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Where Knowledge Junkies Get Their Fix
The short story represents a form of creative tinkering that can serve as a springboard to later elaborations and embellishments. Authors often revisit the material covered in their stories more comprehensively as they technically mature and become accomplished writers. Listed below are brief precis of short stories from four acclaimed American authors. Can you name the story being described? Take the quiz: Short & Sweet.
If your bookshelves aren’t overflowing with short story collections, perhaps you’ll fare better with the far right side of the Periodic Table. Name the Noble Gases in 1 Minute.
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0 out of 8…guess I don’t know my short stories!
posted by beth on 2-25-2008 at 10:46 am
I did awful on the short story quiz, I didn’t get one right. BUT I have found 8 new must read stories, so thank you. :D
posted by mrs.djs on 2-25-2008 at 10:47 am
Huh… a solid 50% on the short stories (hey, at least I got the ones I’d read!), but I only missed one noble gas. Strangely, I was an English major and I only took one (required) science class…
posted by Roger on 2-25-2008 at 10:52 am
I only missed one, which is surprising because the last time I learnt this was in grade 9! So i’m impressed! I really enjoyed this quiz!
posted by Caitie Murphy on 2-25-2008 at 11:20 am
Amazingly, I got a 63%…extra amazing because I guessed on every single one.
I thought I was pretty well-read, but I guess I was wrong.
posted by Jess on 2-25-2008 at 11:54 am
The last time I felt this immense amount of pressure from taking a 6-question quiz was in grade 8! Now that think of it, it was probably the same quiz. I enjoyed the flashback, though. Go Noble Gases!
posted by Noelle S on 2-25-2008 at 12:13 pm
Woo Hoo! 6 out of 8 on the short stories, despite the fact that I’ve only read two of them. Barn Burning is one of two short stories that made up/inspired “A Long Hot Summer,” which remains my favorite Paul Newman movie to this day (and not just because it was filmed near my hometown).
However, I completely bombed the gases quiz, only getting helium right. In truth, I spent more time staring my teacher, Mr. Holland, in high school chemistry than I did actually did learning/retaining.
posted by Lindsey on 2-25-2008 at 12:58 pm
I only got 50% on the short stories — I’m still pleased with that, as I was guessing all the way through. I only missed one Noble gas, though… Odd, I always thought I was stronger in English studies than in sciences…
posted by Karl on 2-25-2008 at 1:02 pm
Only 4 of 8 on the short stories (which I guess isn’t bad considering I’d never even heard of any of them), but I got all the noble gases.
A “name all the elements” quiz would tell you in short order who has memorized Tom Lehrer’s song… I’d bet a number of flossers know the whole list (except possibly the ones named after 1959; I’m still working on those).
posted by Rachel on 2-25-2008 at 1:53 pm
Gah! I forgot radon! forgive me Marie Curie!
posted by heather on 2-25-2008 at 2:14 pm
@ Rachel – were it not for Tom Lehrer, I wouldn’t have gotten as many noble gases as I did!
posted by Roger on 2-25-2008 at 2:25 pm
I forgot Krypton! I’m a Batman guy, obviously.
posted by Ed on 2-25-2008 at 5:17 pm
I didn’t think I would do that well on the short story quiz. I was especially scared after the first question. But the 5 I got right, I either knew of pretty well or had actually read. So that ain’t bad.
posted by Scott on 2-25-2008 at 9:47 pm
8 seconds on the noble gases. I suprised myself.
Short stories on the other hand… well this is why I’m an engineer.
posted by Ryan on 2-26-2008 at 9:16 am
Eleven seconds for the gases. That was as fast as I could type them.
Thank you, Tom Lehrer
(… and argon, krypton, neon, radon, xenon, zinc and rhodium,
and chlorine, carbon, cobalt, copper, tungsten, tin, and sodium)
posted by Caleb on 2-26-2008 at 2:14 pm
I only remembered 2 noble gasses. Oops. :)
I did get 5 of the short stories though (English major). And I don’t like Salinger, so we’ll blame some of it on that. I do remember being genuinely chilled by “A Rose for Emily”, so if you’re looking for something with quite the grotesque twist, I recommend it.
And thank you for not putting “The Yellow Wallpaper” on here. Gah. :)
posted by kate on 2-27-2008 at 10:30 am
1-fer on the short stories, but I don’t read Fitzgerald, Hemingway or Faulkner much. Can has variety nao plz?
On the plus side, got 5 of 6 on the gases, forgetting the short movie career of Radon Chong *rimshot*
posted by Michael on 3-1-2008 at 4:49 pm