Literary Devices
A comparison WITHOUT using "like" or "as" is called...
Metaphor
Which of the following is an example of a rhetorical question used to emphasize a point?
A. Did you remember to bring the book?
B. Where did you leave the keys?
C. What time does the concert start?
D. How could anyone possibly think this was a good idea?
D. How could anyone possibly think this was a good idea?
Which of the following best defines the theme of a story?
A. The events that happen in the plot of the story.
B. The universal lesson that the author is trying to convey.
C. The characters and their motivations.
D. The specific setting and time period of the story.
Which of the following best defines the theme of a story?
A. The events that happen in the plot of the story.
B. The universal lesson that the author is trying to convey.
C. The characters and their motivations.
D. The specific setting and time period of the story.
Which sentence correctly uses a semicolon?
A. I have a big test tomorrow, I can't go out tonight.
B. I have a big test tomorrow; I can't go out tonight.
C. I have a big test tomorrow; because I can't go out tonight.
D. I have a big test; and I can't go out tomorrow.
B. I have a big test tomorrow; I can't go out tonight.
Read the following passage and answer the question:
Thunder rumbled in the distance as the wind howled through the empty streets. Leaves scattered like whispers across the pavement, and a single streetlamp flickered in the dark.
What is the mood of this passage?
A. Cheerful
B. Suspenseful
C. Romantic
D. Excited
B. Suspenseful
The literary device used in this statement "You are brave like a lion" is...
simile
Which of the following best describes a protagonist?
A. The character who opposes the main character and creates conflict.
B. The character who is the hero or central figure in a story.
C. The character whose actions are considered morally wrong in a story.
D. The character who provides comic relief or secondary plot points.
B. The character who is the hero or central figure in a story.
Which of the following best describes characterization?
A. The time and place in which a story takes place.
B. The way an author reveals a character’s personality, traits, and motivations.
C. The central idea or lesson of a story.
D. The conflict between the protagonist and antagonist.
B. The way an author reveals a character’s personality, traits, and motivations.
Which sentence demonstrates correct and effective use of a colon for emphasis?
A. The teacher emphasized the importance of one thing: students must read every night.
B. The teacher: emphasized the importance of one thing students must read every night.
C. The teacher emphasized: the importance of one thing, students must read every night.
D. The teacher emphasized the importance of: students must read every night.
A. The teacher emphasized the importance of one thing: students must read every night.
Read the following passage and answer the question:
The abandoned house groaned in the wind, its shutters banging like distant drums. Shadows stretched long across the broken porch, and the air felt thick with secrets.
What is the tone of this passage?
A. Joyful
B. Humorous
C. Mysterious
D. Hopeful
C. Mysterious
Which of the following sentences contains an example of personification?
A. The wind whispered through the trees.
B. The tree was tall and green.
C. The girl ran faster than a cheetah.
D. The sun is a ball of fire in the sky.
A. The wind whispered through the trees.
Which of the following best describes a tragic flaw?
A. A flaw that makes a character difficult to like or understand.
B. A mistake made by the protagonist that leads to their downfall or destruction.
C. A character trait that causes the protagonist to succeed in their goal.
D. A personality trait that prevents a character from making moral decisions.
B. A mistake made by the protagonist that leads to their downfall or destruction.
Which of the following correctly lists the sequence of events in a traditional plot structure?
A. Rising action, climax, resolution, exposition, falling action.
B. Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution.
C. Climax, exposition, rising action, resolution, falling action.
D. Resolution, climax, rising action, exposition, falling action.
B. Exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, resolution.
Which word is the object of the prepositional phrase in the following sentence?
The book on the shelf is covered in dust.
A. book
B. on
C. shelf
D. dust
C. shelf
Read the passage and answer the question below:
Lena stared out the window, watching the rain fall harder and harder. Her backpack sat unopened by the door, and her soccer cleats lay untouched on the mat. She sighed and slumped onto the couch without a word.
What can you infer from this passage?
A. Lena forgot to do her homework.
B. Lena is excited to play in the rain.
C. Lena is upset because soccer practice was likely canceled.
D. Lena just got back from practice and is tired.
C. Lena is upset because soccer practice was likely canceled.
Which sentence contains an example of hyperbole?
A. She was somewhat annoyed by the delay.
B. He waited for the bus for a thousand years.
C. The bus arrived exactly on time.
D. He looked at his watch and sighed.
B. He waited for the bus for a thousand years.
Which of the following is an example of dramatic irony?
A. A character spends hours preparing for a surprise party, only to discover that no one is planning to throw one.
B. A character knows a secret about another character’s plan, but the other characters in the story do not.
C. A character believes they can outrun a storm, but it catches up with them.
D. A character is locked in a room, unaware that they are being watched by another person.
B. A character knows a secret about another character’s plan, but the other characters in the story do not.
What is the main idea of the following passage?
"The sun was setting behind the mountains, casting a warm orange glow across the sky. Birds chirped as they flew home, and the cool evening breeze carried the scent of pine trees. It was a peaceful end to a long day, a moment to reflect on the beauty of nature."
A. The birds were flying home.
B. The evening breeze was cool.
C. The sunset created a peaceful atmosphere.
D. The mountains were tall and majestic.
C. The sunset created a peaceful atmosphere.
Which sentence uses parallelism correctly?
A. She likes dancing, to swim, and biking.
B. She likes to dance, swimming, and to ride her bike.
C. She likes to dance, to swim, and to ride her bike.
D. She likes dance, swim, and she rides her bike.
C. She likes to dance, to swim, and to ride her bike.
Which sentence shows an understanding of a word’s denotation?
A. I feel blue whenever it rains.
B. That song is fire!
C. The word “snake” makes me think of someone sneaky.
D. The word "snake" means a long, legless reptile.
D. The word "snake" means a long, legless reptile.
When the author gives hints early in the text about the ending, this is called ___________.
foreshadowing
Which of the following is an example of situational irony?
A. A firefighter’s house burns down while they are away saving others.
B. A character argues with a friend, unaware that they are both secretly planning the same surprise.
C. A character tells a lie, and everyone believes it, even though they know the truth.
D. A character receives bad advice, only to later realize that the advice was intentionally misleading.
A. A firefighter’s house burns down while they are away saving others.
Read the brief passage and answer the question below:
After losing the championship game, Marcus sat quietly in the locker room. Though tears filled his eyes, he helped his teammates clean up and congratulated the winners. “There’s always next season,” he whispered, managing a small smile.
What is the best statement of the theme of this passage?
A. Marcus plays for a basketball team.
B. It’s important to be a good sport even in the face of disappointment.
C. Marcus forgot to clean the locker room after the game.
D. Losing a game is the worst feeling in the world.
B. It’s important to be a good sport even in the face of disappointment.
Which sentence contains a relative clause?
A. The cat slept on the warm windowsill.
B. The girl who won the race is my cousin.
C. He ran quickly to catch the bus.
D. The sun was shining brightly this morning.
B. The girl who won the race is my cousin.
Which sentence shows an understanding of a word’s connotation?
A. A dove is a type of bird often found in parks.
B. The word “cold” means a low temperature.
C. He’s very assertive—some might even say pushy.
D. The definition of “storm” is a disturbance in the atmosphere.
C. He’s very assertive—some might even say pushy.