Literary Concepts
Writing that explores questions about life, morality, or existence is often described as this.
Answer: What is philosophical?
A rhyme in which the sounds are identical, like “cat” and “hat.”
Answer: What is exact rhyme?
When the author directly describes a character’s traits.
Answer: What is direct characterization?
A comparison using “like” or “as.”
Answer: What is a simile?
A clause that can stand alone as a complete sentence.
Answer: What is an independent clause?
The stance or perspective an author takes toward a subject.
Answer: What is author’s point of view?
A rhyme that is close but not exact, like “worm” and “swarm.”
Answer: What is slant rhyme?
When a character’s traits are revealed through dialogue, actions, or thoughts.
Answer: What is indirect characterization?
A direct comparison that says one thing is another.
Answer: What is a metaphor?
A clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence.
Answer: What is a dependent clause?
The voice in a poem that tells the story, which may not be the poet.
Answer: Who is the speaker?
Poetry with no set rhyme scheme or meter.
Answer: What is free verse?
An author’s deliberate word choice to create meaning or style.
Answer: What is diction?
An extreme exaggeration, like “I’ve told you a million times.”
Answer: What is hyperbole?
A noun that names an idea or quality, such as “freedom.”
Answer: What is an abstract noun?
When something is clearly stated and explained.
Answer: What is explicit?
Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of lines or sentences.
Answer: What is anaphora?
A comparison that shows how two different things are alike in logic or structure.
Answer: What is an analogy?
To be the source or beginning of a word means the it is ______ from that word.
Answer: What is derived?
“Notebook” is an example of this type of noun.
Answer: What is a close compound noun?
When meaning is suggested or hinted at, but not directly stated.
Answer: What is implicit?
A word that imitates a sound, such as “buzz” or “crash.”
Answer: What is onomatopoeia?
A short personal story used to illustrate a point.
Answer: What is an anecdote?
This Latin root means “holy” or “sacred,” as in “sanctuary.”
Answer: What is sanct?
“Sister-in-law” is an example of this type of noun.
Answer: What is a hyphenated compound noun?