Literary Terms

5 Written Questions

1. In literature, a word or phrase preceding or following a name which serves to describe the character
2. Work that imitates another work in order to ridicule or ironically comment-similar to satire
3. A stanza of two lines
4. A fictional prose work of substantial length
5. Apparently true statement that leads to a contradiction/situation that defies intuition-seems contradictory but is not

5 Matching Questions

1. Euphemism
2. Jargon
3. Characterization
4. Canto
5. Stereotype

1. a The method a writer uses to reveal the personality of a character in a literary work
2. b A general classification based on common assumptions. Similar to archetype
3. c Words or expressions used by a particular group or profession; nonsensical, incoherent, or meaningless talk
4. d Expression intended by the speaker to be less offensive, disturbing, or troubling to the listener than the word or phrase it replaces, makes it less troublesome for the speaker
5. e A subdivision of an epic poem. Each of the three books of Dante

5 Multiple Choice Questions

1. A very short tale told by a character in a literary work
   1. Anecdote
   2. Conceit
   3. Farce
   4. Tercet
2. A short fictional narrative
   1. Structure
   2. Sonnet
   3. Setting
   4. Short Story
3. An unverifiable story based on religious belief. The characters of ____ are gods and goddesses
   1. Myth
   2. Saga
   3. Canto
   4. Ode
4. A direct comparison of two unlike things
   1. Epic
   2. Metaphor
   3. Setting
   4. Paradox
5. In drama, a method used to build suspense by providing hints of what is to come
   1. Reliability
   2. Digression
   3. Foreshadowing
   4. Paradox

5 True/False Questions

1. Rhetorical Question → A reference to a familiar person, event, or work of literature or art

   True        False

2. Setting → The use of wit and humor to ridicule some weakness (in society, for example). It can be either gentle and smiling OR sharp and biting

   True        False

3. Conceit → In the plot of a drama, ________ occurs when the protagonist is opposed by some person or force in the play

   True        False

4. Apostrophe → A figure of speech wherein the speaker speaks directly to something nonhuman.

   True        False

5. Rhetorical Devices → Technique that an author or speaker uses to evoke an emotional response in his audience.

   True        False