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Dept. Final Exam Essay: English 102 – Fall 2025   Instructio…

Dept. Final Exam Essay: English 102 – Fall 2025   Instructions This exam assesses your ability to read, interpret, and write critically about literature. Read each text carefully. Then choose ONE of the three prompts (short story, poem, or flash narrative) to write about. Write a well-organized essay (5-7 paragraphs) INSIDE the Assignment Box that includes: A clear thesis statement Textual evidence (direct quotations) Analysis that supports your interpretation Coherent structure and transitions Use as much MLA format that you can: 12-point Times New Roman font; double space each paragraph – CANVAS does not allow for double-spaced lines. Use at least THREE (3) literary terms/elements (bold, italics, underlined, or colored) in each paragraph written. Use the Title & Author of your selected genre as the Title of your response to the given prompt. Section I: Short Story “The Key” by Lila Sanchez The key sat in the center of the kitchen table, small and silver, with a blue tag that said “Do Not Lose.” Marta stared at it for a long time, sipping the last of her coffee. She knew she shouldn’t take it. Her sister had been clear — Don’t go into the attic, not yet. But Marta had never been good at waiting. The house, with its creaking floors and heavy curtains, felt full of whispers. Every night she heard footsteps above her bed, and sometimes, a faint humming sound, like someone remembering a song. She picked up the key and held it tightly in her palm. It felt warm, as though it had been waiting for her. Upstairs, the attic door groaned as she turned the lock. Dust swirled in the narrow shaft of sunlight that spilled in when she pushed it open. Inside were boxes stacked high, covered in sheets. But what caught her attention was a single wooden trunk in the center of the room — the same trunk her mother used to tell stories about. Marta knelt down and lifted the lid. Inside was a small mirror, framed in brass, and a faded photograph of two little girls — one smiling, the other looking away. When she turned the mirror toward herself, she saw not her own reflection, but her mother’s face, watching her with a look she couldn’t quite read — part sorrow, part warning.   Prompt for “The Key” In Lila Sanchez’s short story “The Key,” the attic functions as both a literal and symbolic space. Write an essay analyzing how the author uses setting, imagery, or symbolism to explore the themes of memory and forbidden knowledge. Discuss what the attic and the mirror might represent in Marta’s emotional journey.   Section II: Poetry “What the Rain Said” by Derek Lin It came softly at first —a whisper against the window,like a voice remembering somethingit had promised to forget. The garden listened,bending its head in apology.Even the sparrows fell silent,their wings heavy with waiting. When it finally spoke,the rain said nothing new —only that everything returnsin time.   Prompt for “What the Rain Said” Analyze how Derek Lin uses personification and repetition in “What the Rain Said” to express themes of forgiveness and renewal. How does the tone shift from the beginning to the end of the poem, and what emotional impact does this have on the reader?   Section III: Flash Narrative “One Breath” by Cara Michaels I used to hold my breath under water to see how long I could last. The trick, I learned, wasn’t about lungs — it was about calm. The moment you panic, you lose. When the doctor told me the news, I thought of that. I thought of the shallow pool at the old apartment complex, the way sunlight rippled across the tiles, the taste of chlorine and summer. “How long?” I asked. “Months,” he said. I nodded and inhaled deeply, as if preparing to dive.   Prompt for “One Breath” In Cara Michaels’s “One Breath,” the narrator connects a childhood memory with a present moment of crisis. Write an essay analyzing how the author uses metaphor and structure to reveal the narrator’s emotional state. How does the story’s brevity enhance its power?   End of Exam Submission Reminder:Proofread your essay carefully before submitting. Make sure you include an original title (after the title of your selection), properly cited quotations, and check for clarity and coherence