Use the statement about O. Henry's short story “The Gift of the Magi” to complete the activity.

Della cuts off her long, beautiful hair and sells it in order to buy a watch chain for her husband’s prized pocket watch. Jim, her husband, sells his pocket watch to buy an ornate brush for his wife, Della.

(1 point)
Select the correct answer from the list. This statement represents
irony.

Correct, this statement represents irony.

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Use the paragraphs to complete the activity.

Patrick lived in Emoryville, but every Saturday morning he rode two city buses to his uncle’s bookstore in Northview, where he worked. He didn’t mind the commute because he loved his job. He loved spending time with his uncle, but he also loved going to work because he had become friends with Andrew, one of his co-workers. The boys would talk about everything from baseball scores to movies to favorite pizza toppings.

So this Saturday, when Patrick got to work, he and Andrew got to talking as they always did.

“Hey, Pat,” Andrew said casually.

“Hey,” said Patrick. “Did you have a good week?”

“Yeah,” he said. “Great week. My basketball team made it into the semifinals. The game is tonight. We’re playing Emoryville, our nemesis.”

Before Patrick could say another word, Andrew continued. “I don’t like Emoryville. I don’t think I could ever be friends with someone from that town. Our schools are such rivals.”

Patrick was speechless.

“Where are you from, Pat? I can’t believe I’ve never asked you that before!”

Patrick fumbled over his words. “Not too far from here,” he said before he quickly changed the subject to the new shipment of graphic novels.

In 3–5 sentences, identify the two different points of view in the story, and describe the humor and suspense created by the differences in point of view.

The two different points of view in the story are Andrew's and Patrick's. Andrew has a negative attitude towards the town of Emoryville due to rivalry between their schools, while Patrick is from Emoryville and feels uncomfortable sharing this information. The humor is created by Andrew unknowingly insulting Patrick's hometown, while the suspense is created by the reader wondering if Patrick will reveal where he is from and how Andrew will react.

Use the paragraphs to complete the activity.

Patrick lived in Emoryville, but every Saturday morning he rode two city buses to his uncle’s bookstore in Northview where he worked. He didn’t mind the commute because he loved his job. He loved spending time with his uncle, but he also loved going to work because he had become friends with Andrew, one of his co-workers. The boys would talk about everything from baseball scores to movies to favorite pizza toppings.

So this Saturday, when Patrick got to work, he and Andrew got to talking as they always did.

“Hey, Pat,” Andrew said casually.

“Hey,” said Patrick. “Did you have a good week?”

“Yeah,” he said. “Great week. My basketball team made it into the semifinals. The game is tonight. We’re playing Emoryville, our nemesis.”

Before Patrick could say another word, Andrew continued. “I don’t like Emoryville. I don’t think I could ever be friends with someone from that town. Our schools are such rivals.”

Patrick was speechless.

“Where are you from, Pat? I can’t believe I’ve never asked you that before!”

Patrick fumbled over his words. “Not too far from here,” he said before he quickly changed the subject to the new shipment of graphic novels.

Write a paragraph explaining the structure of the story and how the structure contributes to the meaning of the story.

The structure of the story is fairly simple, following a straightforward sequence of events that occur during a conversation between two co-workers. However, the structure also includes an element of suspense and tension, as the reader wonders if Patrick will reveal where he is from and how Andrew will react. This contributes to the meaning of the story by highlighting the importance of honesty and authenticity in friendships, and the potential harm that can be caused by assumptions and preconceived notions. Additionally, the structure creates a sense of irony, as Andrew expresses his negative feelings towards Emoryville without realizing that his close friend is from there.

Use the description of the modern fiction series The Heroes of Olympus by Rick Riordan to complete the activity.

The Heroes of Olympus is a five-book series focusing on teenage demigods who live in modern times and are the children of the ancient Greek and Roman gods. The seven Greek and Roman demigods must work together to leave their home camps in the United States and travel to the ancient lands in Rome and Greece. There, they must battle many enemies, especially the primordial goddess Gia, who wants to destroy the gods and the world as we know it. Once they accomplish this giant task, they return home and improve the demigod world by uniting the Greek and Roman camps in the United States.

In 3–5 sentences, explain the elements from the description that illustrate the common patterns of a hero’s journey.

The Heroes of Olympus series contains several elements that illustrate the common patterns of a hero's journey. First, the teenage demigods are called to action by being tasked with saving the world from destruction. They must leave their comfort zones and embark on a perilous journey to accomplish their mission. Along the way, they face many obstacles and enemies that test their skills, but they rely on their intelligence, inner strength, and teamwork to overcome them. Finally, they return home with newfound wisdom and experience, having fulfilled their duty and changed the world for the better.

Read the fable The Fox and the Stork by Aesop to complete the activity.

At one time the Fox and the Stork were on visiting terms and seemed very good friends. So the Fox invited the Stork to dinner, and for a joke put nothing before her but some soup in a very shallow dish. This the Fox could easily lap up, but the Stork could only wet the end of her long bill in it and left the meal as hungry as when she began. "I am sorry," said the Fox, "the soup is not to your liking."
"Pray do not apologize," said the Stork. "I hope you will return this visit and come and dine with me soon." So a day was appointed when the Fox should visit the Stork; but when they were seated at table all that was for their dinner was contained in a very long-necked jar with a narrow mouth, in which the Fox could not insert his snout, so all he could manage to do was to lick the outside of the jar.

Write a paragraph identifying and explaining the theme present in this passage and how it relates to any universal themes.