Vocabulary

Question 1

What is an Allegory?

Answer 1

A narrative in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract ideas or moral qualities

Allegories often convey deeper meanings and moral lessons.

Question 2

Define Allusion.

Answer 2

A reference to something in literature, history, mythology, or religious texts, considered common knowledge

Allusions enrich a text by connecting it to broader cultural contexts.

Question 3

What is an Analogy?

Answer 3

A point-by-point comparison between two dissimilar things to clarify the less familiar of the two

Analogies are often used in explanations to make complex concepts more relatable.

Question 4

Connotation vs. Denotation: What is Connotation?

Answer 4

The implied or suggested meaning associated with a word

Connotation can evoke emotional responses beyond the literal meaning.

Question 5

Connotation vs. Denotation: What is Denotation?

Answer 5

The precise, literal meaning of a word

Denotation is the dictionary definition, free from emotional associations.

Question 6

What is Diction?

Answer 6

Word choice in writing or speech

Diction can affect tone and style significantly.

Question 7

Define Epigraph.

Answer 7

A motto or quotation at the beginning of a literary work, setting the theme or tone

Epigraphs often provide insight or foreshadowing for the text.

Question 8

What is Enjambment?

Answer 8

Continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next without a pause

Enjambment can create a sense of urgency or flow in poetry.

Question 9

Define Hyperbole.

Answer 9

Exaggeration for emphasis or effect

Hyperbole is often used in everyday language for humor or dramatic effect.

Question 10

What is Imagery?

Answer 10

Vivid descriptive language that appeals to the senses. Types include:
* Auditory (sound)
* Gustatory (taste)
* Olfactory (smell)
* Tactile (touch)
* Visual (sight)

Imagery enhances the reader’s experience by creating mental pictures.

Question 11

Define Irony.

Answer 11

A contrast between expectation and reality, often used for humorous or dramatic effect

Irony can reveal deeper truths about characters or situations.

Question 12

What is Juxtaposition?

Answer 12

Placing contrasting elements side by side for effect

Juxtaposition can highlight differences and create tension in a narrative.

Question 13

Define Metaphor.

Answer 13

A comparison between unlike things without using ‘like’ or ‘as’

Metaphors create connections between disparate ideas, enhancing understanding.

Question 14

What is a Motif?

Answer 14

A recurring element (image, symbol, theme) in a literary work

Motifs help to develop and inform the central themes of a narrative.

Question 15

Define Oxymoron.

Answer 15

A phrase combining contradictory terms

Oxymorons can create a paradox that provokes thought or highlights complexity.

Question 16

What is Onomatopoeia?

Answer 16

Words that imitate the sound they describe

Onomatopoeia adds auditory imagery to texts, enhancing the reading experience.

Question 17

Define Parody.

Answer 17

An imitation of a work that mocks or comments on the original

Parody can be a form of satire, critiquing the original work.

Question 18

What is Pastiche?

Answer 18

A work that imitates another artist’s style

Pastiche often celebrates the original artist, rather than mocking them.

Question 19

Define Personification.

Answer 19

Attribution of human characteristics to non-human things

Personification helps to create relatable imagery and emotional connections.

Question 20

What is a Pun?

Answer 20

A play on words exploiting multiple meanings

Puns are often used for humor and wordplay in literature.

Question 21

Define Simile.

Answer 21

A comparison using ‘like’ or ‘as’

Similes make descriptions more vivid and relatable.

Question 22

What is Syntax?

Answer 22

The arrangement of words and phrases in a sentence

Syntax influences clarity and meaning in writing.

Question 23

Define Stream of Consciousness.

Answer 23

A narrative technique presenting a character’s thoughts and sensations

This technique provides insight into characters’ minds and emotions.

Question 24

Tone vs. Mood: What is Tone?

Answer 24

The author’s attitude toward the subject

Tone can greatly influence the reader’s perception of the narrative.

Question 25

Tone vs. Mood: What is Mood?

Answer 25

The feeling or atmosphere created for the reader ## Footnote Mood can evoke specific emotional responses from the audience.

Question 26

Define Alliteration.

Answer 26

Repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words ## Footnote Alliteration can create rhythm and musicality in writing.

Question 27

What is Assonance?

Answer 27

Repetition of similar vowel sounds ## Footnote Assonance enhances the lyrical quality of poetry.

Question 28

Define Consonance.

Answer 28

Repetition of consonant sounds, especially at the ends of words ## Footnote Consonance can create a sense of harmony or rhythm in texts.

Question 29

What is a Couplet?

Answer 29

A pair of successive rhyming lines, often of the same length ## Footnote Couplets are common in poetry and can encapsulate ideas succinctly.

Question 30

Define Free Verse.

Answer 30

Poetry without a regular meter or rhyme scheme ## Footnote Free verse allows for greater freedom and expression in poetic form.

Question 31

What is Meter?

Answer 31

The rhythmic structure of a line in poetry ## Footnote Meter creates a pattern that can enhance the musicality of a poem.

Question 32

Open vs. Closed Stanza: What is an Open Stanza?

Answer 32

Open stanzas have enjambment between them ## Footnote Open stanzas can create a flowing and interconnected feel.

Question 33

Open vs. Closed Stanza: What is a Closed Stanza?

Answer 33

Closed stanzas are self-contained units ## Footnote Closed stanzas provide a sense of completeness.

Question 34

What is Pentameter?

Answer 34

A line of verse with five metrical feet ## Footnote Pentameter is a common meter in English poetry, particularly in sonnets.

Question 35

Define Rhyme.

Answer 35

The correspondence of sound between words or the endings of words ## Footnote Rhyme can enhance the musical quality and memorability of a poem.

Question 36

What is a Stanza?

Answer 36

A group of lines forming a unit in a poem. Types include: * Monostich (one line) * Couplet (two lines) * Tercet (three lines) * Quatrain (four lines) * Sestet (six lines) * Octave (eight lines) ## Footnote Stanzas organize thoughts and themes in poetry.

Question 37

Verse vs. Prose: What is Verse?

Answer 37

Writing arranged in lines, often with a regular rhythm or rhyme scheme ## Footnote Verse is often associated with poetry and lyrical expression.

Question 38

Verse vs. Prose: What is Prose?

Answer 38

Ordinary written language ## Footnote Prose is used in most forms of writing outside of poetry.

Question 39

Define Epic.

Answer 39

A long narrative poem recounting heroic deeds ## Footnote Epics often explore themes of adventure, honor, and morality.

Question 40

What is a Haiku?

Answer 40

A Japanese form of poetry typically consisting of three unrhymed lines of five, seven, and five syllables ## Footnote Haikus focus on nature and moments of beauty.

Question 41

Define Limerick.

Answer 41

A humorous five-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme ## Footnote Limericks often have a playful or whimsical tone.

Question 42

What is a Shakespearean (English) Sonnet?

Answer 42

A 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and structure, typically addressing love or a philosophical theme ## Footnote Shakespearean sonnets are known for their expressive depth and complexity.