PRAXIS II (READING & LANGUAGE ARTS SUBTEST-5002) WITH VERIFIED SOLUTIONS

There are 4 processes/stages essential to readers in the interpretation of literature: 1. Initial (construction stage): The reader has initial contact with content, structure, genre, and language of the test. The reader uses prior knowledge to begin to building understanding of the literature. There are 4 processes/stages essential to readers in the interpretation of literature: 2. Developing (extending stage): The reader dives into the text world and uses text and background knowledge to build understanding of the literature. New information is taken in and immediately used to ask questions about the literature. There are 4 processes/stages essential to readers in the interpretation of literature: 3. Reflection/Response (extension of reading stage): The reader uses text knowledge to reflect upon personal knowledge. What is read impacts and is reflected upon the reader's own life, the lives of others, and the human condition in general. There are 4 processes/stages essential to readers in the interpretation of literature: 4. Critical Analysis (examining stage): The reader reflects and reacts to the content of the literature. She judges, evaluates, and relates to the literature. Allegory A narrative in which the characters and events represent an idea or truth about life in general. Autobiography A narrative in which the author writes about his/her own life. Biography A narrative in which an author writes about another person's life. Comedy A genre of literature in which life is dealt with in a humorous manner, often poking fun at other people's mistakes. Drama (play) Use dialogue to present its message to the audience and is meant to be performed. Essay A nonfiction piece that is often short and used to express the writer's opinion about a topic or to share information on a subject. Fable A short story, often with animals as main characters, that teaches a moral or lesson to the reader. Fantasy A genre of literature in which the story is set in an imaginary world, involving magic or adventure, in which the characters often have supernatural powers. Folktale A story that has been passed down orally from one generation to another; the characters usually follow the extreme (all good or all bad) and in the end are rewarded or punished as the deserve. Myth A story that was created to explain some natural force of nature, religious belief, or social phenomenon. The gods and goddesses have supernatural powers but the human characters often do not. Novel A fictional narrative of book length in which characters and plot are developed in a somewhat realistic manner. Parable A simple, short story that is used to explain a belief, a moral, or spiritual lesson. Poetry Literary work which uses colorful, concise, rhythmic language and focuses on the expression of ideas or emotions. Prose Literary work that is in ordinary form and uses the familiar structure of spoke language, sentence after sentence. Realism Writing in which the reality of life is shown. Science Fiction A genre of literature in which real or imaginary scientific developments and concepts are prevalent and is often set in the future. Short Story A narrative that can be read in one sitting. Has a few characters and often one conflict or problem. The characters often go through some sort of change by the end of the story. Tall Tale A humorous and exaggerated story often based upon the life of a real person. The exaggerations increase and build until the character can achieve impossible tasks. Tragedy A genre of literature in which there is a downfall of the hero due to a tragic flaw or personal characteristic; often ends with an unhappy ending. Narrative A story with a beginning, middle and end. Elements of a narrative 1. Pace: How the details are placed and how transitions are made within the story. Pacing of a narrative consists of episodes or scenes that function to "move" the story along. Elements of a narrative 2. Tone: The attitude or feeling that a piece of literature conveys through the characters, word choice, and writing style. For example, humorous, sad, serious, satiric, and so on. Elements of a narrative 3. Point of View (POV): Who is telling the story or what angle the story is being told from. The POV impacts reader response to the story and the characters. 5 Basic Point of Views 1. Objective: The story is told through actions and dialogue; the reader must infer what the characters think and feel. The narrator is a detached observer. 5 Basic Point of Views 2. Third Person: The story is told through and outside voice (the narrator is not one of the characters) but informs the reader about how the characters feel. 5 Basic Point of Views 3. Omniscient: The story is told by a narrator who is all knowing and knows everything about all characters (inner thoughts included). 5 Basic Point of Views 4. First Person: The story is told through an inside voice (the narrator is participating in the story as a character). The reader receives information from a narrator who is directly involved in the action, and the narrator may or may not be reliable or trustworthy; the narrator is biased. 5 Basic Point of Views 5. Limited Omniscient: The story is told by a narrator whose knowledge is limited to knowing all inner thoughts and feelings of one character (major or minor). Elements of a narrative Characters: People, animals, or objects that participate in the sequence of events within a story. Characters are presented in a myriad of ways to the reader. They can be major or minor and either static (unchanging) or dynamic (changing). Readers learn about characters through physical traits, dialogue, actions, responses to situations, opinions, beliefs, and POV. Types of Characters in a Story Antagonist: The person or force that works against the hero (protagonist) in the story.