Literary Terms Flashcards
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Literary Terms Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is an allegory?

  • A brief and concise statement of a main idea.
  • A story in which objects, characters, and actions are symbols of something outside the narrative. (correct)
  • A story that is completely factual.
  • A direct quote from a literary work.
  • What does alliteration refer to?

    The repetition of initial sounds.

    What is an allusion?

    A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art.

    Define anachronism.

    <p>Something out of its normal time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is anaphora?

    <p>Repetition when it is specifically used at the beginning of two or more lines, clauses, or sentences.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does analogy mean?

    <p>A comparison that explains or describes one subject by pointing out its similarities to another subject.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is antithesis?

    <p>Involves a direct contrast of structurally parallel word groupings, generally for the purpose of contrast.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define apostrophe in literature.

    <p>A figure of speech in which a speaker directly addresses an absent person or a personified quality.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is apposition?

    <p>The placing next to a noun another noun or phrase that explains it.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define archetype.

    <p>An image, a descriptive detail, a plot pattern, or a character type that occurs frequently in literature, myth, religion, or folklore.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is assonance?

    <p>Repetition of vowel sounds.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define catharsis.

    <p>A moral and spiritual cleansing.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is characterization?

    <p>Creating and developing a character.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define climax in literature.

    <p>When a writer arranges ideas in order of importance.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are connotations?

    <p>The set of associations that occur to people when they hear or read a word.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define consonance.

    <p>Repetition of consonant sounds.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does denotation mean?

    <p>The dictionary meaning of a word.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is description in literature?

    <p>A portrait in words of a person, place, or object.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What are details?

    <p>The facts given by the author or speaker as support for the attitude or tone.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define dialect.

    <p>Language spoken by people in a particular region or group.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is dialogue?

    <p>Conversation between characters.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is diction?

    <p>Word choice.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define direct characterization.

    <p>The author directly states a character's traits.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does dramatic irony mean?

    <p>A contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader or audience knows to be true.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an epiphany?

    <p>A sudden understanding or realization of something not known or understood to this point.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define epitaph.

    <p>An inscription used to mark burial places.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an epithet?

    <p>A word or phrase used in place of a person's name.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What does euphemism refer to?

    <p>Indirect words that replace directness to avoid unpleasantness.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define extended metaphor.

    <p>Several comparisons made and extended throughout the passage.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a first-person narrator?

    <p>A character in the story telling the story.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is figurative language?

    <p>Writing or speech not meant to be interpreted literally.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Define flashback.

    <p>A section of a literary work that interrupts the sequence of events to relate an event from an earlier time.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is foreshadowing?

    <p>The use of clues that suggest events that have yet to occur.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Literary Terms Study Notes

    • Allegory: A narrative in which characters and events symbolize broader themes and concepts, exemplified in works like Lord of the Flies and Animal Farm.

    • Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds; an example is found in Coleridge's line, “The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew...”.

    • Allusion: A literary device that references a well-known person, place, event, or work, enhancing depth and meaning.

    • Anachronism: An element in a narrative that exists outside its proper time period, creating a sense of temporal dislocation.

    • Anaphora: A rhetorical device involving the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines, clauses, or sentences.

    • Analogy: A comparison that clarifies an idea by highlighting its similarities to another concept, aiding reader comprehension.

    • Antithesis: A device showcasing contrasting ideas through structurally parallel phrases, as seen in Dickens’ phrase, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...”.

    • Apostrophe: A figure of speech where the speaker directly addresses an absent character or an abstract quality, illustrated by Shakespeare's address to Rome.

    • Apposition: A grammatical construction where a noun or noun phrase is placed next to another noun to explain or clarify it, e.g., “Pollution, the city's main problem, is an issue.”

    • Archetype: A recurring symbol, theme, or character type in literature and mythology that evokes strong emotional responses.

    • Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds within a line; an example is “The bows glided down...”.

    • Catharsis: A profound emotional release and moral cleansing achieved through narrative, often experienced through character triumphs or struggles.

    • Characterization: The process of creating and developing characters within a narrative, essential for reader connection.

    • Climax: The point where ideas or events culminate in importance within a narrative, leading to resolution.

    • Connotations: The emotional and associative meanings attached to words beyond their literal definitions; for instance, "home" connotes warmth and safety.

    • Consonance: The repetition of consonant sounds, as displayed in words like “Even, Heaven, striven”.

    • Denotation: The explicit dictionary definition of a word, providing its direct meaning.

    • Description: A vivid written portrayal of a person, place, or object, aimed at creating a mental image.

    • Details: Specific facts provided by the author, serving to support the text's tone or attitude.

    • Dialect: A form of language specific to a particular region or social group, highlighting cultural identity.

    • Dialogue: The written conversational exchange between characters, crucial for developing plot and character.

    • Diction: The selection and use of words in a literary work, reflecting the author’s style and tone.

    • Direct Characterization: Explicit descriptions provided by the author regarding a character's traits.

    • Dramatic Irony: A literary device where the audience has more knowledge than the characters, creating tension and engagement.

    • Epiphany: A moment of sudden realization or understanding by a character, prompting insights into their situation.

    • Epitaph: An inscription on a gravestone that commemorates a deceased person, often reflecting their life or values.

    • Epithet: A descriptive label or phrase used in place of a name that highlights characteristics, e.g., "Material Girl".

    • Euphemism: A mild or vague term used in place of a more direct or harsh expression to soften the impact, such as saying "passed away" instead of "died".

    • Extended Metaphor: A metaphor that is developed in detail throughout a narrative, creating a deeper comparison.

    • First-Person Narrator: A narrative perspective where a character within the story recounts events, providing subjective insights.

    • Figurative Language: Language that employs figures of speech not meant to be taken literally, such as similes, metaphors, and personification.

    • Flashback: A narrative technique that interrupts chronological flow to relate events from the past, enriching character backgrounds.

    • Foreshadowing: A literary technique that gives hints or clues about events that will occur later in the story, building suspense.

    • Homily: A religious discourse intended for spiritual education, often providing moral lessons.

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    Test your knowledge of essential literary terms with these flashcards. Each card presents a term along with its definition and an example to help you understand and remember the concepts better. Ideal for students and literature enthusiasts alike.

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