus and Pandora, based on the following passage, what does the
author want us to know about Zeus:
In one episode, Zeus, in the anger of his heart, hid fire from men, because
Prometheus the crafty Titan deceived him...
Possible answer: The author wants readers to know that Zeus is
likely to seek revenge in a situation where he feels taken advantage of.

4b. In Prometheus and Pandora, based on the following passage, what does the
author want us to know about Zeus:
...Zeus gathered together all the sickness, hatred, and misery and packed a large
jar full of it as a wedding gift to the new couple. As an extra measure, he also
added a hint of hope.
Possible answer: The author wants readers to know that Zeus does
not like humans, and his gift to them is not very nice. But even
though he has this evil inside of him, he still gives them one nice thing:
Hope.
4c. In Prometheus and Pandora, how do these character traits of Zeus (from #4a and
#4b) contribute to the conflict in this story? In other words, how might the conflict be
different if Zeus were not this way?
Possible answer: If Zeus did not have this deep hatred for humans,

there would be no conflict. Without his revenge and hate, he would

not have made an evil plan to get even with Prometheus for stealing fire.
5a. In Prometheus and Pandora, based on the following passage, what does the
author want us to know about Pandora:
Zeus demanded that Hermes plant within her [Pandora] lies, crafty words,
curiosity and a deceitful nature...
Possible answer: The author wants readers to know that Pandora will
not be a very nice woman since the gods added these mean character
traits. The author also wants readers to know that this is the gods
fault, not Pandoras fault.
5b. In Prometheus and Pandora, how do these character traits (from #5a) contribute
to the ending of the story? In other words, how would the ending be different if she were
not this way?
Possible answer: If the gods did not give Pandora lies, craftiness and
curiosity, she never would have opened the jar. The gods made sure she
would open the jar due to the traits they gave her. Without her opening
the jar, sickness and hatred would not be on the earth, according to
this story.

Authors craft (why this word/phrase?

foreshadowing?)
1. In Arachne, what hints does the author give that show you something terrible is
going to happen to Arachne? Where is the foreshadowing that she will be turned into a
spider?
Possible answer: Early in the story, Arachne is described as being proud, and
she even has physical traits of a spider-- dusty brown hair, pale eyes, quick
fingers. In the middle of the story, Athene tries to give Arachne a warning
through her pattern while weaving-- we see other mortals meeting terrible
ends when they challenge the gods. All of this helps readers to see that
Arachne is headed for disaster.

2. In Prometheus and Pandora, what clues does the author weave into the text early
to let the reader know that Pandora will open the jar and the contents will not be
pleasant?
Possible answer: Early in the story, the author tells us that men lived
without sickness or hard work. In addition, the author tells us that
Zeus and Prometheus had some history-- they were known for playing
tricks on each other. We are also told that Pandora was built with
curiosity, and that the jar was full of evil. All of this hints that she
will open the nasty jar of evil and hatred.
3. In the following passage from Prometheus and Pandora, why is the word haunt
an appropriate word choice?
The men gods, on the other hand, had different intentions which would haunt the
mortals forever.
Possible answer: The word haunt is appropriate here since it brings to
mind something that lingers or sticks around for a bit, and something
that is unwanted. What the gods had in mind has been around forever
and it plagues men, so haunt fits.