english finals

Question 1

allegory

Answer 1

story with two levels of meaning
ex. the lion, the witch and the wardrobe
Aslan-jesus Edmund-judas

Question 2

archetype

Answer 2

reference to a concept a person of an object that has served as a prototype of its kind and is the original idea that has come to be used over and over again
ex. Romeo and Juliet is an archetype of eternal love and a star-crossed love story

Question 3

allusion

Answer 3

figure of speech where the author refers to a subject matter such as a place, event or literary work by way of passing a reference
ex. It’s no wonder everyone refers to Mary as another Mother Teresa in the making; she loves to help and care after people everywhere-from the streets to her own friends

Question 4

connotation

Answer 4

associations people make with words that go being the literal definitions
ex. and once again the fall leaves were falling.

Question 5

denotation

Answer 5

dictionary definition

ex. house instead of home

Question 6

diction

Answer 6

tone of an author’s writings

ex.thy, thee, wherefore

Question 7

epic

Answer 7

extended narrative poem in elevated or dignified language celebrating the feats of a legendary hero
ex. homer’s iliad and odyssey

Question 8

foreshadowing

Answer 8

hint of what is going to happen without revealing the story or spoiling the suspense

Question 9

myth

Answer 9

traditional story that explains a practice, belief, or natural phenomenon

Question 10

syntax

Answer 10

actual way in which words and sentences are placed together in the writing

Question 11

irony

Answer 11

Irony is a figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words.
ex.I posted a video on YouTube about how boring and useless YouTube is

Question 12

figurative language

Answer 12

: Language that communicates ideas beyond the ordinary meanings of the words.
ex.metaphors,similes, and personification.

Question 13

assonance

Answer 13

repetition of sounds produced by vowels within a sentence or phrase
ex.A long song

Question 14

consonance

Answer 14

Repetition of consonant sounds to create a pattern

ex.rider, reader, raider, ruder.

Question 15

antithesis

Answer 15

two sentences of contrasting meanings in close proximity to one another

Question 16

alliteration

Answer 16

literary device where words are used in quick succession and begin with letters belonging to the same sound group
ex.The Wicked Witch of the West went her own way

Question 17

anaphora

Answer 17

deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect.
ex.My life is my purpose. My life is my goal. My life is my inspiration

Question 18

parallelism

Answer 18

use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same; or similar in their construction, sound, meaning or meter.
ex.• Like father, like son.
• The escaped prisoner was wanted dead or alive.
• Easy come, easy go.
• Whether in class, at work or at home, Shasta was always busy.
• Flying is fast, comfortable, and safe.

Question 19

memoir

Answer 19

account of one’s personal life and experiences; autobiography; the published record of the proceedings of a group or organization, as of a learned society.

Question 20

anecdote

Answer 20

funny or amusing story

Question 21

imagery

Answer 21

uses words and phrases to create “mental images”
ex.The gushing brook stole its way down the lush green mountains, dotted with tiny flowers in a riot of colors and trees coming alive with gaily chirping birds.

Question 22

metaphor

Answer 22

refers to a meaning or identity ascribed to one subject by way of another
ex. unlit cigarette-you put the thing that does the killing between your teeth but don’t give it the power to do its killing

Question 23

simile

Answer 23

comparing two things by using like or as

ex. she was as slow as a turtle

Question 24

hyperbole

Answer 24

exaggerating

ex I am so tired I cant walk another inch

Question 25

understatement

Answer 25

drawing attention to something that already has been noticed

ex.Oh! I wonder if he could get any later; I am free all day long said sarcastically

Question 26

personification

Answer 26

giving nonliving things human characteristics

ex. the raging winds

Question 27

oxymoron

Answer 27

contradictory, contrasting concepts placed together in a manner that actually ends up making sense in a strange, and slightly complex manner.
ex.He possessed a cold fire in his eyes.

Question 28

theme

Answer 28

base topic or focus that acts as a foundation for the entire literary piece
ex.The main theme in the play Romeo and Juliet was love with smaller themes of sacrifice, tragedy, struggle, hardship, devotion and so on.

Question 29

tone

Answer 29

perspective or attitude that the author adopts with regards to a specific character, place or development
ex.In her Harry Potter series, author J.K. Rowling has taken an extremely positive, inspiring and uplifting tone towards the idea of love and devotion.

Question 30

motif

Answer 30

element, subject, idea or concept that is constantly present through the entire body of literature
ex.In many famed fairytales, the motif of a ‘handsome prince’ falling in love with a ‘damsel in distress’ and the two being bothered by a wicked step mother, evil witch or beast and finally conquering all to live ‘happily ever after’ is a common motif.