Literary Terms I
In a work of literature, this is an reference to another work of art, a historical figure, or a cultural item.
What is an allusion?
When you ascribe human characteristics to non-human things, that is this literary device.
What is personification?
This literary device is another name for sarcasm.
What is verbal irony?
This is the part of the plot where all of the tension comes to a boil, here the conflict erupts!
What is the climax?
If I write an essay to try and convince you that 16-year-olds should be allowed to vote in local elections, the purpose of my writing is this.
What is "to persuade"?
"My backpack weighs a million pounds!!!" is an example of this literary device.
What is a hyperbole?
Words that mimic actual sounds are this literary device.
What is onomatopoeia?
The variety of a language used by a specific group or in a specific region is called this.
What is dialect?
this is the part of the plot where the conflict begins to unfold, and the tension builds
What is rising action?
A Wikipedia entry---or any entry in an encyclopedia--is designed to achieve this writing purpose.
What is "to inform"?
We know that Juliet is not dead, but Romeo doesn't know this. When this occurs, we are making note of this literary device.
What is dramatic irony?
While 'childhood' might be a topic of a story, 'the end of childhood as the death of innocence' could be a possible one of these.
What is a theme?
A comparison of two different things that uses the word "like" or "as" is called this.
What is a simile?
Immediately after the climax, this is where things begin to wind down.
What is falling action?
Writing a biography or autobiography achieves this purpose of writing.
What is "to narrate"?
Repeating the same sound at the beginning of words is this literary device.
What is alliteration?
"The fastest runner on the track team was a human lightning bolt," is an example of this literary device.
What is a metaphor?
If I give you an example of something someone did that illustrates their personality, it is this kind of characterization.
What is indirect characterization?
At the end of a story, this is where a story resolves itself.
What is the resolution?
Most modern mass-market fiction is published with this purpose of writing in mind.
What is "to entertain"?
Descriptive language that appeals to the five senses is this.
What is imagery?
An author uses different types of descriptive words, and targeted verbs to get across their own attitude about what they are writing, which is called this.
What is tone?
In the broadest sense, this is the name for when expectations do not meet reality
What is irony?
This where we get information on the setting, characters, and story background
What is an exposition?
Expository writing usually has two purposes: to inform, and this purpose.
What is "to describe"?