(English 1) Literary Terms

Question 1

Iambic Pentameter

Answer 1

A line of verse with five metrical feet, each consisting of one short (or unstressed) syllable followed by one long (or stressed) syllable.
(Ex. Two households, both alike in dignity.)

Question 2

Sonnet

Answer 2

A poem consisting of 14 lines, typically written in iambic pentameter and following a specific rhyme scheme.

Question 3

Heroic couplet

Answer 3

A pair of rhyming iambic pentameters.
(Ex. “Then share thy pain, allow that sad relief; / Ah, more than share it, give me all thy grief.”)

Question 4

Tragedy

Answer 4

A play dealing with tragic events and having an unhappy ending, especially one concerning the downfall of the main character.

Question 5

Romance

Answer 5

A romance often features a central love story, emotional conflict, and a satisfying, usually optimistic, ending.

Question 6

Comedy

Answer 6

A genre of dramatic works intended to be humorous and amusing to the audience.

Question 7

Novel

Answer 7

A long, fictional narrative written in prose, typically exceeding 40,000 words.

Question 8

Hamartia

Answer 8

The tragic flaw or error in judgement of a character, often leading to their downfall.

Question 9

Hubris

Answer 9

Excessive pride or self-confidence

Question 10

Catharsis

Answer 10

The process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.

Question 11

Peripeteia

Answer 11

A sudden reversal of fortune or change in circumstances, especially in reference to fictional narrative.

Question 12

Anagnorisis

Answer 12

The point in a play, novel, etc., in which a principal character recognizes or discovers another character’s true identity or the true nature of their own circumstances, usually to their advantage.

Question 13

Chorus

Answer 13

A group of performers who comment on the action of a play, often summarizing events or providing commentary, using music, dance, and poetry.

Question 14

Paradox

Answer 14

A statement, idea, or situation that seems contradictory or absurd, but upon deeper examination, reveals a hidden truth, insight, or a different way of thinking about a complex issue.

Question 15

Oxymoron

Answer 15

A figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction.
(Ex. Bittersweet. awfully good.)

Question 16

Metonymy or Synecdoche

Answer 16

A figure of speech in which a word or term is used to replace or represent another closely related word or term.
(Ex. “The crown” for the British Monarchy.)

Question 17

Personification

Answer 17

The attribution of human characteristics to nonhuman things.

Question 18

Allusion

Answer 18

An indirect or passing reference of something else without explicitly mentioning it.

Question 19

Symbol

Answer 19

An object, person, place, or idea that represents something else, often something abstract or more complex than its literal meaning.

Question 20

Plot

Answer 20

The sequence of events in a story, typically involving a conflict that the main character must overcome.

Question 21

Setting

Answer 21

The time and place in which a story unfolds. This includes not only the physical location but also the historical period, social context, and even the atmosphere or mood created by the environment.

Question 22

Character

Answer 22

A person, animal, or figure depicted in a story or other narrative word, such as a novel, play, or poem.

Question 23

Direct characterization

Answer 23

When the author explicitly tells the reader about a character’s traits, personality, or background, rather than letting the reader infer these traits through the character’s actions or interactions.

Question 24

Indirect characterization

Answer 24

When the author reveals a character’s personality through their actions, dialogue, thoughts, appearance, and interactions with other characters rather than directly stating their traits.

Question 25

Theme

Answer 25

The underlying idea or message that a story explores, often communicated implicitly through characters, events, and symbolism.

Question 26

Tone

Answer 26

The authors attitude or feeling toward a subject or audience, expressed through their word choice, sentence structure, and overall style.

Question 27

Mood

Answer 27

The overall feeling or atmosphere that a piece of writing evokes in the reader.

Question 28

Irony

Answer 28

Verbal: When a character says one thing but means the opposite. Dramatic: When the audience or reader knows something that the character(s) in the story do not. Situational: When the outcome of an event is expected or intended. (Ex. A fire station burning down.)

Question 29

Metaphor

Answer 29

A figure of speech that compares two different things by saying one is the other, rather than using like or as. (Ex. She is a walking encyclopedia.)

Question 30

Simile

Answer 30

A figure of speech that compares two unalike things using the words "like" or "as". (Ex. He is a lion.)

Question 31

Thesis

Answer 31

A statement that clearly expresses the main argument or interpretation of a literary work, acting as a central idea or point of focus for the essay or analysis.

Question 32

Point of view

Answer 32

The perspective from which the story is told. First person: The story is told from the perspective of a character within the story, often using "I", "me", "mine". Second Person: The story is told directly to the reader using "you", "your". Third Person: Limited - The narrator focuses on the thoughts and feelings of a single character. Omniscient - The narrator has access to the thoughts and feelings of multiple characters. Objective - The narrator presents the events without revealing any character's thoughts or feelings, offering a neutral and unbiased perspective.