Literary Terms Quiz
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Questions and Answers

What is an example of alliteration?

  • Just as a sword is the weapon of a warrior.
  • Crashes, clanged, clattered. (correct)
  • The moon rose over an open field.
  • He was a real Romeo with the ladies.

Which term describes a character that opposes the protagonist?

  • Supporting character
  • Antagonist (correct)
  • Protagonist
  • Antihero

What is an anecdote?

  • A long fictional story.
  • A deep analysis of a character.
  • A comparison of two things.
  • A short story about a real incident. (correct)

Which literary term refers to a protagonist lacking heroic qualities?

<p>Antihero (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'atmosphere' refer to in literature?

<p>The emotional response created by the setting. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of character remains unchanged throughout a story?

<p>Static (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of conflict involves a character grappling with societal norms?

<p>Person vs Society (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which type of character is known to be an archetype or a typical personality?

<p>Stereotypical (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the central conflict in a story?

<p>The main struggle that drives the story (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a round character?

<p>A character with depth and complexity (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following words has a negative connotation?

<p>Fat (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What literary device uses descriptive language to enhance meaning?

<p>Imagery (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes a dynamic character from a static character?

<p>A dynamic character undergoes significant change (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of using a euphemism?

<p>To substitute a harsh term with a milder one (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an example of imagery?

<p>The lake was left shivering by the touch of morning wind. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does hubris typically lead to in a character?

<p>A belief in their own infallibility (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Identify the literary device that uses clues to suggest future events.

<p>Foreshadowing (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is iambic pentameter?

<p>A rhythmical pattern with five iambs per line (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does a foil character typically do in a story?

<p>Enhance the main character's attributes through contrast (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does irony function in literature?

<p>It highlights the difference between expectations and reality. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is figurative language designed to do?

<p>Make comparisons and exaggerate (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key characteristic of poetry compared to prose?

<p>Poetry uses descriptive language selected for sound and meaning. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best defines a protagonist?

<p>The central character we root for. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What constitutes rhyme in poetry?

<p>Similarity of sound between the endings of words. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What defines situational irony?

<p>The opposite of what is expected occurs. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is a simile defined?

<p>A comparison using 'like' or 'as' for clarity. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the purpose of juxtaposition in literature?

<p>To suggest a link or highlight contrasts. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes an extended metaphor?

<p>A metaphor that continues throughout a section of text. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of satire in literature?

<p>To criticize social issues using humor and irony. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which element does NOT typically contribute to the setting of a narrative?

<p>Character's internal thoughts. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of 'mood' in a literary work?

<p>To create an emotional response in the reader. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'style' refer to in literature?

<p>The author's use of literary devices and writing approaches. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes first person narrative from other narrative points of view?

<p>It includes firsthand accounts using pronouns like 'I' and 'we'. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which narrative point of view provides the reader with access to multiple characters' thoughts?

<p>Omniscient third person. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best exemplifies a symbol in literature?

<p>A leafless tree representing death. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'nemesis' in a literary context?

<p>A source of failure or an unconquerable opponent. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which term refers to the specialized language used by a particular group?

<p>Jargon (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of onomatopoeia?

<p>Gulp (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes a statement that appears contradictory but may reveal a truth?

<p>Paradox (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary purpose of a parody?

<p>To imitate the style of a work for comedic effect (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does 'pathetic fallacy' refer to in literature?

<p>Assigning human emotions to nature (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which part of a plot marks the highest point of conflict?

<p>Climax (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of a subplot in a narrative?

<p>To support the main plot with a secondary story (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'persona' refer to in literature?

<p>The image or personality a person presents to others (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which term best describes giving human-like characteristics to inanimate objects?

<p>Personification (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Anecdote

A brief and engaging story about a real person or event.

Antagonist

The character or force that opposes the protagonist.

Alliteration

A literary device where two or more words in a row start with the same sound or letter.

Analogy

A comparison between two things that are quite different.

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Allusion

A reference to a well-known person, place, or event from literature, history, or mythology.

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Static Character

A character that does not change throughout the story.

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Dynamic Character

A character that undergoes significant change and development throughout the story.

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Flat Character

A character who is not fully developed and only presented as a snapshot.

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Round Character

A character who is fully developed and complex, with multiple layers to their personality.

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Person vs Self

Conflict between a character and their own inner thoughts, emotions, or struggles.

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Person vs Person

Conflict between a character and another person or group.

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Cliché

An overused and unoriginal element or phrase.

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Comedy

A type of play, movie, or story that aims to entertain with humor and ends happily.

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Situational Irony

A literary device where the opposite of what is expected happens to a character.

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Jargon

Specialized language or expressions used by a particular profession or group.

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Juxtaposition

To place two things together to highlight their contrast or suggest a link.

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Metaphor

Directly comparing two things without using 'like' or 'as'.

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Extended Metaphor

A comparison extended throughout a paragraph or poem.

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Meter

The rhythm of a poem, created by patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables.

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Mood

The feeling or atmosphere created by the author in a piece of writing.

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Motif

An element or idea that repeats in a piece of literature, often expressed by symbols.

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Protagonist

The central character in a story, often the one we root for.

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Simile

A comparison of two unlike things using 'like' or 'as'.

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Setting

The time and location of the story, including the historical, physical, and societal context.

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Style

The author's unique style of writing, shaped by choices like word selection, sentence structure, and descriptive language.

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Symbol

Something that represents another thing, often a concrete object representing an abstract concept.

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Suspense

The tension or anxiety that keeps a reader engaged and wanting to know more.

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Rhythm

A musical quality in poetry created by the repetition of stressed and unstressed syllables, words, or sounds.

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Poetry

Poetry uses descriptive language, often employing techniques like meter, rhyme, and alliteration.

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Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates its meaning in its sound (gulp, slurp, whoosh, whizz).

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Oxymoron

Two or more words or ideas that contradict each other (cruel kindness).

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Paradox

A statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth. "I must be cruel to be kind."

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Parody

A literary or musical work in which the style of an author or work is closely imitated for comic effect or in ridicule.

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Persona

The way one behaves, talks with other people that causes them to see him/her as a particular kind of person: the image or personality that a person presents to other people.

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Pathetic Fallacy

Giving nature the emotions of human beings, often having nature mirror the human emotions (The wind screamed through the night).

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Personification

A figure of speech that gives animals, ideas, abstractions and inanimate objects the human form, character or sensibilities (The street was alive with people).

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Plot

The action of the story and how it is sequenced. Plot elements include: suspense, foreshadowing, flashback, atmosphere, mood, symbol

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Euphemism

The substitution of a mild, indirect, or vague expression for one thought to be offensive, harsh, or blunt. "To pass away" is a euphemism for "to die."

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Figurative Language

Figurative language is language that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation.

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Flashback

A point in the story that looks back in time to show the reader something that happened at a point prior to the events taking place in the story.

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Foil

A foil is another character in a story who contrasts with the main character, usually to highlight one of their attributes/will often be a source of conflict for the other

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Foreshadowing

The use of clues and hints that allow us to guess at what might happen next in the story – foreshadowing often makes us use our inference skills

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Hubris

Having excessive confidence or arrogance, which leads a person to believe that he or she may do no wrong. The overwhelming pride caused by hubris is often considered a flaw in character.

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Hyperbole

Deliberate and obvious exaggeration used for comic/dramatic effect (I could eat a million of these.)

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Iambic pentameter

Is the name given to a line of verse that consists of five iambs (an iamb being one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed (if YOU | would PUT | the KEY | inSIDE | the LOCK)

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Study Notes

Literary Terms

  • Alliteration: Repetition of initial consonant sounds in successive words
  • Allusion: A reference to a familiar figure, place, event, or work of literature, history, myth, religion
  • Analogy: A comparison between two things that are dissimilar, used to explain a concept
  • Anecdote: A short, interesting story about a real incident or person
  • Antagonist: The character or force opposing the protagonist
  • Antihero: A protagonist lacking traditional heroic qualities
  • Assonance: Repetition of vowel sounds within words
  • Atmosphere: Feeling created by the setting
  • Autobiography: A person's account of their own life
  • Bildungsroman: Novel focusing on a character's moral and psychological development
  • Biography: An account of a person's life written by someone else
  • Blank Verse: Poetry in unrhymed iambic pentameter
  • Character Trait: A notable feature of a character's personality
  • Character: A person, being, or thing in a story
  • Static Character: A character who does not change throughout the story
  • Dynamic Character: A character who changes throughout the story
  • Flat Character: A character not fully developed; just a snapshot
  • Round Character: A character fully developed
  • Stereotypical Character: An archetypal character, often a common personality type
  • Foil Character: A character who contrasts with another character, often highlighting their qualities
  • Cliché: An overused phrase or expression
  • Comedy: A play, movie, etc., of light and humorous character with a happy or cheerful ending
  • Conflict: A problem, struggle, or conundrum that drives the story
  • Person vs. Self: Internal conflict
  • Person vs. Person: Conflict between characters
  • Person vs. Society: Conflict between a character and society
  • Person vs. Nature: Conflict between a character and nature
  • Person vs. Supernatural: Conflict involving supernatural forces
  • Person vs. Fate/Supreme Beings: Conflict against larger forces
  • Connotation: An idea or quality associated with a word beyond its literal meaning
  • Descriptive Language: Words that add detail and enhance meaning using sensory qualities
  • Diction: Language choices
  • Euphemism: A mild, indirect, or vague expression used in place of a harsh or offensive one
  • Figurative Language: Language with a meaning different from its literal interpretation
  • Flashback: A point in the story that looks back in time
  • Foil: Character that contrasts with another, often highlighting their characters, will often be a source of conflict
  • Foreshadowing: Hints or clues suggesting future events
  • Hubris: Excessive pride or arrogance
  • Hyperbole: Deliberate exaggeration for emphasis
  • Iambic Pentameter: A metrical pattern in poetry consisting of five iambs (unstressed-stressed) per line
  • Imagery: Descriptive language that creates a picture in the reader's mind
  • Inference: Reaching a conclusion based on evidence
  • Irony: A contrast between expectation and reality
  • Dramatic Irony: The audience knows something the character doesn't
  • Situational Irony: The opposite of what is expected happens
  • Jargon: Specialized language of a particular group or profession
  • Juxtaposition: Placing contrasting elements side-by-side to highlight differences.
  • Metaphor: A comparison without "like" or "as"
  • Extended Metaphor: A metaphor extended throughout multiple lines or sentences
  • Meter: Rhythm in a poem via patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables
  • Motif: Repeated element in a literary work that creates meaning
  • Mood: Emotional feeling created by a literary piece
  • Narrative Point of View: The perspective from which the story is told
  • First Person Narrative: Story told from "I" perspective
  • Second Person Narrative: Story told through "you" perspective
  • Third Person Narrative: Story told from "he," "she," or "they" perspective
  • Omniscient Third Person: All-knowing narrator who sees and knows everything
  • Objective Third Person: Impersonal, detached narrator
  • Limited Omniscient Third Person: Narrator who focuses on a limited number of characters
  • Nemesis: A source of harm or failure; an unconquerable opponent
  • Onomatopoeia: Word that imitates the sound it represents
  • Oxymoron: Contradictory words together
  • Paradox: Seemingly contradictory statement.
  • Parody: Imitation of a work for comedic effect
  • Persona: The character's image presented to others
  • Pathetic Fallacy: Nature reflects human emotions
  • Personification: Giving human qualities to nonhuman things
  • Plot: Series of events in a story
  • Plot Elements (e.g., introduction, rising action, inciting incident, climax, falling action, resolution): Parts of plot structure
  • Plot Line: A visual representation of plot development
  • Poetry: Literary work using meter and often rhyme
  • Prose: Writing that is not poetry
  • Protagonist: The central character in a narrative
  • Rhyme: Similarity in sound between words
  • Rhythm: Musical quality of a piece of writing caused by repetition
  • Satire: Use of humor, irony, or ridicule to criticize something
  • Setting: Time and place of a story
  • Simile: Comparison using "like" or "as"
  • Stanza: A division of a poem
  • Stereotype: A widely held but oversimplified and often unfair image or idea of a particular type of person or thing.
  • Style: The author's unique way of writing
  • Suspense: Tension or anxiety created by uncertainty about what will happen next
  • Symbol: Something that stands for or represents something else
  • Syntax: Sentence structure
  • Theme: Central idea or message of a literary piece
  • Tone: The author's attitude toward the subject matter
  • Tragedy: A play dealing with tragic events, often about the downfall of the main character
  • Understatement: Presenting something as less important or significant than it is
  • Voice: The distinct personality of a piece of writing
  • Verse: A single metrical line of poetry

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Test your knowledge of key literary terms with this quiz. From alliteration to bildungsroman, explore various concepts that shape literature. Perfect for students and literature enthusiasts alike.

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