Say What? (Definitions)
A reference to a famous person, place, or event.
What is an allusion
“The fire swallowed the forest.”
What is personification
The arrangement of words and sentences in writing.
What is syntax?
“The crimson leaves drifted slowly to the ground, painting the earth in fire.”
A recurring element that helps develop theme.
What is a motif
A universal character or story type across cultures
What is an archetype
“Crash! The plate hit the floor.”
What is onomatopoeia
Repetition of the same grammatical form in a sentence.
What is parallel structure
“The moon moved mournfully, masking the meadow.”
What is alliteration
Excessive pride that brings down a character.
What is hubris
The emotional or symbolic charge to a word, or series of words.
What is connotation
“Parting is such sweet sorrow.”
What is oxymoron
A line of poetry that continues without a pause or punctuation.
What is enjambment?
“Hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul.” (Emily Dickinson)
What is metaphor
When the opposite of what’s expected happens.
What is situational irony
A weakness that leads to a tragic hero’s downfall.
What is a tragic flaw?
“O, she doth teach the torches to burn bright!” (Shakespeare)
What is hyperbole
Informal, everyday language in dialogue or prose. (Might match a local dialect)
What is colloquialism
“The fading echo of footsteps lingered like a ghost in the hallway.”
What is simile
Nature reflecting the emotions of characters.
What is pathetic fallacy
A story or work with two levels of meaning, literal and symbolic.
What is an allegory
“I can resist everything except temptation.” (Oscar Wilde)
What is paradox
Placing contrasting images or ideas side by side.
What is juxtaposition
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” (Martin Luther King Jr.)
What is parallel structure
A recurring phrase or line in poetry, often reinforcing theme.
What is a refrain