Lit Term Mania
Figurative Language Palooza
WILD
Those Terms are so LIT
BET those Figurative Language Terms & Test Strategies
100

Which term refers to the physical representation of something in a text? 

Which literary term refers to an author using an idea to represent something in a text?


Symbol 

Example: A heart symbolizes love; this is a universal symbol in every culture. 

Symbolism

Example: A storm can represent hurt, anger, conflict, depression, sadness, etc. 

A storm can also be used to foreshadow an ominous event coming up in a text.

Bonus 200 points: Give an example of each term from any text we have read in class this semester. 

100

What is the difference between a simile and a metaphor? What is the author's purpose in using these figurative language terms?

A simile is a comparison USING like or as and a metaphor is a comparison NOT using like or as.

Poets often use these terms to help deepen the meaning of their poem. For instance, in the poem "Memories," the speaker uses a metaphor to compare herself to a "frightened bird" to help the reader know she is dealing with the internal conflict of anxiety.

100

What is the definition of a stanza? Explain how an author can use varied lengths of stanzas to impact the mood/tone or theme of a poem.

The name for a group of lines that appear together in a poem.

An author can use varied stanza lengths to create a positive/negative mood or to impact the overall theme of the poem in various ways. 

100

What is the definition of theme and how does one identify the theme of a work of literature? 

The overall message in a story. One identifies the theme in a work of literature by identifying ideas/topics the author is trying to portray to his/her audience throughout the entire text and then developing those ideas/topics into a short sentence/phrase (create a theme statement). 

For instance, if you're reading a novel about war and the speaker is sharing painful memories about trying to survive the war and damages this experience had on his/her life, the reader can infer that a theme in the novel could be: War has a detrimental impact on victims of war concerning their physical, emotional and mental health. 

100

What is the definition of figurative language AND what are some examples of figurative language terms?

Figurative language refers to language an author uses to convey a message to the reader in a non-literal way. 

Examples of figurative language terms would be: 

simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, pun, oxymoron, alliteration, etc. 

200

What is the difference between internal and external conflict? Give an example of each type of conflict from a text we have read this semester. 

Internal conflict refers to a conflict that happens within a person (man vs. self); it deals with a character's emotions. 

External conflict is a conflict that happens outside of a person (man vs. man, man vs. nature or man vs. society). 

200

What is the definition of personification?

What is the definition of an oxymoron? 

Give an example of each one.

Personification: Giving NONHUMAN things HUMAN characteristics. 

Oxymoron: Two words that contrast. 

Examples: foolish wisdom or deafening silence

200

What is text structure? 

How the author structures his/her text. 

In a nonfiction piece about volcanoes, the author could give you general information about volcanoes, followed by the geographical location of the largest volcanoes on Earth and end with the cause and effect of a volcanic eruption. Author's structure their text for specific reasons. 

For instance, an author writing fiction could write his/her short story in short, choppy paragraphs to symbolize the internal conflict of a character.

200

What is the definition of author's purpose? How do you identify an author's purpose in a text?

The purpose an author has for writing his/her text (to entertain, inform or persuade). 

Remember, the author's purpose can shape the tone of his/her work. Once you have identified an author's purpose, you will want to identify the central idea of the text; this will typically be located in the beginning.

200

What is the definition of diction and how can an author's diction impact a literary work, poem or a piece of nonfiction?

The author's choice of words. 

A question you could get asked on the EOC is,  "How does the author's use of diction contribute to the overall mood/tone of the poem?" If the author is using words that create regretful tone, you would respond to that question by saying that the author's use of diction conveys a regretful tone in his/her poem and then pick the specific words/phrases he/she uses to create the regretful tone.

Diction simply refers to the words an author uses to make readers feel a certain way. For instance, in "A Long Way Gone," Beah uses specific diction to express how desperate he feels about not having food. He says, "That night we were so hungry that we stole people's food while they slept. It was the only way to get through the night" (Beah). He uses the words/phrases, "so hungry," "stole," "while they slept," and "get through the night" to convey desperation to the reader. By him using these words, we can infer that they boys had no choice by to steal food, or they would have died.

300

What is the definition of mood and how does the author develop the mood of a text?

The way the READER feels about a text. 

Your mood, as a reader, can be impacted by an author's word choice (diction). Sometimes a reader's mood can be different than the author intended it to be; everyone reacts to a text in different way. Be sure to look at your answer choices carefully!


REMEMBER: mood = me to help you remember the difference. 

300

What is the definition of a hyperbole?

Give an example.

An over-exaggeration. 

Example: I am so hungry I could eat an elephant.

Bonus 100 points: Give your own example of a hyperbole.

An author might use a hyperbole to call your attention to something important. If you see a hyperbole while you're reading, chances are there will be a question about it.

300

What is the definition of point-of-view?

The opinion an individual has of something or the perspective from which a story is written. 

300

What is the definition of central idea and how do you identify it?

The main idea of a selection. 

It will usually be located in the first paragraph or close to the beginning of the selection.

300

1. How many hours do you get to take the exam?
2. What does CER stand for?
3. True/False: you need to answer every question, even if you aren't sure if you're correct.
4. What do you need to make sure you add to your quotes?
5. How should you introduce the evidence and reasoning for your CER?

1. 4 hours
2. Claim, Evidence, Reasoning
3. TRUE!
4. Quotation marks
5. One quote that supports the claim is,
    This quote supports the claim because it shows

400

What is the definition of tone and how does an author establish it in a text? 

How the author feels about the subject he/she is writing about. 

The author uses specific words (diction) to dictate the tone of his/her work. If you can identify positive and negative words and/or imagery in an unfamiliar text, such as a poem, you can get an idea about the author's tone. The author's tone CAN change throughout a text; however, typically, it has at least one consistent tone throughout the whole piece. 

400

What is the definition of imagery? How does an author use imagery to develop the theme, tone and/or mood of a poem or piece of literature. 

 

When the author gives descriptive details to the reader using the 5 senses (things you can see, hear, taste, smell and touch). 

Bonus 200 points: Find an example of imagery in "A Long Way Gone" and explain how it contributes to the overall tone and mood the the excerpt you chose. 

400

What is the difference between a synonym and an antonym? 

A synonym is a word that means the same as another word and an antonym is a word that means the opposite. 

Example: cold

Synonym: chilly

Antonym: hot

Bonus 200 points: Give an example of a synonym and an antonym of the word angry.

400

What is the difference between the speaker and the author? 

What is the audience?

The speaker is the person talking in the literary work and the author is the person who wrote it. They can be the same if the work of literature is a piece of nonfiction. 

The audience is the reader- every author has an intended audience. Sometimes, age can play a factor; however, authors typically write their literary work to appeal to a group of people. For example- "The Fault in Our Stars" was written primarily for a teenage audience and for kids struggling with medical issues and depression. John Green wants to provide hope to teenagers battling these issues.

400

What are some strategies you can use to help keep you awake during the exam? 

1. Eat a peppermint or chew gum.
2. Drink water.
3. Take a break and use the restroom.
4. Sit back in your seat for a minute.
5. Get up and move during the scheduled breaks.

500

What is the difference between direct and indirect characterization? How does an author develop character traits throughout a story? 

Indirect characterization is when the reader must make inferences about the characters and setting in a text. 

Direct characterization refers to the author using specific details to describe the characters and the setting. 

Bonus 100 points: Give an example of each type of characterization from a text we read this semester. 

500
What should you do if you aren't sure what a word means?
Carefully look at the word and see if you recognize a word within the term. Next, look back at the sentence and see if you can figure out what it means within the sentence.
500

Define the following words/phrases:

convey

imply/implied

perception 

reveal

additional depth

dialogue

infer/inferred 

indicate 

significance 

unfold

demonstrates

assumption(s)

refine

develop

contrast

emphasize

reflect

emerge

advance

convey: to show

imply: suggest

perception: one's opinion of a situation based on observations 

reveal: to show

additional depth: to add detail or go deeper

dialogue: talking in a text

infer/inferred: make a conclusion based on the text

indicate: to show

significance: importance

unfold: lay out

demonstrates: show

assumption(s): opinion NOT based on careful observation

refine: to make clear

develop: to show a progression 

contrast: difference

emphasize: add detail to

reflect: think deeply about/analyze/show

emerge: to come out/reveal itself

advance: to progress a point

500

What is the difference between a subjective summary and an objective summary?

An objective summary discusses facts and does not include ANY opinions. A subjective summary is one's opinion of a piece of literature or nonfiction. 

Example of an Objective Summary: "A Long Way Gone" is a memoir about Ishmael Beah's life in Sierra Leone. He discusses his experiences as a child soldier.

** I did not use any opinions here; I just stated the facts.

Example of a Subjective Summary: "A Long Way Gone" is an awesome memoir about Ishmael Beah's life as a child soldier. He also bravely tells his readers about his experiences as he travels from village to village to to find safety. 

** In this summary, I used the words "awesome" and "bravely" to explain how I feel about the memoir. By using these words, I have expressed my opinion; therefore, it makes my summary subjective. 


500

Why do poets use figurative language in their poems?

To help the reader make a connection to the poem and create imagery.