Literary Terms Quiz

What is an 'acrostic'?

• A type of poem where the first letters spell a word

• A descriptive word modifying a noun

• A major division of a theatre work

• A figure of speech that makes a reference

What does 'alliteration' refer to?

• A descriptive word modifying a verb

• A break or pause in a line of poetry

• A type of writing where characters represent ideas

• Repetition of initial sounds in words

What is 'anagnorisis'?

• A major division of a theatre work

• A narrative technique that takes the story back in time

• The point where a character recognizes the truth

• A type of rhyme with two syllables

What is a 'bildungsroman'?

• A collection of poems in manuscript form

• A type of poetry that does not conform to regular meter

• A story about a character's moral growth

• A figure of speech that exaggerates for effect

What does 'cliché' mean?

• An overused expression that has lost its meaning

• A type of narrative poem

• A character who undergoes significant change

• A literary work that is detached from the main body

What is 'dénouement'?

• A short account of an interesting event

• The resolution of a plot's complications

• A type of rhyme scheme in poetry

• A figure of speech that alters word order

What is 'epic poetry'?

• A narrative technique that takes the story forward in time

• A poem that expresses personal thoughts

• A type of drama characterized by humor

• A long poem narrating the adventures of a hero

What does 'foreshadowing' mean?

• A character who opposes the protagonist

• A type of rhyme with one stressed and one unstressed syllable

• Hints about what will happen later in the story

• A literary device that introduces an idea negatively

What is 'imagery'?

• Descriptive language that appeals to the senses

• A type of narrative that includes dialogue

• A figure of speech that compares two unlike things

• A collection of writings established as authentic

What is 'metaphor'?

• A comparison without using 'like' or 'as'

• A type of poetry that does not conform to any regular meter

• A character who undergoes significant change

• A narrative technique that takes the story back in time