Some narratives, like some memories, can be long, flowing, mostly coherent tales. Other narratives, like other memories, are just loose fragments that someone pieces together, searching for a meaning that unites the bits and pieces. The two narratives you're about to read both deal with insights regarding the self, language, and a love of people or places. "Pillowcases," by Morgan Kayser, is written in the more common chronological narrative form, and "Peak to Peak," by Mac Goad, uses a "fragmented" form more like the journals of John Smith and John Winthrop.
Click the buttons below to read the two narratives. Then, answer the questions about the plot, characters, and themes of each.
 "Peak to Peak" |
 "Pillowcases" |
Which statement BEST describes the narrative structure of "Peak to Peak"?
- The first half of the narrative is about the Rockies; the second half is about the Appalachians.
- It is told in chronological order spanning the narrator's whole life.
- It is a series of snapshots that skip around in time.
- Each part chronicles a year in the narrator's undergraduate or graduate studies.
The narrative is similar to the form of John Winthrop's journal entries.
The narrative is similar to the form of John Winthrop's journal entries.
The narrative is similar to the form of John Winthrop's journal entries.
The narrative is similar to the form of John Winthrop's journal entries.
What important information do readers learn about the narrator from this passage?
"I love nature poetry for its quietude, its opportunity for the complete removal of the self. The personal is what's popular: the quotidian, interpersonal dramas. Incurably self-loathing, I prefer to bend poetry's sharp craft to the spirit and gasp of nature. I'll take any excuse to leave my self out of it."
- The narrator spends most her time outdoors.
- The narrator is a very quiet person.
- The narrator is concerned only with popular writing.
- The narrator is extremely self-critical.
The phrase "self-loathing" is evidence of the narrator's feelings.
The phrase "self-loathing" is evidence of the narrator's feelings.
The phrase "self-loathing" is evidence of the narrator's feelings.
The phrase "self-loathing" is evidence of the narrator's feelings.
The author of "Peak to Peak" shares many reflections throughout the narrative. What do all the reflections have in common?
- All the reflections are about the narrator's relationship with her father.
- All the reflections relate somehow to the Appalachian or the Rocky Mountains.
- All the reflections are about the narrator's love of nature poetry.
- All the reflections relate to the experience of college life.
Observations about the mountain ranges appear throughout the entire narrative.
Observations about the mountain ranges appear throughout the entire narrative.
Observations about the mountain ranges appear throughout the entire narrative.
Observations about the mountain ranges appear throughout the entire narrative.
Which statement BEST describes the narrative structure of "Pillowcases"?
- It follows the narrator's many stops on an East Coast road trip.
- It is a short series of snapshots involving the narrator and her boyfriend.
- It begins with the story's conclusion and works backward.
- It describes events in chronological order over a brief visit to New York.
This is a very traditional and typical structure for narratives.
This is a very traditional and typical structure for narratives.
This is a very traditional and typical structure for narratives.
This is a very traditional and typical structure for narratives.
The first paragraph of "Pillowcases" uses characterization to show what about the narrator?
- She is Swedish.
- She has an eating disorder.
- She hates driving.
- She is nervous about something.
She is binge-eating candy to try to stop a panic attack.
She is binge-eating candy to try to stop a panic attack.
She is binge-eating candy to try to stop a panic attack.
She is binge-eating candy to try to stop a panic attack.
Which sentence from "Pillowcases" BEST demonstrates the theme of the narrative?
- "Spanish is too hard!" I say. "How do you say pillowcase in Spanish?"
- I try to think of ways to fill the silence.
- Maybe we're just two people who love you very, very much, but don't have all the words to say so.
- It smells spicy with all the things you've taught me the names of: sofrito and adobo and sazon.
Sometimes, reflections appear at the end of the narrative and reveal the theme.
Sometimes, reflections appear at the end of the narrative and reveal the theme.
Sometimes, reflections appear at the end of the narrative and reveal the theme.
Sometimes, reflections appear at the end of the narrative and reveal the theme.
Summary
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