literary elements vocab

Question 1

the repeated use of the same consonant sound at the beginning of words
that are near each other

Answer 1

Alliteration

Question 2

a brief reference to a biblical, historical, literary, or mythological person, place,
thing, or idea

Answer 2

Allusion

Question 3

a deliberate use of exaggeration for effect or to emphasize a point

Answer 3

Hyperbole

Question 4

the use of words to create a vivid mental picture or physical sensation

Answer 4

Imagery

Question 5

a figure of speech that compares two unlike objects or ideas without using the
words like or as

Answer 5

Metaphor

Question 6

the emotions and feelings the poem arouses in the reader or audience

Answer 6

Mood

Question 7

a word that sounds like its meaning or mimics a sound

Answer 7

Onomatopoeia

Question 8

the giving of human characteristics to an animal, non-living object, or
idea

Answer 8

Personification

Question 9

the repeated use of a word, phrase, line, or stanza in a poem

Answer 9

Repetition

Question 10

the pattern of correspondence of the end sounds of each line of a stanza or poem; also correspondence of sounds other than at the ends of lines

Answer 10

Rhyme

Question 11

the sound pattern of a poem

Answer 11

Rhythm

Question 12

a figure of speech used to compare two different things using the words like or as

Answer 12

Simile

Question 13

a series of lines grouped together and separated from other stanzas by a blank
line

Answer 13

Stanza

Question 14

the overall organization of the lines

Answer 14

Structure

Question 15

the use of a symbol (words, objects, or actions) to represent something other
than itself

Answer 15

Symbolism

Question 16

the main message or central idea of a poem

Answer 16

Theme

Question 17

the poet’s feelings (attitude) toward the subject of the poem

Answer 17

Tone

Question 18

repitition of vowel sounds in a
verse

Answer 18

Assonance

Question 19

repetition of constant sounds in a verse

Answer 19

Consonance

Question 20

What are the 6 elements found in every story?

Answer 20

theme, setting, plot, point of view, conflict, and characters

Question 21

The time, place, and social context in which the story takes place

Answer 21

Setting

Question 22

A problem or struggle between two opposing forces in a story

Answer 22

Conflict

Question 23

The perspective from which the story and background information are revealed

Answer 23

Point of view

Question 24

A short or simple recurring topic, subject, or issue found in a story

Answer 24

Motif

Question 25

Action or sequence of events that make up a story

Answer 25

Plot

Question 26

The conversation and speaking found within a story

Answer 26

Dialogue

Question 27

The complex central or controlling idea, moral, message, or lesson as revealed through the plot, action, characters, dialogue, narration, and symbols found in a literary work

Answer 27

Theme

Question 28

What does STAAR mean?

Answer 28

S - speech / say T - thoughts A - actions A - appearance R - reactions

Question 29

A character that does not change in the story

Answer 29

Static

Question 30

A character that is unique, has personality, and is often complex/interesting

Answer 30

Round

Question 31

A character that changes a great deal during a story

Answer 31

Dynamic

Question 32

A character that is one-dimensional and is easily stereotyped or symbolic

Answer 32

Flat

Question 33

The person or character who tells the story, giving background information and bridging the gaps in dialogue

Answer 33

Narrator

Question 34

The main character/hero in a story found in the center of the conflict or action

Answer 34

Protagonist

Question 35

The person or force that works against the hero or main character of a story

Answer 35

Antagonist

Question 36

This character is presented for comparison & contrast of the main character

Answer 36

Foil

Question 37

This character is a symbol for a certain type of person found in many stories

Answer 37

Stock

Question 38

The feeling that is conveyed/created for the reader by the overall story

Answer 38

mood

Question 39

The author's personality as revealed through the written prose

Answer 39

Voice

Question 40

‚The author's overall use of language, syntax, and literary devices

Answer 40

Style

Question 41

The accent or sound of the character's speech giving us an idea of his or her background, social status, and where he or she is from

Answer 41

Dialect

Question 42

The attitude of the of the author as revealed by the story and its narrator

Answer 42

Tone

Question 43

When a story goes back into the retroactive history to describe missing plot details

Answer 43

Flashback

Question 44

A deliberate attempt by an author to misdirect or divert the reader's attention

Answer 44

Red Herring

Question 45

Clues that suggest events that will come later in a story

Answer 45

Foreshadowing

Question 46

When the reader/audience is misled and something unexpected happens

Answer 46

Situational irony

Question 47

When a story ends suddenly with an unsatisfying but usually suspenseful ending

Answer 47

Cliffhanger

Question 48

When the audience is meant to understand when something unexpected happens, but at least one character does not

Answer 48

Dramatic irony

Question 49

The part of a story that occurs before the actual story takes place

Answer 49

Prologue

Question 50

The part of a story when the tension / suspense decreases

Answer 50

Falling action

Question 51

The part of a story when the tension / suspense increases

Answer 51

Rising action

Question 52

The part of a story that occurs after the actual story takes place

Answer 52

Epilogue

Question 53

The part of a story when the setting and main characters are revealed

Answer 53

Exposition

Question 54

The final unknotting of the story's details, when the conflict is resolved

Answer 54

Resolution

Question 55

Begins the story's main conflict

Answer 55

Inciting incident

Question 56

The highest and most important moment of tension/suspense in the story

Answer 56

Climax

Question 57

This is the moment just before the conflict finally explodes in confrontation

Answer 57

Crisis

Question 58

This is where a series of events in the story create and increase tension/suspense, eventually leading to a crisis

Answer 58

Complications

Question 59

An expression whose meaning is not predictable from the meaning of the words

Answer 59

Idiom

Question 60

A brief and witty philosophical expression of truth

Answer 60

Aphorism

Question 61

An expression that has become so overused it has lost all value or meaning

Answer 61

Cliché