Quiz: Narrative and Imagination — Writing Stories that Matter Quiz

Question 1 of 10

According to Aristotle's Poetics, what drives a well-crafted plot?

Random, surprising events that keep the reader guessing Causation — each event causes or leads to the next by necessity or probability Long, detailed descriptions of setting and atmosphere As many characters as possible to create complexity

Question 2 of 10

What is J.R.R. Tolkien's concept of 'sub-creation'?

Writing stories that are inferior to God's creation The idea that human creative world-building reflects God's nature as Creator Creating characters who are less than human Writing stories without any connection to the real world

Question 3 of 10

What is the difference between moral complexity and moral relativism in fiction?

There is no difference — they are the same thing Moral complexity shows that doing right is hard and people often fail; moral relativism denies that objective right and wrong exist Moral complexity is always positive; moral relativism is always negative Moral complexity applies only to villains; moral relativism applies only to heroes

Question 4 of 10

What is the most important principle of flash fiction?

Stories should always have surprise endings Economy of language — every word must carry weight and earn its place Flash fiction should never be longer than six words Flash fiction does not need a beginning, middle, or end

Question 5 of 10

What is 'subtext' in dramatic dialogue?

The stage directions written below the dialogue The unspoken meaning beneath the spoken words — what a character means vs. what they say The subtitle of a play or screenplay Dialogue spoken by minor characters

Question 6 of 10

According to C.S. Lewis, what is the relationship between imagination and truth?

Imagination is the opposite of truth and should be avoided Imagination is the organ of meaning, while reason is the organ of truth — both are needed Truth can only be communicated through literal, factual statements Imagination is more important than truth

Question 7 of 10

What does the Greek word 'poiema' in Ephesians 2:10 ('we are God's handiwork') literally mean?

Servant Poem — a crafted creative work Soldier Student

Question 8 of 10

What does 'in medias res' mean, and why is it useful in flash fiction?

It means 'in the middle of things' — starting a story in the midst of action saves space and immediately engages the reader It means 'in the media' — stories should reference current events It means 'in meditation' — stories should begin with a quiet, reflective scene It means 'in the resolution' — stories should begin at the end

Question 9 of 10

Why did Flannery O'Connor argue that Christian fiction must honestly portray sin?

Because she believed sin was entertaining Because showing the reality of sin is necessary to reveal the reality of grace — you cannot understand redemption without understanding what people are redeemed from Because she did not believe in moral standards Because secular publishers demanded it

Question 10 of 10

Which of the following best describes the internal consistency required in world-building?

Every fictional world must exactly mirror the real world Whatever rules the author establishes for the fictional world must be followed consistently throughout the story The world must include every detail of geography, history, and culture before the story can begin Internal consistency only matters in science fiction, not in fantasy

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✍️ Narrative and Imagination — Writing Stories that Matter Quiz Quiz

Narrative and Imagination — Writing Stories that Matter Quiz