Literary Techniques

Question 1

Allegory

Answer 1

A literary work in which the charachters and events represent particular qualities or ideas relating to morals, politics or religion.

“Storms = emotional turmoil”, “Animal Farm by George Orwell”

Question 2

Allusion

Answer 2

An unexplained or implicit reference to someone or something outside of the text.

Question 3

Analogy

Answer 3

When two unrelated objects are compared for their shared qualities.

Helps to simplify complex ideas and create familiarity.

Question 4

Anaphora

Answer 4

The repetition of the same phrase at the beginning of a sentence or clause.

Martin Luther King’s “I have a dream that one day…”

Question 5

Anecdote

Answer 5

A short and interesting story or event that helps to demonstrate a point.

Question 6

Anthropomorphism

Answer 6

Where an animal or non-human object is given human form, behaviour or personality.

Winnie the Pooh

Question 7

Antithesis

Answer 7

A person or thing that is the direct opposoite of someone or something else.

“To be, or not to be” - Hamlet, “Sink or swim”

Question 8

Aphorism

Answer 8

A short statement that is intended to express a general truth or principle.

“Knowledge is power”

Question 9

Apostrophe

Answer 9

‘_____’ vs. “_____” quotation marks

You’ll know it when you see it….

Question 10

Archetype

Answer 10

A typical example of something, or the original modoel of something from which others are copied.

Question 11

Assonance

Answer 11

The repetition of the same or similar vowel sounds close together.

Question 12

Asyndeton

Answer 12

When conjunctions (and, but, or) are left out between words or parts of a sentence to create rhytm and accent.

“I came, I saw, I conquered”

Question 13

Caricature

Answer 13

A comical and exaggerated representation of a charachter.

Question 14

Chiasmus

Answer 14

When words, grammatic constructions or concepts are repeated in reverse order.

“Never let a fool kiss you, or a kiss fool you”.

Question 15

Connotation

Answer 15

A feeling or idea that is implied by a word that is seperate from its dictionary meaning.

Question 16

Consonance

Answer 16

The same consonant sound repeated within a group of words.

–> sibilance is a type of consonance for ‘s’ hissing sounds.

Question 17

Denotation

Answer 17

The literal or dictionary meaning of a word.

“Home - a place where one lives.”

Question 18

Euphemism

Answer 18

A word or phrase used to avoid saying an unpleasant or offensive word.

“___ was let go”, “___ passed away”

Question 19

Exposition

Answer 19

The description or explanation of background information within a work of literature.

Question 20

Extended metaphor

Answer 20

A metaphor that is further developed throughout all or part of a piece of writing.

Question 21

Fiction

Answer 21

Literature in the form of prose that describes imaginary events and people.

Question 22

Figurative language

Answer 22

The use of non-literal phrases or words to elicit an emotional response from a reader or audience.

Various types like similes, metaphors, oxymorons, etc.

Question 23

Hyperbole

Answer 23

Deliberate exaggerations.

“I’m so hungry I could eat a kid”

Question 24

Intertextuality

Answer 24

The relationship a text may have with other texts.

Question 25

Juxtaposition

Answer 25

The placement of two or more things side by side, often in order to bring out their differences

Question 26

Litotes

Answer 26

Understatements used for rhetorical effect. "The weather is not as its best today"

Question 27

Malapropism

Answer 27

The unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one of similar sound, often with humorous results.

Question 28

Metonymy

Answer 28

A figure of speech that refers to something by using a word that describes its qualities or is closely associated with it. "The crown will find an heir" --referring to royalty

Question 29

Motif

Answer 29

A recurring image or idea in a piece of writing.

Question 30

Parallelism

Answer 30

When similar ideas are arranged in phrases, sentences, and paragraphs that balance one element with another of equal importance and similar wording. "She likes dancing, swimming, and boxing" instead of "She likes dancing, swimming, and to box"

Question 30

Omniscient narrator

Answer 30

A narrator who is all-knowing about plot, characters as well as characters’ motivations and emotions.

Question 31

Paradox

Answer 31

A statement that contradicts itself, or that must be both true and untrue at the same time.

Question 32

Parody

Answer 32

A humorous piece of writing, drama, or music which imitates the style of a well-known person or represents a familiar situation in an exaggerated way.

Question 33

Pathetic fallacy

Answer 33

The use of inanimate objects, most commonly the weather, to reflect human feelings and tone.

Question 34

Rhetoric

Answer 34

Speech or writing intended to influence or persuade people.

Question 35

Satire

Answer 35

The use of humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticise people’s stupidity or vices.

Question 36

Sibilance

Answer 36

Words which make a “s”, “z” or “sh” sound.

Question 37

Soliloquy

Answer 37

A dramatic speech uttered by one character speaking aloud while alone on the stage (or while under the impression of being alone).

Question 38

Synecdoche

Answer 38

A figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa. "Nice wheels!" (car)

Question 39

Tautology

Answer 39

The use of different words to say the same thing twice in the same statement. "The evening sunset was beautiful"

Question 40

Ekphrasis

Answer 40

The verbal representation of visual art.

Question 41

Anadiplosis

Answer 41

The repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the next. “Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering.” —Yoda, Star Wars

Question 42

Bathos

Answer 42

A sudden change in tone from serious to trivial or ridiculous.

Question 43

Cacophony

Answer 43

Harsh, discordant sounds in writing.

Question 44

Ellipsis

Answer 44

Omitting words or phrases in a sentence, indicated by three dots (…).

Question 45

Foil

Answer 45

A character who contrasts with another character to highlight specific traits.

Question 46

Hypophora

Answer 46

When a rhetorical question is introduced and then immediately answered.

Question 47

Oxymoron

Answer 47

Combining two contradictory words to give them a deeper and more poetic meaning.

Question 48

Lexical set

Answer 48

A group of words that share a particular characteristic.

Question 49

Innuendo

Answer 49

When meaning is implied without explicitly explaining it.

Question 50

Imperative

Answer 50

A command or instruction.

Question 51

Interjections

Answer 51

Words or phrases to express strong emotions or feelings. "Oh", "Wow"

Question 52

Dramatic interrogative

Answer 52

An exaggerated way to ask a question and obtain information.

Question 53

Pejorative

Answer 53

A phrase, slur, or derogatory term that expresses a negative or disrespectful opinion. "I have been foolish - casting my pearls before swine!" "Polack"

Question 54

Derision

Answer 54

The act of ridiculing or laughing at someone or something. "Ha-ha-ha"

Question 55

Code-switching

Answer 55

The switching between languages in a text.

Question 56

Epithet

Answer 56

A word or phrase for a character or object to emphasize a particular trait. "dumb angel-puss"