English Key Terms

Question 1

what is antithesis?

Answer 1

the use of contrasting parallel structures representing (absolute) opposites in one another

Question 2

what is juxtaposition

Answer 2

the placement of two contrasting concepts, characters, objects or settings side by side to highlight their key differences

Question 3

what is chiasmus

Answer 3

a rhetorical or literary figure in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order

Question 4

what is anaphora?

Answer 4

the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses

Question 5

what is epistrophe

Answer 5

Ending successive sentences or clauses with the same word (or phrase)

Question 6

what is allusion?

Answer 6

a literary device that indirectly references a real life person, place or event

Question 7

what is hyperbole?

Answer 7

is an exaggerated statement used for exaggerated effect

Question 8

what is an oxymoron?

Answer 8

a self-contradicting word or group of words

Question 9

what is a paradox?

Answer 9

a statement that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth

Question 10

what is personification?

Answer 10

a literary device that uses figurative language to give recognisable human-like qualities to non-human or inanimate objects/ entities

Question 11

what is satire?

Answer 11

the use of humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues

Question 12

what is an example of satire?

Answer 12

Family guy uses humor, irony, and exaggeration to expose flaws in modern society

Question 13

what is this the definition of?

a work in which the characters and events represent particular qualities or ideas that relate to morals, religion or politics

Answer 13

allegory

Question 14

what is this the definition of?

where an animal or non-human object is given human form, behaviour or personality

Answer 14

anthropomorphism

Question 15

what is a couplet?

Answer 15

a pair of consecutive lines of poetry that create a complete thought or idea

Question 16

what is caesura

Answer 16

a pause within a line of poetry

Question 17

what is enjambment?

Answer 17

the continuing of a sentence from one line of a poem into the next line

Question 18

what is this the definition of?

the flaw in character which leads to the downfall of the protagonist in a tragedy

Answer 18

hamartia

Question 19

what is hubris?

Answer 19

excessive pride or self-confidence, belief that they are above the gods - (Greek gods)

Question 20

what is litotes?

Answer 20

a phrase that uses negation to create an affirmative understatement

Question 21

what is this the definition of?

a figure of speech that makes a direct comparison by relating one thing to another unrelated thing

Answer 21

metaphor

Question 22

what is a motif?

Answer 22

a recurring image or idea in a piece of writing

Question 23

what is an example of a motif?

Answer 23

eg : in Macbeth the motif of blood is used :’ will neptunes ocean wash this blood clean of my hand,’ and then later on ‘I am in blood stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, returning were as tedious as go o’er,’ representing macbeths murderous actions throughout the text

Question 24

what is a soliloquy

Answer 24

a dramatic speech uttered by one character speaking aloud while alone on the stage (or while under the impression of being alone)

Question 25

example of litotes?

Answer 25

I am not displeased with this

Question 26

example of chiasmus

Answer 26

fair is foul, and foul is fair

Question 27

example of antithesis (Macbeth)

Answer 27

Lesser than Macbeth and greater. Not so happy, yet much happier

Question 28

example of oxymoron

Answer 28

fair is foul and foul is fair!

Question 29

what is macbeths hamartia?

Answer 29

his unchecked ambition

Question 30

example of hyperbole

Answer 30

I’m so hungry I could eat a horse

Question 31

example of allusion?

Answer 31

when Macbeth’s battle is compared to Golgotha, the place where Christ was killed
or also when Macbeth is said to be the bridegroom of bellona the Greek goddess of war

Question 32

example of couplet

Answer 32

What he hath lost noble Macbeth hath won

Question 33

what is this an example of?

A thing of beauty is a joy forever/ It’s loveliness increases; it will never / Pass into nothingness…

Answer 33

enjambment

Question 34

what device is this quote an example of?

There is none but he / whose being I do fear; and under him / My genius is rebuk’d, as, it is said, / Mark Antony’s was by Caesar

Answer 34

hubris!!!