Summer Vocab

Question 1

Allegory

Answer 1

Story or poem in which characters, settings, and events stand for other people or events or for abstract ideas or qualities

Question 2

Alliteration

Answer 2

Repetition of the same or similar consonant sounds in words that are close together
Ex:”…much of the REGIMENT had crumbled away, and the dejected REMNANT was coming slowly back.”

Question 3

Allusion

Answer 3

Reference to someone or something that is known from history, literature, religion , politics , sports, science, or another branch of culture. An indirect reference to something ( usually from literature, etc.)

Question 4

Ambiguity

Answer 4

Deliberately suggesting two or more different , and sometimes conflicting, meanings in a work. An event or situation that may be interpreted in more than one way- this is done on purpose by the author, when it is not done on purpose, it is vagueness, and detracts from the work.

Question 5

Analogy

Answer 5

Comparison made between two things to show how they are alike

Question 6

Anaphora

Answer 6

repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences in a row. This is deliberate form of repetition and helps make the writer’s point more coherent.

Question 7

Anastrophe

Answer 7

Inversion of the usual, normal, or logical order of the parts of a sentence. Purpose is rhythm or emphasis or euphony. It is a fancy word for inversion.

Question 8

Anecdote

Answer 8

Brief story, told to illustrate a point or serve as an example of something, often shows character of an individual

Question 9

Antagonist

Answer 9

Opponent who struggles against or blocks the hero, or protagonist, in a story.

Question 10

Antimetabole

Answer 10

Repetition of words in successive clauses in reverse grammatical order

Question 11

Antithesis

Answer 11

Balancing words, phrases, or ideas that are strongly contrasted, often by means of grammatical structure

Question 12

Antihero

Answer 12

Central character who lacks all the qualities traditionally associated with heroes. May lack courage, grace, intelligence, or moral scruples.

Question 13

Anthropomorphism

Answer 13

Attributing human characteristics to an animal or inanimate object (Personification)

Question 14

Aphorism

Answer 14

Brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life, or of a principle or accepted general truth. Also called MAXIM, EPIGRAM.

Question 15

Apostrophe

Answer 15

Calling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person, or to a place or thing, or a personified abstract idea. If the character is asking a god or goddess for inspiration it is called an INVOCATION.

Question 16

Apposition

Answer 16

Placing in immediately succeeding order of two or more coordinate elements, the latter of which is an explanation, qualification, or modification of the first (often set off by a colon).

Question 17

Assonance

Answer 17

The repetition of similar vowel sounds followed by different consonant sounds especially in words that are together.

Question 18

Asyndeton

Answer 18

Commas used without conjunction to separate a series of words, thus emphasizing the parts equally: instead of X, Y, and Z… the writer uses X,Y,Z… see polysyndeton.

Question 19

Balance

Answer 19

Constructing a sentence so that both halves are about the same length and importance. Sentences can be unbalanced to serve a special effect as well.