Midterms Literary Terms Exam

Question 1

Image

Answer 1

A visual representation story; objects or things that trigger one’s senses.

Question 2

Extended metaphor

Answer 2

A metaphor that carries on throughout the story.

Question 3

Overstatement

Answer 3

An exaggeration of some sort

Question 4

Understatement

Answer 4

A statement seeming less important than actually; saying less for effect

Question 5

Paradox

Answer 5

A self contradicting statement that makes sense

Question 6

Simile

Answer 6

Comparing two things using like or as

Question 7

Setting

Answer 7

Where the story takes place; time and place

Question 8

Controlling metaphor

Answer 8

A metaphor that shapes the story

Question 9

Metaphor

Answer 9

Comparing similar things without using like or as

Question 10

Personification

Answer 10

Anything non-human being given human traits.

Question 11

Point-of-view (POV)

Answer 11

The perspective of who’s telling the story.

Question 12

Narrator

Answer 12

The voice of the story

Question 13

Third-person narrator

Answer 13

A storyteller that doesn’t partake in the story; uses he, she, they

Question 14

Omniscient narrator

Answer 14

A narrator that has no physical body and knows everything; a godlike narrator that knows everything

Question 15

Editorial omniscient narrator

Answer 15

A third-person narrator that determines a character’s actions; a subjective narrator that offers opinions; a subjective narrator that offers opinions.

Question 16

Mutual omniscient narrator

Answer 16

A narrator that lets the reader interpret the character for himself.

Question 17

Limited omniscient narrator

Answer 17

Focuses on limited characters throughout the story, usually only the main character; a narrator that is godlike and all-knowing to a few characters.

Question 18

Stream of consciousness technique

Answer 18

Emphasizes what the character is thinking; mimics thoughts

Question 18

Objective POV

Answer 18

Narrator tells a story with only actions, events, and character’s experience, and no internal thoughts

Question 18

First-person narrator

Answer 18

A story told directly from the character’s perspective; uses I, me, we

Question 19

Unreliable narrator

Answer 19

A narrator with an unreliable perspective

Question 20

Naive narrator

Answer 20

A narrator that does not fully understand what is happening

Question 21

Style

Answer 21

The manner in which the author presents the writing

Question 22

Diction

Answer 22

The type of words the author uses to evoke emotion

Question 23

Tone

Answer 23

Overall emotion of the story; attitude of the writer/author towards the events of the story

Question 24

Irony

Answer 24

Situation and/or words presented contrary to reality in the context of the story

Question 25

Verbal irony

Answer 25

A phrase said one way having a different meaning

Question 26

Sarcasm

Answer 26

Verbal irony used in an antagonistic way; the tone is obvious

Question 27

Situational irony

Answer 27

Events happening against expectation

Question 28

Dramatic irony

Answer 28

Understanding a story or event from an outside perspective different from the character

Question 29

Satire

Answer 29

Criticism via mockery

Question 30

Theme

Answer 30

Overarching concepts the story meaningfully interacts with; main concept or idea being explored

Question 31

Symbol

Answer 31

Objects or idea that represents a deeper meaning in a story (Symbolism: something more than literal)

Question 32

Conventional symbol

Answer 32

Objects or idea that represents a deeper meaning within society

Question 33

Literary symbol

Answer 33

Objects or ideas that represent a deeper meaning within the story's context or the literature's

Question 34

Allegory

Answer 34

Event, object, or person that has direct meaning to the story; single, fixed meaning

Question 34

Characterization

Answer 34

Making a fictional character into reality in descriptive details and character traits

Question 34

Show & Telling Methods

Answer 34

Showing or telling, a method authors use to introduce characters and then describe them; showing: through actions & telling: through descriptions

Question 34

Motivation

Answer 34

The motive and reasoning behind a character's actions

Question 34

Plausible

Answer 34

Cause and reasoning; validation to action; accepts as something is possible

Question 34

Consistent

Answer 34

Consistent is used to describe a character's actions. It is when behavior is compatible with the characters' temperament. The characters' motivated and plausible actions should be compatible. In literature, the term “consistent” generally refers to the quality of maintaining a uniform and coherent tone, style, or theme throughout a work. When a literary work is described as consistent, it implies that there is a harmonious and steady flow of elements, such as language, characterization, and narrative, without significant contradictions or abrupt shifts. Consistency contributes to the overall cohesiveness of the piece, enhancing the reader's experience and understanding of the author's intended message or aesthetic.

Question 34

Anti-hero

Answer 34

A modern character with the inability to have control over future events

Question 34

Dynamic

Answer 34

Character development stemming of core events; dynamic character changes

Question 35

Static

Answer 35

A stagnant character, no development throughout the story; static characters do not

Question 35

Foil character

Answer 35

A character that sheds lights towards a character’s opposing traits; a minor character that reveals things about a character through a contrast

Question 35

Stock characters

Answer 35

A stereotypical group of characters generalized as a whole

Question 35

Round characters

Answer 35

A character that arises question within the reader though complexities

Question 35

Plot

Answer 35

The structure of order of events of a story

Question 35

In medias res

Answer 35

When a story begins in the middle of the narration

Question 35

Flashback

Answer 35

A glimpse of the past to provide context to a current event

Question 36

Character

Answer 36

A person that plays a role in a story; person, place, or thing with human qualities

Question 37

Exposition

Answer 37

A necessary context to understand a story; background information

Question 38

Rising action

Answer 38

Plot points that lead to a climax

Question 39

Conflict

Answer 39

The main driver of a plot

Question 40

Foreshadowing

Answer 40

Subtle hints for the future

Question 41

Protagonist

Answer 41

The main character

Question 42

Hero/heroine

Answer 42

A protagonist with heroic traits

Question 43

Antagonist

Answer 43

A major character or force that goes against the main character

Question 44

Suspense

Answer 44

Elements that create anxiety

Question 45

Climax

Answer 45

The crux of the plot

Question 46

Resolution

Answer 46

The end of a conflict

Question 47

Dénouement

Answer 47

Untying of the knot