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Literary Devices Flashcards

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1
Q

What is an Allegory?

A

A symbolic narrative where characters/events represent deeper moral or political meanings.

Example: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, where Aslan represents Jesus Christ.

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2
Q

Define Alliteration

A

Repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of nearby words.

Example: “Silly Sally swiftly shooed seven silly sheep.”

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3
Q

What is an Allusion?

A

A brief reference to a person, event, or literary work.

Example: Love Story by Taylor Swift alludes to Romeo and Juliet.

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4
Q

Define Anagram

A

Rearranging the letters of a word/phrase to create a new word/phrase.

Example: “O Draconian devil Oh lame saint” → “Leonardo Da Vinci.”

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5
Q

What is an Analogy?

A

A comparison to clarify or explain an idea.

Example: Obama compares driving a car into a ditch to explain poor economic leadership.

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6
Q

Define Antagonist

A

A character or force opposing the protagonist.

Example: Voldemort is the antagonist to Harry Potter.

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7
Q

What is an Anti-hero?

A

A protagonist who lacks traditional heroic traits.

Examples: Shrek and Dexter.

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8
Q

Define Anthropomorphism

A

Giving human traits to non-human things.

Example: Characters in Alice in Wonderland like the White Rabbit and Cheshire Cat.

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9
Q

What is Antithesis?

A

Putting contrasting ideas side by side.

Example: Hot n’ Cold by Katy Perry.

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10
Q

Define Apostrophe

A

Addressing someone/something that can’t respond.

Example: Will Smith speaks to a mannequin in I Am Legend.

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11
Q

What is an Archetype?

A

A universally recognizable character or symbol.

Examples: Quinn as Cheerleader and Sue Sylvester as Tough Coach in Glee.

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12
Q

Define Atmosphere in literature

A

The feeling or emotion a setting evokes.

Example: A passage from Dracula creates a gloomy, eerie feeling.

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13
Q

What is Catharsis?

A

Emotional release experienced by the audience.

Example: Emotional kiss scene in The Notebook.

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14
Q

Define Caricature

A

Exaggerated portrayal of a person or trait.

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15
Q

What is a Cliché?

A

Overused expression or idea.

Examples: “Slam dunk” and “Knock it out of the park.”

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16
Q

Define Cliffhanger

A

Ending a story with unresolved tension.

Example: Soap operas ending with dramatic scenes.

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17
Q

What distinguishes Dynamic Characters from Static Characters?

A

Dynamic characters change, while static characters remain the same.

Example: The Grinch (dynamic) vs. Sheldon Cooper (static).

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18
Q

What is the Climax of a story?

A

Most intense or exciting moment in a story.

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19
Q

List the types of Conflict.

A
  • Person vs. Person
  • Person vs. Self
  • Person vs. Society
  • Person vs. Environment

Examples: Batman vs. Bane (Person vs. Person), 127 Hours (Person vs. Self).

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20
Q

Differentiate between Connotation and Denotation.

A
  • Connotation: Emotional or implied meaning
  • Denotation: Dictionary definition

Example: “strong-willed” (positive connotation) vs. “stupendous” (denotation).

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21
Q

What is Dark Comedy?

A

Humor in dark or serious situations.

Example: Sweeney Todd.

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22
Q

Define Dystopia.

A

An imagined society with suffering and oppression.

Example: The Hunger Games.

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23
Q

What is an Epithet?

A

Descriptive phrase added to a name.

Example: ‘Alexander the Great.’

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24
Q

Define Euphemism.

A

Softer way to express something harsh.

Example: ‘Passed away’ instead of ‘died.’

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25
What are Flashbacks and Flashforwards?
* Flashback: Past events shown * Flashforward: Future events shown ## Footnote Examples: LOST (flashbacks) and How I Met Your Mother (flashforwards).
26
What is a Foil in literature?
A character who contrasts with another to highlight differences. ## Footnote Example: Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde.
27
Define Foreshadowing.
Hints about what will happen later. ## Footnote Example: Mufasa's mention of star-kings in The Lion King.
28
What is a Genre?
Category of artistic composition. ## Footnote Examples: Mystery, comedy, drama, horror, fantasy.
29
Define Hubris.
Excessive pride or arrogance. ## Footnote Example: Tiger Woods believing he was untouchable.
30
What is Hyperbole?
Exaggeration for effect. ## Footnote Example: Bruno Mars’ “I’d catch a grenade for ya.”
31
Define Idiom.
A phrase whose meaning isn’t literal. ## Footnote Examples: “Doggy dog world” and “Blessings in the skies.”
32
What is Imagery?
Language that appeals to the senses. ## Footnote Example: “Morning fields of amber grain.”
33
Define Internal Rhyme.
Rhyming within a single line. ## Footnote Example: Eminem’s lyrics.
34
What is Irony?
* Verbal Irony: Saying one thing but meaning another * Situational Irony: Outcome is opposite of what is expected * Dramatic Irony: Audience knows something the characters don’t ## Footnote Example: Horror films showing the killer.
35
Define Kenning.
A metaphorical compound word or phrase used in Old English poetry.
36
What is a Malapropism?
Using a word incorrectly by substituting a similar-sounding word, often creating humor. ## Footnote Example: “prescription” instead of “subscription.”
37
Define Metaphor.
A direct comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as.' ## Footnote Example: 'You're my kryptonite.'
38
What is Metonymy?
Replacing a word with another closely related to it. ## Footnote Example: “The pen is mightier than the sword.”
39
Define Mood in literature.
The emotional atmosphere or feeling created by a text.
40
What is a Motif?
A recurring theme or idea in a literary work. ## Footnote Example: Temptation in The Lord of the Rings.
41
Define Nemesis.
A character’s arch-enemy or unbeatable opponent. ## Footnote Example: Lex Luthor is Superman’s nemesis.
42
What is Onomatopoeia?
Words that imitate sounds. ## Footnote Examples: “boom,” “badoom.”
43
Define Oxymoron.
Two opposite or contradictory words placed together. ## Footnote Example: “True Lies.”
44
What is a Paradox?
A self-contradictory statement that may reveal a truth.
45
Define Parody.
A humorous imitation of a serious work, exaggerated for comic effect. ## Footnote Example: Scary Movie series.
46
What is Pathos?
An appeal to emotions to persuade or affect the audience. ## Footnote Example: Simba mourning Mufasa.
47
Define Pathetic Fallacy.
Giving human feelings to nature or objects. ## Footnote Example: “the sun is ashamed to rise.”
48
What is Personification?
Giving human traits to non-human things. ## Footnote Example: “Like a lazy ocean hugs the shore.”
49
Define Plot Structure.
The sequence of events in a story: Exposition → Rising Action → Climax → Falling Action → Resolution.
50
What are the different Points of View in literature?
* First Person: Uses 'I' * Second Person: Addresses 'you' * Third Person: Outside narrator ## Footnote Example: The Diary of Anne Frank (First Person).
51
What is a Prologue?
An introductory section of a story that provides background information.
52
Define Protagonist.
The main character of a story. ## Footnote Example: Bella Swan in Twilight.
53
What is a Pun?
A play on words using similar sounds or multiple meanings. ## Footnote Example: “window pane” = window pain.
54
Define Rhyme Scheme.
Pattern of rhymes at the end of lines in a poem.
55
What is Satire?
Writing that mocks human flaws to promote change. ## Footnote Example: The Hunger Games critiques societal issues.
56
Define Setting.
Time and place of a story's events.
57
What is a Simile?
A comparison using like, as, or than. ## Footnote Example: “Like I’m made of glass.”
58
What is a Spoonerism?
Switching the first sounds of two words for humor or mistake. ## Footnote Example: “Fighting a liar” → “Lighting a fire.”
59
Define Stanza.
A group of lines forming a section in a poem.
60
What is Suspense?
A feeling of intense curiosity or anxiety about what will happen next.
61
Define Symbol.
An object that represents a deeper meaning.
62
What is Synecdoche?
A part is used to represent the whole. ## Footnote Example: “Lend me your ears.”
63
What is the Theme of a literary work?
The central idea or message.
64
Define Tone.
The author's attitude toward the subject.
65
What is a Tragedy?
A series of misfortunes that leads to a disastrous ending. ## Footnote Example: Titanic.
66
What is a Tragic Flaw?
A character trait that leads to a hero's downfall.
67
Define Understatement.
Deliberately making something seem less important for irony or humor.
68
What is a Utopia?
A perfect world without conflict or problems.
69
Define Wit in literature.
Intelligent humor; clever and funny remarks.

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