Literary Terms Practice

The repetition of the same sound at the beginning of successive words.

• alliteration

• anaphora

• polysyndeton

• paradox

A reference to another text or assumed knowledge of a reference; typically biblical, historical, literary, or a current event.

• allusion

• diction

• euphemism

• imagery

The word choices made by a writer; archaic language, or especially evocative choices that contain powerful connotations.

• diction

• asyndeton

• syntax

• rhetorical question

A question passed by the speaker which has an obvious answer, no answer, or is the argument.

• rhetorical question

• diction

• parallelism

• repetition

The intentional emphasis on word order; structure of a sentence or phrase (sentence form, structure, repetition, and/or punctuation)

• syntax

• diction

• anaphora

• parallelism

A statement that appears to be contradictory but, in fact, has some truth.

• paradox

• euphemism

• metaphor

• juxtaposition

A stated comparison between two unlike things (without using "like" or "as").

• metaphor

• simile

• contrast

• juxtaposition

An eplicit comparison between two unlike things with the use of "like" or "as."

• simile

• metaphor

• personification

• juxtaposition

Attributing human qualities to an inanimate object.

• personification

• polysyndeton

• allusion

• irony

Deliberate exaggeration for emphasis.

• hyperbole

• paradox

• oxymoron

• onomatopoeia