Literary Terms 3 - Examples

Question 1

CONSONANCE

Answer 1

Eg. He struck a streak of bad luck.

Question 2

DENOTATION

Answer 2

Eg. They built a house.

Question 3

DEUS EX MACHINA

Answer 3

Eg. If in a suspense novel the protagonist suddenly finds a solution to his dilemma because of divine intervention.

Question 4

DICTION

Answer 4

Eg,. Certain words in modern day and age use archaic terms such as ‘thy’, ‘thee’ and ‘wherefore’ to imbue a Shakespearean mood to their work.

Question 5

DOPPELGANGER

Answer 5

Eg. Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde

Question 6

EKPHRASTIC

Answer 6

Eg. A photo of an empty landscape can convey desolation, abandon and loss. Similarly, one can convey the same sentiments and concepts by using phrases such as ‘an empty doorway’ or ‘a childless nursery’.

Question 7

EPILOGUE

Answer 7

Eg. At the end of The Tempest, Shakespeare’s wizard Prospero addresses the audience directly, breaking down the boundaries of the play. He informs them that the play is over, his powers are gone and thus his escape from the play’s island setting depends on their applause - they get to decide his fate.

Question 8

EPITHET

Answer 8

Eg. “Alexander the Great” - the young king has come to be recognised by this epithet in all of history and popular culture owing his spectacular achievements in creating one of the largest ever historical empires.

Question 9

EUPHAMISM

Answer 9

Eg. “To put out pasture” when one implies retiring a person because they are too old to be effective.

Question 10

EUPHONY

Answer 10

Eg. It has been said that the phrase “cellar door” is reportedly the most pleasant sounding phrase in the English language. The phrase is said to depict the highest degree of euphony, and is said to be especially notable when spoken in the British accent.

Question 11

FAULTY PARALLELISM

Answer 11

Eg. On the TV show The Simpsons, lead character Bart Simpson says, ‘they are laughing, not with me’.

Question 12

FLASHBACK

Answer 12

Eg. Back in the day when Sarah was a young girl…