Literary Terms

Question 1

Ambivalence

Answer 1

The simultaneous existence of conflicting feelings or thoughts about a person, object, or idea.

Question 2

Anachronism

Answer 2

something out of its proper historical time; error of putting something in the wrong historical time

Question 3

Anadiplosis

Answer 3

repeating last word of clause at beginning of next clause

Question 4

Anaphora

Answer 4

the repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of consecutive lines or sentences

Question 5

Anticlimax

Answer 5

An unsatisfying and trivial turn of events in a literary work that occurs in place of a genuine climax. An anticlimax often involves a surprising shift in tone from the lofty or serious to the petty or ridiculous.

Question 6

Aphorism

Answer 6

a short, often witty statement of a principle or a truth about life.

Question 7

Apostrophe

Answer 7

Addressing something nonhuman as if it were human; addressing someone who is not present

Question 8

Archaism

Answer 8

the use of deliberately old-fashioned language

Question 9

Assonance

Answer 9

Repetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity

Question 10

Asyndeton

Answer 10

When the conjunctions (such as “and” or “but”) that would normally connect a string of words, phrases, or clauses are omitted from a sentence

Question 11

Baroque

Answer 11

extravagantly ornate; flamboyant in style

Question 12

Bathos

Answer 12

n. excessive or trivial sentimentality; and abrupt transition in style from the elevated to the commonplace, producing a laughable effect

Question 13

Chiasmus

Answer 13

A figure of speech that reverses the order of words in phrases that would otherwise be structured the same. (e.g. Heaven is too great of humanity; humanity is too great for heaven)

Question 14

Colloquial

Answer 14

conversational; informal in language

Question 15

Didactic

Answer 15

intended to teach; inclined to teach excessively

Question 16

Foil

Answer 16

a character whose personality and attitude contrast sharply with those of another

Question 17

Hamartia

Answer 17

In tragedy, the event or act that leads to the hero’s or heroine’s downfall

Question 18

Hubris

Answer 18

excessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy

Question 19

Metonymy

Answer 19

A figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it

Question 20

Polysyndeton

Answer 20

using many conjunctions to achieve an overwhelming effect

Question 21

Stream of Consciousness

Answer 21

A literary technique that presents the thoughts and feelings of a character as they occur.