Literary Terms

Question 1

Gap between what is said vs what is meant

Answer 1

Verbal irony

Question 2

Uses emotion to persuade an audience

Answer 2

Pathos

Question 3

Implied comparison

Answer 3

Metaphor

Question 4

Comparison using like or as

Answer 4

Simile

Question 5

Situation or event in story that creates problem or obstacle for main character (sends plot in new direction)

Answer 5

Complication

Question 6

Series of events leading towards a climax

Answer 6

Rising action

Question 7

Something placed in a historical time period where it would not have existed. (Ex spaceship during medieval times)

Answer 7

Anachronism

Question 8

Recurring word, image, or theme that unifies a literary work

Answer 8

Leitmotif

Question 9

Saying the opposite of what you mean (using irony) in order to convey contempt toward a subject

Answer 9

Sarcasm

Question 10

Surprise in language or idea

Answer 10

Wit

Question 11

Remark made by stage chr that others do not hear

Answer 11

Aside

Question 12

Speech made by chr alone on stage

Answer 12

Soliloquy

Question 13

Use of strong feelings in a play (supposed to leave the audience feeling purged or cleansed of those emotions after)

Answer 13

Catharsis

Question 14

Speech made by one person

Answer 14

Monologue

Question 15

Audience knows more than chr

Answer 15

Dramatic irony

Question 16

Pride which leads to fall

Answer 16

Hubris

Question 17

Question asked to emphasize a point or make an impression rather than be answered

Answer 17

Rhetorical Question

Question 18

A short, often personal story to illustrate a point, add context, or to simply entertain

Answer 18

Anecdote

Question 19

Writing about a flaw or failure in society by inflating it to absurdity

Answer 19

Satire

Question 20

Text where chrs, events, settings, represent abstract ideas or concepts, underlying deeper meaning

Answer 20

Allegory

Question 21

Referring to important people to support ideas

Answer 21

Citing authority

Question 22

The literal meaning of a word

Answer 22

Denotation

Question 23

Implied meaning of a word

Answer 23

Connotation

Question 24

Brief Indirect reference to something. (Create an association between text and reference)

Answer 24

Allusion

Question 25

Choice of words and phrases used by an author, chr, or narrator (element of style, can create tone or impact)

Answer 25

Diction

Question 26

Two or more words have the same initial sound (often times it’s just the same first letter but exceptions can be “phrase, faze”)

Answer 26

Alliteration

Question 27

Recognizable pattern in the beats or stresses in poetry

Answer 27

Rhythm

Question 28

Writer’s freedom to deviate from factual accuracy, grammatical rules, or standard language

Answer 28

Poetic license

Question 29

Two words side by side but opposite in meaning

Answer 29

Oxymoron

Question 30

Appears to contradict itself but may contain truth or insight

Answer 30

Paradox

Question 31

Gives human emotions to non human things

Answer 31

Pathetic fallacy

Question 32

Places contrasting ideas, images, or objects next to each other to highlight their differences

Answer 32

Juxtaposition

Question 33

Use of sweet sounds to create a pleasant effect

Answer 33

Euphony

Question 34

Use of harsh sounds to create an unpleasant effect

Answer 34

Cacophony

Question 35

Story containing deep, moral truth

Answer 35

Parable

Question 36

Two contrasting ideas placed side by side “to be or not to be”

Answer 36

Antithesis

Question 37

Expression used in informal conversations (y’all)

Answer 37

Colloquialism

Question 38

Indirectness replaces directness of statement ( “he passed away rather than he died”)

Answer 38

Euphemism

Question 39

Sentence Normal, then inverted. (The man is wealthy, wealthy is the man. Or united, there is little we cannot do. Divided, there is little we can do.)

Answer 39

Inversion

Question 40

Word or expression is repeated at the beginning of stuff.

Answer 40

Anaphora

Question 41

Repetition of similar vowel sounds

Answer 41

Assonance

Question 42

Sentences that are AB then BA. (I am happy, happy is I)

Answer 42

Chiasmus