71-80

Question 1

Litotes

Answer 1

derived from a Greek word meaning “simple”, is a figure of speech which employs an understatement by using double negatives or, in other words, positive statement is expressed by negating its opposite expressions. “Not too bad” in place of “Pretty good” would be an example.
 They do not seem the happiest couple around.  The ice cream was not too bad.  New York is not an ordinary city.  Your comments on politics are not useless.  You are not as young as you used to be.  I cannot disagree with your point of view.

Question 2

Utopia

Answer 2

denotes an illusionary place that projects the notion of a perfect society to the reader. Here, the “perfect society” refers to ideal conditions achieved within the material world as opposed to the expected idealism of afterlife in Christianity or other religions. Further, the citizens presiding in such utopias are bearers of a perfect moral code, or at the least, every violator of the moral code is harshly punished. A utopian society is one where all social evils have been cured

Question 3

Sonnet

Answer 3

is derived from the Italian word “sonetto”. It means a small or little song or lyric. In poetry, a sonnet has 14 fourteen lines and is written in iambic pentameter. Each line has 10 syllables. It has a specific rhyme scheme and a “volta” or a specific turn

Question 4

Round character

Answer 4

in a novel, play or story is a complex personality. Like real people, he/she has depth in his feelings and passions. For instance, in the movie “Shrek,” the main character says “‘Ogres are like onions” which means that what appears to them is not the only truth they see; rather, there is something more inside them. Similarly, a round character has many layers like onions. Writers define a round character fully, both physically and mentally. It is the character with whom the audience can sympathize, associate or relate to, as he seems a character they might have seen in their real lives. Here are some classic characteristics…
 Round characters are major characters in a story; they encounter contradictory situations and undergo transformation during this phase. Therefore, these characters do not remain the same throughout the narrative, making their traits difficult to identify from beginning until the end.

Question 5

Vernacular

Answer 5

a literary genre that uses daily used language in writing and speaking. It is different from written works, as they normally follow the formal variety of language. The word “vernacular” refers to writing or speaking of the public. We find the origin of vernacular literature during middle ages in different countries of Europe.

Question 6

Vernacular vs. Dialect

Answer 6

Vernacular is the use of ordinary, everyday and plain language in speaking or writing, such as corn is a common name of a plant, and its scientific name is Maize or Zea mays, whereas dialect is related to a particular region, geographical area, a particular social class, or an occupational group. Also, it uses a distinguished pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar, such as people in Shanghai has different pronunciation or dialect than in Yunnan

Question 7

Understatement

Answer 7

is a figure of speech employed by writers or speakers to intentionally make a situation seem less important than it really is. An understatement has something of an ironic effect. Here are some examples.
 “Deserts are sometimes hot, dry and sandy” while describing deserts of the world.  “He is not too thin” while describing an obese person.  “It rained a bit more than usual” while describing an area being flooded after heavy rainfall.  “It was O.K.” is an understatement if someone who got the highest score in a test said this when asked about his result.  “It is a bit cold today,” when the temperature is 5 degrees below freezing

Question 8

Eulogy

Answer 8

Known as homily, the term eulogy originates from a Greek word eulogia, which means to praise somebody or something. A eulogy is a literary device that is a laudatory expression in a speech, or a written tribute to a person deceased recently. We can say, it is a commendation or high praise intended to give honor, generally, to a dead family member, or a loved one, or it is a tribute given to a dead person at his/her funeral. Eulogies are also paid as tributes to living persons; for instance, one can dedicate it to his retired colleagues, bosses or employees for winning respectable position and noble deeds. Hence, in general, it is a gesture of honoring somebody

Question 9

Situational Irony

Answer 9

a literary device that you can easily identify in iterary works. Occurs when in congruity appears between expectations of something to happen, and what actually happens instead

Question 10

Static Character

Answer 10

one that does not undergo inner changes or undergoes little change. It is a character that does not develop or grow.