Literary Devices and Techniques

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What is a metaphor?

A metaphor is a figure of speech that directly compares two unrelated subjects without using 'like' or 'as'.

What is alliteration and its effect?

Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sounds in a series of words, enhancing rhythm and mood.

What distinguishes a simile from a metaphor?

A simile uses 'like' or 'as' to compare two things, whereas a metaphor makes a direct comparison.

What is the purpose of foreshadowing?

Foreshadowing hints or clues about what will happen later in a story, building anticipation or tension.

How does personification enhance writing?

Personification gives human characteristics to non-human entities, making descriptions more vivid and relatable.

What is imagery in literature?

Imagery involves using descriptive language to create sensory experiences for the reader.

What role does symbolism play in literature?

Symbolism involves using symbols, characters, or events to represent larger ideas and themes, adding deeper meaning to the text.

What is irony and its types?

Irony involves a contrast between expectations and reality, with types including verbal, situational, and dramatic irony.

What purpose does conflict serve in a story?

Conflict drives the plot by presenting challenges the protagonist must overcome, facilitating character development and thematic exploration.

Define oxymoron and provide an example.

An oxymoron is a figure of speech where contradictory terms appear together, such as 'jumbo shrimp'.

How does a motif differ from a theme?

A motif is a recurring element or idea in a work that supports a theme, which is the underlying message or lesson.

What is the significance of hyperbole in literature?

Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement used for emphasis or humorous effect, not meant to be taken literally.

Describe the structure of a narrative arc.

A narrative arc includes exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, shaping a story's outline and progression.

What is paradox in literature?

A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory yet reveals a truth, such as 'less is more'.

Why are flashbacks used in storytelling?

Flashbacks provide background information, developing characters or plot by showing past events.


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1. What is a metaphor?

A metaphor is a figure of speech that directly compares two unrelated subjects without using 'like' or 'as'.

A metaphor uses 'like' or 'as' to compare two things.

A metaphor describes something by giving it human characteristics.

A metaphor hints at future events in a narrative.

2. What is alliteration and its effect?

Alliteration is the repetition of the same initial consonant sounds in a series of words, enhancing rhythm and mood.

Alliteration involves exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally.

Alliteration gives non-human entities human characteristics.

Alliteration is a direct comparison between two unrelated subjects.

3. What distinguishes a simile from a metaphor?

A simile uses 'like' or 'as' to compare two things, whereas a metaphor makes a direct comparison.

A simile provides hints about future events in a story.

A simile repeats initial sounds in consecutive words.

A simile is a direct comparison without using 'like' or 'as'.

4. What is the purpose of foreshadowing?

Foreshadowing hints or clues about what will happen later in a story, building anticipation or tension.

Foreshadowing uses symbols to represent larger ideas.

Foreshadowing repeats the initial consonant sounds.

Foreshadowing gives non-human traits to objects or ideas.

5. How does personification enhance writing?

Personification gives human characteristics to non-human entities, making descriptions more vivid and relatable.

Personification involves exaggerated statements or claims.

Personification hints about future events.

Personification repeats initial consonant sounds in a series of words.

6. What is imagery in literature?

Imagery involves using descriptive language to create sensory experiences for the reader.

Imagery compares two things using 'like' or 'as'.

Imagery involves using symbols that represent ideas.

Imagery involves placing contradictory words side by side.

7. What role does symbolism play in literature?

Symbolism involves using symbols, characters, or events to represent larger ideas and themes, adding deeper meaning to the text.

Symbolism is an exaggerated statement used for emphasis.

Symbolism is the repetition of the same initial consonant sounds.

Symbolism includes a series of events with conflicting ideas.

8. What is irony and its types?

Irony involves a contrast between expectations and reality, with types including verbal, situational, and dramatic irony.

Irony suggests future plot developments without clear indication.

Irony is a comparison using 'like' or 'as'.

Irony is the overall structure and sequence in storytelling.

9. What purpose does conflict serve in a story?

Conflict drives the plot by presenting challenges the protagonist must overcome, facilitating character development and thematic exploration.

Conflict is the repetition of sounds for rhythm and mood.

Conflict provides exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally.

Conflict gives human characteristics to non-human entities.

10. Define oxymoron and provide an example.

An oxymoron is a figure of speech where contradictory terms appear together, such as 'jumbo shrimp'.

An oxymoron involves using 'like' or 'as' to draw comparisons.

An oxymoron is the initial sound repetition at the beginning of words.

An oxymoron hints at future events through subtle clues.

11. How does a motif differ from a theme?

A motif is a recurring element or idea in a work that supports a theme, which is the underlying message or lesson.

A motif is a direct statement providing background information.

A motif is an exaggerated comparison not meant to be taken literally.

A motif uses 'like' or 'as' to compare two things.

12. What is the significance of hyperbole in literature?

Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement used for emphasis or humorous effect, not meant to be taken literally.

Hyperbole directly compares two unrelated subjects without 'like' or 'as'.

Hyperbole involves using symbols to represent larger ideas.

Hyperbole includes contrasting terms placed side by side.

13. Describe the structure of a narrative arc.

A narrative arc includes exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution, shaping a story's outline and progression.

A narrative arc uses contradictory terms together to reveal a truth.

A narrative arc involves repeating initial sounds in consecutive words.

A narrative arc is the exaggerated comparison for comical purposes.

14. What is paradox in literature?

A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory yet reveals a truth, such as 'less is more'.

A paradox directly states background information on past events.

A paradox is a simple comparison using 'like' or 'as'.

A paradox provides hints about future plot events.

15. Why are flashbacks used in storytelling?

Flashbacks provide background information, developing characters or plot by showing past events.

Flashbacks repeat the initial consonant sounds for rhythm.

Flashbacks are direct comparisons implying similarities.

Flashbacks involve using contradictory words side by side.