literary terms/devices

Question 1

alliteration

Answer 1

the recurrence of initial constant sounds at the beginning of a series of words
i.e. she sells sea shells by the sea shore

Question 2

allegory

Answer 2

objective is to preach a moral lesson
a figure of speech which takes abstract ideas and principles described in terms of characters, figures and events

Question 3

allusion

Answer 3

a short informal refrence to a famous person or event

Question 4

analogy

Answer 4

comparison between two similar but different things in order to highlight their similarity

Question 5

characterization

Answer 5

way in which writer reveals the traits of characters to the audience
- direct: driectly stating their traits
- indirect: revealing certain information than letting the reader draw their own conclusion

Question 6

foreshadowing

Answer 6

a hint that the author places earlier in the story referencing that will happen later in the story

Question 7

hyperbole

Answer 7

obvious or intention exaggeration

Question 8

idiom

Answer 8

experssions that cannot be understood literally

Question 9

imagery

Answer 9

descriptive language that evokes sensory

Question 10

irony (all 3 types)

Answer 10

expression of meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite
- dramatic: the reader has info that the characters do not
- verbal: a character says one thing but means the other
- situational: when what happens is the opposite of what was expected to

Question 11

metaphor

Answer 11

compares two different things by speaking of one in terms of the other WITHOUT using ‘like’ or ‘as’

Question 12

mood/atmosphere

Answer 12

the prevailing feelings of the story infered through the authors direct, comments, description of settings, attitudes, actions, imagery

Question 13

onomatopoeia

Answer 13

figure of speech in which words sound like how they are spelled
i.e. BANG, BOOM

Question 14

oxymoron

Answer 14

figure of speech in which two contradicting terms are combined
i.e. cruel kindness, bitter sweet

Question 15

paradox

Answer 15

a statement that contradicts itself
- if its true it must be false
“i always lie”

Question 16

pathetic fallacy

Answer 16

nature reflecting the moods of the story
i.e. dark stormy - depressing, frightful

Question 17

personification

Answer 17

when animals, ideas, or objects are given human characteristics

Question 18

point of view - 1st

Answer 18

narrator participates in the action and is recounting the events himself (‘I’)

Question 19

point of view - 3rd

Answer 19

narrator doesn’t participate in the action and informs the reader on the characters behaviours (‘he, she, they, them’)

Question 20

3rd person - omniscient vs. limited

Answer 20

omniscient - narrator shows thoughts and feelings of all characters

limited - narrator knows thoughts and feelings of only one character (usually protagonist)

Question 21

pun

Answer 21

a play on words to emphasize a different meaning
i.e. i used to be ballerina but i found it too too difficult

Question 22

simile

Answer 22

compares to different things using the words ‘like’ or ‘as’

Question 23

symbol

Answer 23

an object or concrete idea that stands or represents something else
i.e. heart=love, dove=Jesus

Question 24

understatement

Answer 24

expressing an ideas as less important than it is for irony emphasis or politeness and tact
i.e. Tiger woods has some talent as golfer