Literary Devices

Question 1

Antimetabole

Answer 1

the repetition of words in reverse order for emphasis
E.g. When the going gets tough, the tough get going

Question 1

Chiasmus

Answer 1

Repetition of grammatical structures without the repetition of same words
E.g. It’s hard to make time, but to waste it is easy

Question 2

Epanalepsis

Answer 2

The same word or words both begin(s) and end(s) a phrase, clause, or sentence
E.g. “Nothing is worse than doing nothing.”

Question 3

Epiphora/Epistrophe

Answer 3

repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses
E.g. As Prime Minister of Australia, I am sorry. On behalf of the government of Australia, I am sorry. On behalf of the parliament of Australia, I am sorry.

Question 4

Anaphora

Answer 4

repeating a sequence of words at the beginnings of neighboring clauses
E.g. Be bold. Be brief. Be gone.

Question 5

Epizeuxis

Answer 5

successive repetition without any words in between
E.g. Never give in — never, never, never, never!

Question 6

Diacope

Answer 6

Repetition of words, separated by a small number of intervening words
E.g. To be or not to be

Question 7

Anadiplosis

Answer 7

Repetition is separated by a line break rather than words; repetition of last word of first clause and first word of second clause
E.g. While driving, whenever you see a big red hexagon, the big red hexagon means you should stop the car.

Question 8

epistolary

Answer 8

A literary work in the form of letters

Question 9

dichotomy

Answer 9

A division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different.

Question 10

Absurdism

Answer 10

Tension, searching for meaning in hopelessness, Ironical search and faith.
The universe is irrational and meaningless; writing style that explores the absurdity of life: how humans try to find meaning, yet the universe refuses to provide any.

Question 11

Aphorism

Answer 11

a clever, short statement revealing a dichotomous truth
“To err is human; to forgive is divine”

Question 12

Aesthetics

Answer 12

Beauty of a text
Style of writing of Victorian writers where the beauty of a text is more important than it’s novelty and originality.

Question 13

Ambiguity

Question 14

carpe diem

Answer 14

common motif in life: one must “seizing” as much wisdom as he can before the night (death) falls, make use of one’s life

Question 15

catharsis

Answer 15

emotional relief

Question 16

round character

Answer 16

realistic character: complex

Question 17

stock character

Answer 17

stereotypical character

Question 18

litote

Answer 18

like euphemism: not un… double negative

Question 19

metonymy

Answer 19

substitution of an idea
“The sky pours down its sorrow” <= also personification
sorrow = rain

Question 20

synecdoche

Answer 20

part represents whole
“We have given our hearts away”
heart = compassion
“out, out brief candle”
candle = life

Question 21

neoclassicism

Answer 21

revival of classical standards of order, balanc,e and harmony

Question 22

parable

Answer 22

allegory with moral lesson

Question 23

objective vs ominescent vs limited ominescent

Answer 23

objective: third person with nobody as focus
ominescent: third person with everybody as focus
limited ominescent: third person with one person as focus

Question 24

blank vs free verse

Answer 24

blank: in iambic pentameter free: no pattern

Question 25

refrain

Answer 25

repetition of last line in each stanza

Question 26

verisimilitude

Answer 26

quality that makes the work believable

Question 27

aposiopesis

Answer 27

a speaker's deliberate failure to complete a sentence speakless rage or esacerbation

Question 28

Rhyme scheme

Answer 28

pattern of rhymes

Question 29

AABB

Answer 29

couplet

Question 30

ABAB

Answer 30

alternate rhyme

Question 31

ABBA

Answer 31

enclosed rhyme

Question 32

AAA

Answer 32

triplet

Question 33

end-stop definition

Answer 33

- A line where the idea ends with that end of the line - marked with punctuation (period, comma) - popular with older poems (rigid conventional)

Question 34

end-stop function

Answer 34

- whole feeling - completeness - comforting

Question 35

Rhythm definition

Answer 35

- MOVEMENT, FLOW, PACING - use action, verb words to describe - meter and rhyme create rhythm - rhythm ties into tone, voice

Question 36

Rhythm function

Answer 36

- makes you feel comfortable - propulsion: carries you forward

Question 37

Rhythm examples

Answer 37

- not fixed, but steady - slow - strolling

Question 38

meter definition

Answer 38

- pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables

Question 39

Mood definition

Answer 39

- tone usually feeds into mood - how the text makes you feel

Question 40

enjambment definition

Answer 40

- idea does not end when line ends - no punctuation at end of first line - enjambment creates meter

Question 41

enjambment function

Answer 41

- feels jarring, incomplete, unsteady, uncertain - PUSH AND PULL - rejet: stresses next word in the line - creates drag force: falls into the next word - discomfort - stress, heaviness - halting, dragging - not wanting to move

Question 42

caesura definition

Answer 42

- pause in line created by punctuation

Question 43

caesura function

Answer 43

- lift and land - "To be, or not to be---that is the question" - conclusiveness, finality, heavy, confirmation, resignation

Question 44

Em-dash definition

Answer 44

- like a comma - connection to next idea

Question 45

em-dash function

Answer 45

- continuous - echo

Question 46

Unreliable narrator definition

Answer 46

- usually from first person narration - storyteller whose credibility is compromised

Question 47

First person function

Answer 47

- relatable, empathy, intimate, closeness, personal - internalization

Question 48

Third person definition

Answer 48

- external narrator

Question 49

Suspension of disbelief definition

Answer 49

- put aside logic and knowledge to fall into constructed reality within the text - audience needs to accept fourth wall in order to fall into the 'movie'

Question 50

fourth wall definition

Answer 50

- glass wall between audience and characters

Question 51

fourth wall function

Answer 51

- safety, distance - experience text without fearing

Question 52

breaking fourth wall function

Answer 52

- intensity, engaged, uncomfortable

Question 53

second person definition

Answer 53

- you are responsible, you are liable - reader is forced to be complicit - address reader as character