Literary Analysis Terms

Question 1

ALLITERATION

Answer 1

Repetition of sound in the first syllable in a series of words (EX: Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers)

Question 2

ALLUSION

Answer 2

A reference to a mythological, literary, well-known, or historical person, place, thing or event (Ex: To act or not to act, that was Maria’s dilemma)

Question 3

ANTITHESIS

Answer 3

A direct juxtaposition of structurally parallel words, phrases, or clauses for the purpose of contrast. Antithesis can be used at the sentence level. It can also be set on a broader level, such as in characterization or setting. It does not necessarily imply conflict though. (EX: To err is human, to forgive, divine)

Question 4

APOSTROPHE

Answer 4

A form of personification in which the absent or dead or the inanimate are spoken to as if present.

Question 5

ASSONANCE

Answer 5

The repetition of accented vowel sounds in a series of words. (i.e. Try to light the fire)

Question 6

CONNOTATION

Answer 6

The implicit rather than the explicit meaning of a word and consists of the suggestions, associations, and emotional overtones attached to a word. EX: childlike vs. youthful

Question 7

CONSONANCE

Answer 7

The repetition of a consonant sound in the middle or end of words to produce a harmonious effect. (i.e. Don’t eat in that tent!)

Question 8

DENOTATION

Answer 8

The exact, literal definition of a word independent of any emotion associated or secondary meaning.

Question 9

DICTION

Answer 9

Word choice intended to convey a certain effect.

Question 10

FIGURES OF SPEECH

Answer 10

Word or phrases that describe one thing in terms of something else; used to produce vivid imagery through a comparison between seemingly unlike things

Question 11

HYPERBOLE

Answer 11

Exaggeration; recognition must precede correction

Question 12

IMAGERY

Answer 12

Words or phrases a writer uses to represent persons, objects, actions, feelings, and ideas descriptively by appealing to the senses

Question 13

IRONY (including 3 types)

Answer 13

Saying/doing one thing when another is meant; (1) VERBAL - contrast b/t what is said and what is meant; (2) DRAMATIC - when the reader knows something a character does not know; (3) SITUATIONAL - contrast b/t what happens and what was expected

Question 14

“LIST”

Answer 14

Using a list of items (often people or ideas) generally similar except for one or two incongruous items which the satirist is criticizing

Question 15

METAPHOR

Answer 15

An implied comparison of two unlike things NOT using “like” or “as”; EX: Time is money

Question 16

MOOD

Answer 16

The reader’s feelings or emotions resulting from the writing (atmosphere)

Question 17

PARADOX

Answer 17

A statement (or group of statements) that seem contradictory but often have an element of truth; EX: be cruel to be kind

Question 18

PERSONIFICATION

Answer 18

A kind of metaphor in which inanimate objects or abstract ideas are made to act and/or given human characteristics (EX: The wind cried in the dark)

Question 19

POINT OF VIEW

Answer 19

The viewpoint from which the story is told (first person, 3rd omniscient, limited omniscient, objective/dramatic i.e. roving movie camera)

Question 20

PUN

Answer 20

A deliberate confusion of similar words (EX: The truest poetry is the most feigning)

Question 21

REPETITION

Answer 21

Repeated use of sounds, words, phrases, or situations

Question 22

SARCASM

Answer 22

The use of verbal irony in which a person appears to be praising something but is actually insulting it

Question 23

SHIFT

Answer 23

A change or movement in a piece resulting from an epiphany, realization, or insight gained by the speaker, a character, or the reader. (

Question 24

SIMILE

Answer 24

A comparison of two different things or ideas through the use of words “like” or “as” (EX: The warrior fought like a lion)

Question 25

STYLE

Answer 25

The writer’s characteristic manner of employing language

Question 26

SYMBOL

Answer 26

Any object, person, place, or action that has both a meaning in itself and that stands for something larger than itself, such as a quality, attitude, belief, or value

Question 27

SYNECDOCHE

Answer 27

A form of metaphor in which a part of something is used to signify the whole (EX: All hands on deck)

Question 28

SYNTAX

Answer 28

The arrangement of words and the order of grammatical elements in a sentence

Question 29

THEME

Answer 29

A universal truth about life

Question 30

TONE

Answer 30

The writer’s attitude toward the subject

Question 31

UNDERSTATEMENT (LITOTES)

Answer 31

An understatement often used in cases where the evil is already so great it can scarcely be exaggerated (EX: She is not as young as she was)