Literary Terms Quiz

What is an allegory?

• A comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph or lines in a poem.

• A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

• The sequence of events in a story.

• The use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense.

What does the term "plot" refer to in literature?

• The background information provided by the author.

• The emotional feeling or atmosphere that a work of literature produces in a reader.

• The sequence of events in a story.

• The main character in a story.

What is tone in literature?

• The author's attitude toward the subject or audience.

• The setting of the story.

• The underlying message or theme of a story.

• The contrast between what is expected to happen and what actually happens.

What does "mood" refer to in literature?

• The sequence of events in a story.

• The emotional feeling or atmosphere that a work of literature produces in a reader.

• The main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work.

• A character that shows qualities that are in contrast with the qualities of another character.

What is a motif in literature?

• A recurring symbol which takes on a figurative meaning.

• The time and place in which the story takes place.

• A recurring element, theme, or idea in a literary work.

• The perspective from which a story is told.

What is meant by "setting" in literature?

• The sequence of events in a story.

• The time and place in which the story takes place.

• The contrast between what is said and what is meant.

• The emotional feeling or atmosphere that a work of literature produces in a reader.

What is a foil in literature?

• A character whose main purpose is to highlight the strengths of another character.

• The main character in a story.

• A recurring symbol in a story.

• The sequence of events in a story.

What does "character motivation" refer to in literature?

• The sequence of events that make up a story.

• The reason behind a character's specific action or behavior.

• The contrast between what is expected and what actually happens.

• The main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work.

What is a symbol in literature?

• The time and place in which the story takes place.

• A character that shows qualities that are in contrast with the qualities of another character.

• An object, person, or situation that has another meaning other than its literal meaning.

• The sequence of events in a story.

What is suspense in literature?

• The emotional feeling or atmosphere that a work of literature produces in a reader.

• The feeling of excitement or anxious uncertainty about what may happen.

• The main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work.

• A comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph.