Literary Terms Quiz

What does the term 'metonymy' refer to in literature?

• The repetition of initial consonant sounds

• A long narrative poem about heroic deeds

• A direct comparison using 'like' or 'as'

• A figure of speech where something is referred to by using the name of something associated with it

Which of the following best describes a 'sonnet'?

• A narrative poem that tells a story

• A poem without a structured rhyme scheme

• A five-line poem with an AABBA rhyme scheme

• A poem consisting of 14 lines usually in iambic pentameter

What is 'blank verse'?

• Poetry written with elaborate metaphors

• Poetry that does not contain any metrical pattern

• Poetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter

• Verse with a strict AABB rhyme scheme

Which term describes a poem's 'rhyme scheme'?

• The pattern of end rhymes in a poem, noted by lower-cased letters

• The repetition of consonant sounds in close proximity

• The use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities

• The emotional or atmospheric quality evoked by the text

What is an example of 'dramatic poetry'?

• A short poem expressing personal feelings

• A poem that lacks a rhyme scheme and metrical pattern

• Poetry that tells a story or portrays a situation through dialogue

• A poem that primarily focuses on nature

What does 'alliteration' involve?

• The repetition of usually consonant sounds through a sequence of words

• The comparison of two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'

• The attribution of human characteristics to non-human objects

• The use of irony to convey a meaning opposite to literal interpretation

Which of the following defines 'imagery'?

• An appeal to one's senses (auditory, olfactory, visual, tactile, and gustatory)

• A stanza consisting of four lines

• A brief, indirect reference to a person, place, or thing of historical, cultural, or political significance

• The underlying message or insight revealed in a literary work

What is 'irony' in literature?

• A poem that does not rhyme but has a regular meter

• A detailed description of the elements of a scene

• A situation or statement where the meaning is contradicted by the appearance or presentation of the idea

• A poem written in five three-line stanzas and a final quatrain

What does 'enjambment' refer to in poetry?

• The repetition of vowel sounds in a sequence of words

• The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza

• A poem that celebrates the deeds of a hero

• A light, humorous style of fixed form poetry

What is a 'villanelle'?

• A poem of 14 lines using any of a number of formal rhyme schemes

• A poetic form with five tercets followed by a quatrain and two refrains

• A poem without a structured meter or rhyme scheme

• A poem that tells a story, often making use of the voices of a narrator and characters