Lit Device
Which device best describes Homer’s use of repeated stock phrases like “The Young Dawn with Fingertips of Rose” and "Odysseus, Master Mariner"?
Epithet
Which device uses sound words like “clang” or “tintinnabulation”?
Onomatopoeia
In Angela’s Ashes, why does Frank McCourt mix sad details with small bits of humor?
To make the people feel real and show the narrator’s way of coping.
When Shakespeare switches from ordinary speech to verse (poetry), what does that usually show?
Strong feelings or important moments as well as social class. Characters of a higher social class speak in iambic pentameter.
Which device best describes Homer’s repeated short, familiar phrases for characters (epithets)?
Epithet
What term refers to a character who contrasts with another to highlight qualities (e.g., a brave character next to an evil menace)?
Foil
What do onomatopoeia and repetition in “The Bells” primarily do?
They make the poem sound like different kinds of bells and change mood.
How does McCourt show the ghostly echoes of the Great Potato Famine?
Frank is moved to an upstairs ward with twenty empty beds. The nurse casually explains that this exact ward was used during the Great Famine.
How does dramatic irony affect the audience’s experience of Romeo and Juliet?
It makes the audience feel tense because they know the outcome before characters do.
What is the primary effect of Homer’s use of an epic simile?
To create a long, vivid comparison that heightens drama
Which device names a recurring image or idea—like “home” or “yellow” or "a shield"—that appears throughout the text?
Motif
Why does Poe repeat phrases like “my Annabel Lee” throughout the poem?
To show strong, repeating feelings and deep sadness.
300 — Which classroom quick formative task checks students’ ability to infer meaning from context?
Mercutio’s “Queen Mab” speech mainly shows what about him?
He is clever and doubts love and dreams.
Why does Homer often repeat scenes or ideas in The Odyssey?
To remind listeners of important parts and keep the story clear
Identifying when a speaker’s words mean the opposite of what they say (e.g., sarcasm) is recognizing what?
Verbal irony
In “O, What Is That Sound?” how does the dialogue between two people affect the poem’s tension?
It shows calm answers first, then growing worry, making tension build.
400 — For a revision-focused peer review, which step most improves clarity and evidence?
How does Shakespeare use foreshadowing in Romeo and Juliet?
He uses words about fate and death to prepare readers for the ending. For example, Juliet says, ""If he be married, my grave is like to be my wedding bed." [1]
In the bow contest (Book 21), why does Homer slow down the action with many small details?
To make the moment more exciting and show who Odysseus is
Explain why repetition or a refrain in a poem increases emotional intensity.
Repetition reinforces theme and builds rhythm, which heightens emotion.
"And so, all the night-tide, I lie down by the side," the assonance is indeed the repetition of the long "I" sound (night, tide, I, lie, side).
assonance
When comparing two narrators, which analysis most directly addresses reliability?
When studying fight scenes in Romeo and Juliet, which craft-focused question should students answer?
How do stage directions, tempo, and word choice make the fights feel intense? For example, the sudden interruptions: In Act 1, Scene 1, Benvolio attempts to de-escalate the brawl, but the stage directions immediately demand [Enter TYBALT] followed by [They fight], demonstrating how quickly peace can be shattered. [1, 2]
When Odysseus tells his own story, how does that affect the reader’s response?
It makes us feel closer to him and wonder if he is truthful