Quiz Literary terms Flashcards
a poetic unit of four lines (either a stanza or an entire poem
quatrain
a pair of consecutive lines of poetry that express a complete thought, usually follow a similar meter, and often rhyme
couplet
a joke in the form of wordplay resulting either (a) from one word that has multiple meanings or (b) from multiple words that sound identical.
pun
a humorous character, scene, or dialogue included in an otherwise serious work, often to relieve tension
comic relief
The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, sentence, or verses–especially to create rhythm and emphasis
anaphor
The repetition of consonant sounds, generally initial consonant sounds (i.e., at the beginning of words)
alliteration
a speech given by a character alone on stage that lets the audience know what the character is thinking and feeling
soliloquy
a comparison that states (or implies) that one thing is a completely different thing
metaphor
a character’s brief remark, either to the audience or to another character, that other characters on stage do not hear
aside
giving human traits to something that is not human
personification
words, phrases, clauses, or sentences set up in deliberate contrast to one another
antithesis
a statement that seems to contradict itself but that, on closer inspection, actually makes sense
paradox
a serious story that chronicles the downfall of a morally good but imperfect protagonist—a downfall that is often due to some kind of hamartia (or error in judgment) on the part of the protagonist
tragedy
the ordinary form of spoken or written language, without metrical structure, as distinguished from poetry or verse
prose
When the audience knows more than the characters know
dramatic irony
a comparison using “like” or “as”
simile
writing arranged in lines that often have rhythm and often rhyme at the end; poetry
verse
a character whose personality and attitude contrast sharply with those of another character and, therefore, highlight both characters’ important traits
foil
a reference to something the audience is expected to know, such as another story, a myth, character, etc.
allusion
a condensed paradox
oxymoron
providing a hint of what is to come later in the story
foreshadowing
