Terminology

Question 1

Define allegory

Answer 1

work of literature in which people, objects, and events stand for abstract qualities

Question 2

Define allusion

Answer 2

an indirect reference to a person, place, event, or literary work

Question 3

Define antithesis

Answer 3

juxtaposition of strongly contrasting words, images, or ideas, often using parallel structure

Question 4

Define aphorism

Answer 4

brief statement that expresses a general principal or truth about life

Question 5

Define archaic language

Answer 5

an old-fashioned way of using language, as opposed to the modern way

Question 6

Define assonance

Answer 6

the repetition of vowel sounds
(e.g, ‘he slowly mowed the overgrown lawn’ or ‘Estha enthused eloquently’)

Question 7

Define caesura

Answer 7

a pause or break in a line of poetry

Question 8

Define consonance

Answer 8

the repetition of consonant sounds within and at the ends of words

Question 9

Define diction

Answer 9

a writer’s or speaker’s choice of words, including both vocabulary and syntax (the order or arrangement of words)

Question 10

Define syntax

Answer 10

The order or arrangement of words

Question 11

Define elevated language

Answer 11

formal words and phrases that lend serious tone to a discussion

Question 12

Define a foil character

Answer 12

a character who’s traits contrast with those of another character

Question 13

Define gothic literature

Answer 13

literature characterised by grotesque characters, bizarre situations and violent events

Question 14

Define hyperbole

Answer 14

the truth being exaggerated for emphasis or humorous effect

Question 15

Define modernism

Answer 15

a literary movement that is characterized by a high degree of experimentation and characters that are most often alienated

Question 16

Define mood

Answer 16

the feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader

Question 17

Define imagery

Answer 17

descriptive words and phrases that a writer uses to re-create sensory experiences

Question 18

Define naturalism

Answer 18

emphasis on how instinct and environment affect human behaviour

Question 19

Define irony

Answer 19

a contrast between appearance and actuality

Question 20

Define paradox

Answer 20

a statement that seems to contradict itself but may nevertheless suggest an important truth

Question 21

Define parallelism

Answer 21

when a speaker or writer expresses ideas of equal worth with the same grammatical form

Question 22

Define periodic sentences

Answer 22

a long sentence that has additional details at the beginning and the main point at the end

Question 23

Define rationalism

Answer 23

a movement in 18th-century thought that emphasized the role of reason in human affairs

Question 24

Define realism

Answer 24

a literary method based on careful observations of contemporary life, often focusing on the middle or lower classes

Question 25

Define rhetorical question

Answer 25

a question to which no answer is expected because the answer is obvious

Question 26

Define stream of consciousness

Answer 26

presents the flow of a character’s seemingly unconnected thoughts, responses, and sensations in a way that is often devoid of punctuation

Question 27

Define style

Answer 27

distinctive way in which a work of literature is written

Question 28

Define syllogism

Answer 28

a form of deductive reasoning made up of a three-part set of statements or propositions that includes a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion

Question 29

Define synesthesia

Answer 29

imagery that appeals to one sense when another is being stimulated

Question 30

Define theme

Answer 30

central idea or ideas the writer intends to share with the reader

Question 31

Define tone

Answer 31

a writer’s attitude towards their subject

Question 32

Define tragedy

Answer 32

a dramatic work that presents the downfall of a dignified character who is involved in historically, morally, or socially significant events

Question 33

Define tragic hero

Answer 33

a character whose basic goodness and superiority are marred by a flaw that brings about or contributes to his or her downfall

Question 34

Define local colour realism

Answer 34

a style of writing that brings a particular region alive by portraying its dialects, dress, mannerisms, customs, character types, and landscapes

Question 35

Define Ad Hominem

Answer 35

a type of argument that attacks a person rather than ideas, words or actions.

Question 36

Define euphemism

Answer 36

to express an unpleasant or uncomfortable situation in a more sensitive, kind or tactful manner
(e.g. he died –> he passed away)

Question 37

Define innuendo

Answer 37

A disapproving remark which hints at something without stating it directly.
(e.g. do you own a hairbrush? [implying that your hair looks messy])

Question 38

Define climax

Answer 38

A build-up of ascending ideas. It reaches a peak, creating excitement and heightening tension.

Question 39

Define anti-climax

Answer 39

A build-up of ideas, with a flat or unexpected final statement/peak.

Question 40

Define synecdoche

Answer 40

A part being used to describe a whole, or a whole being used for a part.
(e.g. ‘Australia won the cricket.’ It was the team, not the country, that won the cricket.)

Question 41

Define metonymy

Answer 41

Something associated with the object representing the object.
(e.g, ‘They swore loyalty to the crown.’ the crown = the monarch)

Question 42

Define malapropism

Answer 42

The unintentional use of incorrect, similar sounding words.
(e.g, ‘I can ensure you that this is correct.’ (should be assure))

Question 43

Define spoonerism

Answer 43

The transposition or mixing up of the initial sounds of spoken words.
(e.g, ‘He hissed his mistory lesson.’)

Question 44

Define simile

Answer 44

Direct comparison using like or as

Question 45

Define metaphor

Answer 45

Direct comparison that does not use like or as

Question 46

Define an extended metaphor

Answer 46

Recurring metaphors or analogies over a passage or throughout poem.

Question 47

Define a mixed metaphor

Answer 47

Incongruous and incompatible metaphoric terms used to describe the same object or event - should be avoided when writing.
(e.g, ‘Mountains of strawberries and cream were consumed during the titanic battle at Wimbledon.’ This creates confusing imagery for the reader).

Question 48

Define personification

Answer 48

Giving human qualities to inanimate objects or abstract ideas

Question 49

Define anthropomorphism

Answer 49

The attribution of human characteristics or behaviour to a god, animal, or object.

Question 50

Define apostrophe (the literary device, not the punctuation)

Answer 50

An abstract idea, an inanimate object or a person who is no longer living being addressed or spoken to as if it were human.
(e.g, “Lady Luck, be there when I throw the dice!” or even “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are!”)

Question 51

Define alliteration

Answer 51

The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words.
(e.g, five feverish frogs)

Question 52

Define onomatopoeia

Answer 52

Imitation of real life sounds and actions. For example, crash/bang/whoosh/hiss

Question 53

Define an oxymoron

Answer 53

Placement of two seemingly contradictory words next to one another. For example, angry relief, pretty ugly, painful pride., deafening silence)

Question 54

Define situational irony

Answer 54

When the opposite of what is expected in a situation occurs. For example: A detective employed to catch a thief getting arrested for dishonesty.

Question 55

Define dramatic irony

Answer 55

When the audience/reader has knowledge of somethings of which the characters are unaware.

Question 56

Define sarcasm

Answer 56

When one thing is said but something else is intended or understood with the intention of insulting/humiliating/teasing/hurting someone.

Question 57

Define satire

Answer 57

Sharp wit, irony or sarcasm used to highlight, expose or ridicule human, social or political weaknesses or stupidities with aims to change the situation, educate, and entertain through humour. Often used in comic strips, cartoons and plays.

Question 58

Define parody

Answer 58

The imitation and/or exaggeration of other text types in order to satirise or create humour.

Question 59

Define epigram

Answer 59

A brief and pointed statement which often contains humour or irony, usually with a deeper underlying meaning.
(e.g, ‘Employ a teenager while he still knows everything!’)

Question 60

Define litotes

Answer 60

Use of a negative and an opposite to understate what is intended.
(e.g, ‘He is no Einstein.’)

Question 61

Define anaphora

Answer 61

Repetition of the first letter across multiple consecutive lines in poetry.

Question 62

Define a misrelated participle (AKA dangling participle)

Answer 62

When a modifier can be misinterpreted as being associated with the one that was not intended.
E.g: Having finished my dinner, the waitress offered to bring me the dessert tray.
Modifier: ‘having finished my dinner’
Notice how it sounds as though the waitress just finished the person’s dinner. This is the misrelated participle. Better wording would be:
The waitress offered to bring me the dessert tray after i had finished my dinner.
Or
After I had finished my dinner, the waitress offered to bring me the dessert tray.