30 Questions
Which field of language analysis is concerned with the distinction between literal and figurative language?
Stylistics
What does literal language do?
Maintains a consistent meaning regardless of the context
What does figurative language do?
Conveys a more complicated meaning or heightened effect
Which ancient philosophers discussed the differences between literal and figurative language?
Aristotle and Quintilian
What does literal usage confer meaning to?
Words
What is the intended meaning in literal usage?
The meaning of the individual words
What is the main characteristic of figurative use of language?
Deviation from conventionally accepted definitions
What does figurative language often create?
Use of words in unrelated meanings
What does non-literal language imply?
A literal meaning that does make sense
Which field of language analysis deals with the study of style and language use in different contexts?
Stylistics
Which of the following is NOT a category of figurative language according to Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature?
Errors
What is the vehicle in the metaphor 'Fog comes on little cat feet'?
Little cat feet
Which novel was used in the earliest Oxford English Dictionary citation for the figurative sense of 'literally'?
The History of Emily Montague
What is the term for a metaphor that is continued over multiple sentences?
Extended metaphor
What is the correct definition of onomatopoeia?
A word designed to be an imitation of a sound
Who is the author of the novel 'The History of Emily Montague'?
Frances Brooke
Which of the following is an example of personification?
'Because I could not stop for Death, He kindly stopped for me.'
What is the correct definition of an oxymoron?
A figure of speech in which a pair of opposite or contradictory terms is used together for emphasis
According to I. A. Richards, what are the two parts of a metaphor?
Vehicle and tenor
Which of the following is an example of a simile?
'His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry.'
Which of the following is an example of a paradox?
This statement is a lie.
Which figure of speech uses extravagant or exaggerated statements to express strong feelings?
Hyperbole
What is an idiom?
An expression with a figurative meaning different from the literal meaning
According to the standard pragmatic model of comprehension, how did recipients process figurative language?
They first attempted to comprehend the literal meaning, then the figurative meaning.
What did research on comprehension of figurative language reveal about the standard pragmatic model?
Figurative language was comprehended at the same speed as literal language.
What did Michael Reddy's work in 1979 challenge?
The validity of distinguishing between literal and figurative language.
What is the purpose of an allusion?
To reference a famous character or event.
What is a pun?
An expression intended for a humorous or rhetorical effect by exploiting different meanings of words.
What is the literal meaning of an idiom?
The meaning of the phrase that is different from its figurative meaning.
What is metaphor a major tool of?
Linguistic development.
Test your knowledge of literal and figurative language with this quiz! Explore the distinctions between these two language styles and enhance your understanding of their usage. Perfect for those interested in stylistics, rhetoric, and semantics.
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