Literary Terms

Question 1

Anecdote

Answer 1

A short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person

Question 2

Imagery

Answer 2

Visual Symbolism; descriptive language

Question 3

Pun

Answer 3

Joke exploiting the possible meanings of a word

Question 4

Idiom

Answer 4

A set expression or a phrase compromising two or more words

Question 5

Connotation

Answer 5

An idea or feeling associated with a word

Question 6

Denotation

Answer 6

The literal meaning of a word

Question 7

Assonance

Answer 7

When two or more words close to one another repeat the same vowel sound but start with different consonant sounds

Question 8

Alliteration

Answer 8

The repetition of the same sound or letter at the beginning of each word in a sentence

Question 9

Personification

Answer 9

Giving human-like qualities to objects or animals

Question 10

Anaphora

Answer 10

The repetition of the first part of the sentence

Question 11

Oxymoron

Answer 11

Figure of speech when two opposites are conjoined

Question 12

Metaphor

Answer 12

A figure of speech that has an implied comparison between two things

Question 13

Simile

Answer 13

Comparison of two things using words like or as

Question 14

Onomatopoeia

Answer 14

The formation of a word from a sound associated with the meaning

Question 15

Sonnet

Answer 15

A poem with 14 lines using any formal rhyme schemes. Typically with ten syllables per line

Question 16

Irony

Answer 16

The use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning

Question 17

Dramatic irony

Answer 17

Irony in a drama that is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play

Question 18

Allusion

Answer 18

A reference to a source outside of the text

Question 19

Flashback

Answer 19

A sudden or disturbing vivid memory of an event in the past

Question 20

Stanzas

Answer 20

A group of lines forming a division in a poem

Question 21

Hyperbole

Answer 21

An over exaggeration

Question 22

First Person

Answer 22

We, Us, I, Me…

Question 23

3rd Person Limited

Answer 23

Knows the feelings of thoughts of one person; everyone else presented externally

Question 24

3rd person ominiscient

Answer 24

The narrator knows the thoughts and feelings vs of all characters in the story

Question 25

1st person ominiscient

Answer 25

The narrator is a character in the story but knows the thoughts and feelings of the other characters

Question 26

Foil

Answer 26

Two contrasting character; opposites

Question 27

Scope

Answer 27

A range of understanding, thought or action

Question 28

Exposition

Answer 28

The explanation in the beginning of a story; describes setting, characters

Question 29

Rising Action

Answer 29

A series of incidents building up to the climax

Question 30

Climax

Answer 30

The turning point or highest point of drama

Question 31

Mood

Answer 31

Mood that evokes certain feelings or vibes in a reader

Question 32

Internal conflict

Answer 32

Person vs. self

Question 33

External conflict

Answer 33

Person vs. person

Question 34

Aside

Answer 34

A remark said by the character to the audience without other characters hearing

Question 35

Soliloquy

Answer 35

An act of speaking ones thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers

Question 36

Foreshadow

Answer 36

Author writes clues or indications that something will happen in the future

Question 37

Foreshadow

Answer 37

Author writes clues or indications that something will happen in the future

Question 38

Satire

Answer 38

The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity

Question 39

Allegory

Answer 39

A figure of speech in which abstract ideas and principles are described in terms of characters, figures and events

Question 40

Theme

Answer 40

A main idea or an underlying meaning of a literary work

Question 41

Symbolism

Answer 41

The use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their actual meaning