Shapes of Stories Quiz

What is the main idea of Kurt Vonnegut's thesis about stories?

• A) Stories should have a happy ending.

• B) Stories can be graphed to reveal their shape.

• C) Stories must have a moral lesson.

• D) Stories should be based on real events.

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Which story shape involves the main character getting into trouble and then getting out of it?

• A) Boy Meets Girl

• B) From Bad to Worse

• C) Man in Hole

• D) Creation Story

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In the "Boy Meets Girl" story shape, what happens to the main character?

• A) The character loses everything forever.

• B) The character finds something wonderful, loses it, then gets it back.

• C) The character faces continuous decline.

• D) The character receives gifts from a deity.

What is the characteristic of the "From Bad to Worse" story shape?

• A) The character improves over time.

• B) The character's situation gets worse with no hope for improvement.

• C) The character receives gifts from a deity.

• D) The character experiences a happy ending.

Which story shape is described as having a little ambiguity about whether developments are good or bad?

• A) Man in Hole

• B) Boy Meets Girl

• C) Which Way Is Up?

• D) New Testament

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What is a common theme in many cultures' creation stories?

• A) Characters face continuous decline.

• B) Characters receive incremental gifts from a deity.

• C) Characters find something wonderful and lose it.

• D) Characters experience a happy ending.

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In the "Old Testament" story shape, what happens to humankind?

• A) They receive gifts and maintain their status.

• B) They are ousted from good standing and fall.

• C) They find something wonderful and lose it.

• D) They experience continuous decline.

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What is the outcome in the "New Testament" story shape?

• A) Humankind receives gifts and maintains their status.

• B) Humankind is ousted but then receives bliss.

• C) Humankind experiences continuous decline.

• D) Humankind finds something wonderful and loses it.

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What inspired Kurt Vonnegut to write essays and give lectures on the shapes of stories?

• A) The similarity between the shapes of Cinderella and the New Testament.

• B) The success of his novels.

• C) The influence of ancient myths.

• D) The popularity of fairy tales.

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Which story shape is associated with the novel "Great Expectations"?

• A) Man in Hole

• B) Old Testament

• C) New Testament

• D) Boy Meets Girl

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