Quiz 2 Literary Terms

a figure of speech that combines two opposite ideas (sweet sorrow, jumbo shrimp, feather of lead)

• oxymoron
• simile
• meter
• elegy

a brief story about an interesting, amusing, or strange event, told to make a point

• genre
• anecdote
• mood
• allusion

a long, narrative poem which tells the deeds of a hero; it incorporates myth, legend, folk tale & history and the heroes appear larger than life

• folklore
• ballad
• novella
• epic

- a long, uninterrupted speech on stage, spoken to others characters (Mercutio’s Queen Mab speech is one example)

• monologue
• parable
• protagonist
• analogy

the “example” for all others (Odysseus is the "hero." Romeo & Juliet is the "tragic love story.")

• editorial
• essay
• archetype
• paradox

meaning given to a word through implied associations (positive or negative). For example, a negative one would be: the odor of the food rather than the aroma of the food.

• connotation
• antonym
• cliche
• euphemism

substitution of a mild & pleasant expression for a harsh & blunt one (The student was "held back" rather than "failed.")

• epithet
• pseudonym
• dialect
• euphemism

speech that represents a particular region or group; it is nonstandard, “imperfect” English

• dialect
• plagiarism
• anachronism
• cacophony

a trite, overused expression or phrase (She is as cute as a button)

• anecdote
• cliche
• antyonym
• denotation

the literal (dictionary) definition of a word

• denotation
• lampoon
• epithet
• paradox