Diction Terms

Question 0

Allusion

Answer 0

A reference to something literary, mythological, or historical that the author assumes the reader will recognize

Question 1

Alliteration

Answer 1

The repetition of initial sounds in successive or neighboring words
(Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore)

Question 2

Apostrophe

Answer 2

A figure of speech in which one directly addresses an absent or imaginary person, or some abstraction

Question 3

Archaic diction

Answer 3

Old fashioned or outdated word choice

Question 4

Conceit

Answer 4

A fanciful, particularly clever extended metaphor

She is as in a field a silken tent

Question 5

Epigram

Answer 5

A brief, pithy, and often paradoxical saying

Only those deserving of scorn are apprehensive of it

Question 6

Euphemism

Answer 6

An indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant.

Question 7

Dissonance

Answer 7

Harsh, in harmonious, or discordant sounds

Question 8

Hyperbole

Answer 8

Intentional exaggeration to create and effect

Question 9

Idiom

Answer 9

An expression in a given language that cannot be understood from the literal meaning of the words in another language.

Question 10

Imagery

Answer 10

The use of figures to create vivid images that appeal to one of the senses

Question 11

Invective

Answer 11

An intensely vehement, highly emotional verbal attack

Question 12

Litotes

Answer 12

A type of understatement in which an idea is expressed by negating its opposite.

Question 13

Metonymy

Answer 13

Substituting the name of one object for another object closely associated with it

Question 14

Metaphor

Answer 14

A direct comparison of two things

Question 15

Oxymoron

Answer 15

An expression in which two words that contradict each other are joined

Question 16

Personification

Answer 16

Endowing non-human objects or creatures with human qualities or characteristics

Question 17

Pun

Answer 17

A play on words, often achieved through the use of words with similar sounds but different meanings.

Question 18

Simile

Answer 18

A direct comparison of two things using “like” or “as”

Question 19

Synecdoche

Answer 19

Using part of an object to represent the entire object

Question 20

Tautology

Answer 20

Needless repetition which adds no meaning or understanding

Question 21

Understatement

Answer 21

a deliberate under-emphasis

Question 22

Vernacular

Answer 22

The everyday speech of a particular country or region, often involving nonstandard usage

Question 23

Zeugma

Answer 23

Use of two different words in a grammatically similar way but producing different, incongruous meanings
(You held your breath and the door for me)