Chapter NOW

Question 1

Perspective

Answer 1

A character’s view of the situation or events in the story

Question 2

Aphorism

Answer 2

A concise statement designed to make a point or illustrate a commonly held belief. The writings of Benjamin Franklin contain many aphorisms, such as “Early to bed and early to rise/Make a man healthy, wealthy, and wise.”

Question 3

Contradiction

Answer 3

A direct opposition between things compared; inconsistency

Question 4

Apostrophe

Answer 4

A figure of speech in which a person, thing, or abstract quality is addressed as if present; for example, the invocation to the muses usually found in epic poetry.

Question 5

Oxymoron

Answer 5

A figure of speech that combines two apparently contradictory elements, as in “jumbo shrimp” or “deafening silence.”

Question 6

Allusion

Answer 6

—A figure of speech which makes brief, even casual reference to a historical or literary figure, event, or object to create a resonance in the reader or to apply a symbolic meaning to the character or object of which the allusion consists. For example, in John Steinbeck’s Of Mice and Men, the surname of the protagonist, George Milton, is an allusion to John Milton, author of Paradise Lost, since by the end of the novel, George has lost the dream of having a little ranch of his own to share with his friend Lennie.

Question 7

Syllogism

Answer 7

A form of deduction. An extremely subtle, sophisticated, or deceptive argument

Question 8

Satire

Answer 8

A literary style used to make fun of or ridicule an idea or human vice or weakness

Question 9

Bildungsroman

Answer 9

A novel or story whose theme is the moral or psychological growth of the main character.

Question 10

Devices

Answer 10

A particular word pattern or combination of words used in a literary work to evoke a desired effect or arouse a desired reaction in the reader

Question 11

Foil

Answer 11

A person or thing that makes another seem better by contrast

Question 12

Epistolary

Answer 12

A piece of literature contained in or carried on by letters

Question 13

Epitaph

Answer 13

A piece of writing in praise of a deceased person

Question 14

Parody

Answer 14

A satirical imitation of a work of art for purpose of ridiculing its style or subject.

Question 15

Delayed Sentence

Answer 15

A sentence that withholds its main idea until the end. For example: Just as he bent to tie his shoe, a car hit him.

Question 16

Sarcasm

Answer 16

A sharp caustic remark. A form of verbal irony in which apparent praise is actually bitterly or harshly critical. For example, a coach saying to a player who misses the ball, “Nice catch.”

Question 17

Expletive

Answer 17

A single word or short phrase intended to emphasize surrounding words. Commonly, expletives are set off by commas. Examples: in fact, of course, after all, certainly

Question 18

Irony

Answer 18

A situation or statement characterized by significant difference between what is expected or understood and what actually happens or is meant. Irony is frequently humorous, and can be sarcastic when using words to imply the opposite of what they normally mean

Question 19

Eulogy

Answer 19

A speech or writing in praise of a person or thing; an oration in honor of a deceased person

Question 20

Paradox

Answer 20

A statement that seems contradictory, but is actually true.

Question 21

Epiphany

Answer 21

A sudden or intuitive insight or perception into the reality or essential meaning of something usually brought on by a simple or common occurrence or experience

Question 22

Onomatopoeia

Answer 22

A word capturing or approximating the sound of what it describes, such as buzz or hiss.

Question 23

Diction

Answer 23

An author’s choice of words to convey a tone or effect

Question 24

Utopia

Answer 24

An imaginary place of ideal perfection. The opposite of a dystopia. —An imaginary place where people live dehumanized, often fearful lives.

Question 25

Hyperbole

Answer 25

An overstatement characterized by exaggerated language

Question 26

Dues ex machina

Answer 26

As in Greek theater, use of an artificial device or contrived solution to solve a difficult situation, usually introduced suddenly and unexpectedly

Question 27

Antagonist

Answer 27

Character or force in a literary work that opposes the main character, or protagonist

Question 28

Analogy

Answer 28

Comparison of two things that are alike in some respects. Metaphors and similes are both types of analogy

Question 29

Inductive

Answer 29

Conclusion or type of reasoning whereby observation or information about a part of a class is applied to the class as a whole. Contrast with deductive.

Question 30

Nostalgia

Answer 30

Desire to return in thought or fact to a former time

Question 31

Anecdote

Answer 31

A brief story or tale told by a character in a piece of literature.