Lit Terms Quiz #1 Flashcards
Allegory
story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one
Antecedent
a thing or event that existed before or logically precedes another
Aphorism
a pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”
Archaism
old-fashioned
Couplet
two lines of a verse that are joined with a rhyme, forming a unit
Dramatic Irony
The audience knows something the characters don’t
Euphony
quality of being pleasing to the ear, especially through a harmonious combination of words
Foreshadowing
a warning or indication
Gothic novel
genre associated with the mystery and intrigue surrounding the supernatural and the unknown
Inversion
action of inverting something or the state of being inverted
Masculine Rhyme
a rhyme of final stressed syllables
Melodrama
an exaggerated genre of drama
Rhetorical Question
a question asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to make a point
Theme
an idea that perseveres in a piece of literature, the take-home message
Utopia
an ideal society or situation
