The Pit and the Pendulum Vocabulary

Select the literary element used in the following sentence: "It was the painted figure of Time as he is commonly represented, save that, in lieu of a scythe, he held what, at a casual glance, I supposed to be the pictured image of a huge pendulum such as we see on antique clocks."

• symbolism

• onomatopoeia

• simile

• metaphor

Tags

CCSS.L.4.5

CCSS.L.5.5

CCSS.L.6.5

CCSS.L.7.5

CCSS.L.8.5

What does the word 'pendulum' most likely mean in the context of 'The Pit and the Pendulum'?

• A swinging weight

• A type of clock

• A sharp blade

• A prison cell

Tags

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

CCSS.RI.7.4

Which word best describes the mood created by the use of the word 'abyss' in the story?

• Joyful

• Mysterious

• Terrifying

• Calm

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

In 'The Pit and the Pendulum,' what does the word 'inquisition' refer to?

• A type of punishment

• A period of questioning

• A religious tribunal

• A form of torture

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

What literary device is used in the phrase 'the painted figure of Time'?

• Metaphor

• Personification

• Alliteration

• Irony

Tags

CCSS.L.8.5A

Which of the following words is a synonym for 'descent' as used in the story?

• Ascent

• Fall

• Climb

• Rise

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.8.4

What does the word 'surcingle' refer to in the context of the story?

• A type of belt

• A kind of sword

• A piece of clothing

• A type of food

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

Which word best captures the tone of the narrator's experience in the dungeon?

• Hopeful

• Desperate

• Indifferent

• Joyful

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

CCSS.RL.6.4

CCSS.RL.7.4

What is the meaning of 'prostrate' as used in the story?

• Standing upright

• Lying flat

• Kneeling

• Sitting

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.8.4

In the context of the story, what does 'oscillation' refer to?

• A type of movement

• A sound

• A light

• A smell

Tags

CCSS.RL.11-12.4

CCSS.RL.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.9-10.4

CCSS.RI.11-12.4

CCSS.RI.8.4