English Vocab

Question 1

Onomatopoeia

Answer 1

Words that resemble the actual sound.

Question 2

Euphony

Answer 2

The quality of being pleasing to the ear.

Question 3

Rhythm

Answer 3

The recurring pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a poem.

Question 4

Speaker

Answer 4

The voice behind the poem-equivalent to the “narrator” in prose.

Question 5

Oxymoron

Answer 5

Two words put together that contradict each other.

Question 6

Protagonist

Answer 6

The main character, hero, or heroine of a drama or other literary work.

Question 7

Asyndeton

Answer 7

Commas used without a conjunction to separate a series of words, thus emphasizing the parts equally: X,Y,Z

Question 8

Allusion

Answer 8

A reference to something or someone well known-usually an event, place, or character from another book or from history.

Question 9

Epiphany

Answer 9

A sudden and powerful life-changing realization (that changes the way one looks at the world).

Question 10

Mood

Answer 10

The atmosphere created by the writer to elicit feelings from the reader or viewer.

Question 11

Tone

Answer 11

Author’s attitude towards the subject of the work

Question 12

Point of view

Answer 12

The narrator’s position in relation to a story being told.

Question 13

Motif

Answer 13

A repeated pattern-an image, sound, word, or symbol that recurs and contributes to the theme.

Question 14

Hyperbole

Answer 14

Excessive exaggeration or overstatement for the sake of emphasis.

Question 15

Alliteration

Answer 15

The repetition of initial consonant sounds/similar sounds in phrases and sentences.

Question 16

Elision

Answer 16

To leave out a scene-so it must be imagined by the reader or viewer instead.

Question 17

Soliloquy

Answer 17

The act of speaking one’s thoughts and feelings aloud when by oneself-especially by a character in a play.

Question 18

Cacophony

Answer 18

Harsh or discordant sound, often the result of repetition and combination of consonants within a group of words.

Question 19

Rhyme Scheme

Answer 19

The pattern of rhymes at the end of each line.

Question 20

Flashback

Answer 20

Taking the reader back in time-usually to provide background information.

Question 21

Foreshadowing

Answer 21

Hinting at future events in the narrative.

Question 22

Setting

Answer 22

Time and place of a story

Question 23

Imagery

Answer 23

The use of descriptive words and phrases that appeal to the five senses.

Question 24

Metaphor

Answer 24

Compares two unlike things not using like or as. Tends to have a deeper abstract or more symbolic meaning.

Question 25

Simile

Answer 25

Uses “like” or “as” to compare two different things and show a common quality between them.

Question 26

Personification

Answer 26

Giving human characteristics to nonhuman things.

Question 27

Diction

Answer 27

The choice of words and style of expression of an author.

Question 28

Theme

Answer 28

Author’s message to the reader about life and the human condition.

Question 29

Thesis

Answer 29

A claim that you make that others might dispute. Main idea in a work of non-fiction. A single sentence near the beginning of your essay that presents your argument to the reader.

Question 30

Antagonist

Answer 30

The adversary or opposing force to the hero or protagonist of a drama or other literary work

Question 31

Conflict

Answer 31

The problem the protagonist must overcome. Can be an internal or external force.

Question 32

Polysyndeton

Answer 32

A sentence which uses a conjunction with NO commas to separate the items in a series. X and Y and Z

Question 33

Situational irony

Answer 33

An unexpected outcome or the opposite of what we’d normally expect to occur in a particular situation.

Question 34

Dramatic Irony

Answer 34

When the full significance of a character’s words or actions are clear to the audience or reader BUT unknown to the character.

Question 35

Verbal Irony

Answer 35

Saying the opposite of what is meant (sarcasm)

Question 36

Symbol

Answer 36

When something concrete is used to represent something abstract; it represents something beyond the literal meaning.

Question 37

Hubris

Answer 37

Excessive pride or self-confidence that usually leads to a character’s downfall.

Question 38

Allegory

Answer 38

A narrative or visual representation in which a character, place, or event can be interpreted to represent a hidden meaning with moral or political significance.