Literary Devices and Forms Quiz

Literary Devices and Forms

Allusion: An indirect reference expecting reader recognition; for example, "Midas touch" relates to King Midas, who turned everything to gold.
Analogy: A comparison aimed at explanation; e.g., "Life is like a box of chocolates" illustrates life’s unpredictability.
Anecdote: A brief, engaging story about a real incident; often used in speeches to illustrate a point through personal experience.
Ballad: A narrative poem or song, often of folk origin, characterized by a simple rhyme scheme; "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" serves as a classic example.
Character Foil: A character contrasting with another, typically the protagonist, to highlight specific traits; Draco Malfoy contrasts Harry Potter, emphasizing Harry's bravery.
Cliché: An overused phrase that has lost originality; common examples include "better safe than sorry."
Concrete Poetry: Poetry where the visual arrangement of words forms an image related to its theme; a poem about a tree might be visually shaped like a tree.
Connotation: The emotional or implied meaning of a word beyond its literal definition; "home" connotes warmth and family, rather than just a building.
Euphemism: A milder expression used instead of a harsh or blunt one; "passed away" is a euphemism for "died."
Hyperbole: Exaggerated claims not meant to be taken literally; for example, "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse" emphasizes extreme hunger.
Juxtaposition: Placing elements side by side for contrast; Charles Dickens uses this in "A Tale of Two Cities" to enhance observations about the era.
Metaphor: Directly likens one thing to another; saying "Time is a thief" suggests the stealthy nature of time in our lives.
Metonymy: Refers to concepts by names of closely associated terms; "The White House" represents the U.S. administration.
Malapropism: Misusing a word by substituting it with a similar-sounding one, often humorously; e.g., "He's the pineapple of politeness" instead of "pinnacle."
Conventions: Established techniques and criteria in literature; iambic pentameter is a common convention in Shakespearean sonnets.
Deus Ex Machina: A plot device where a complex problem is suddenly resolved by an unexpected occurrence; a naval officer rescues boys in "The Lord of the Flies."
Diction: Author's choice of words impacting tone and style; formal diction in Lincoln's Gettysburg Address conveys seriousness.
Dramatic Irony: When the audience is aware of critical information that characters are not; in "Romeo and Juliet," the audience knows Juliet isn’t truly dead.
Elegy: A mournful poem or lament for the dead; "Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard" by Thomas Gray is a notable example.
Eulogy: A speech praising someone who has died, often shared at funerals to honor the deceased's life.