Definitions
Give a concise definition of metaphor.
Metaphor: a figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things saying one thing is another to suggest similarity (e.g., "Time is a thief").
In a poem that repeats "We shall overcome" at the start of several lines, what device is being used?
Anaphora (repetition at start of lines).
Who is the protagonist in a story?
Protagonist: the main character or hero of a story.
Identify which device is used in: "The wind whispered through the trees."
Personification (wind given human action "whispered").
What is an allegory? Provide its main purpose in a story
Allegory: a story in which characters, settings, and events symbolically represent deeper moral, political, or spiritual meanings; main purpose is to convey complex ideas through extended symbolism.
Identify the device used when a sound word like "buzz" or "clang" appears in a poem. Give one example.
Onomatopoeia (sound words); example: "buzz," "clang."
What is satire? Give a short example topic that satire might target.
Satire: writing that uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize or expose folly; might target political corruption or social fashions.
Name the device in: "I have told you a million times" and explain its effect.
Hyperbole (exaggeration: "a million times").
Define anaphora and describe its effect on a reader.
Anaphora: deliberate repetition of a word or phrase at the start of successive clauses or lines; it creates rhythm and emphasis.
When a writer references a well-known historical event or another text briefly to make a point, what device is this called?
Allusion (brief reference to a person, event, or text).
Define elegy and describe when a poet would write one.
Elegy: a poem of mourning, often for the dead; written to express grief and remembrance.
Identify the device used when an author says "He died peacefully in her arms" instead of "He died painfully" and name the device.
Euphemism (a milder phrase used to soften harsh reality).
Provide a clear definition of paradox and give one short example (not from a specific text).
Paradox: a statement that appears self-contradictory but reveals a truth (example: "Less is more").
In a passage showing a hero struggling but ultimately succeeding, the narrator emphasizes the hero’s moral qualities while the villain represents greed. Name two devices at work (one that maps to a character role, and one that maps to a deeper symbolic meaning).
Protagonist (hero) and allegory or juxtaposition depending on interpretation; common answers: protagonist/antagonist roles and allegory (characters representing abstract ideas) or juxtaposition (contrasting characters).
Explain what an epic poem is and name one common feature found in epics.
Epic poem: a long narrative poem about heroic deeds and events significant to a culture; common features include a heroic protagonist, grand scale, invocation of the muse, and epic similes.
Given this sentence: "The classroom was a zoo," identify the device and explain the figurative meaning
Metaphor; means the classroom was noisy and chaotic like a zoo (figurative comparison)