Prose and Elements of Prose Quiz

Which choice best describes prose and distinguishes it from most forms of poetry?

• Prose uses strict meter and rhyme; poetry follows the natural flow of speech.

• Prose is written in stanzas; poetry is generally structured in sentences and paragraphs.

• Prose lacks a consistent rhythmic pattern; poetry often utilizes measured rhythm.

• Prose always includes dialogue; poetry is limited to descriptive imagery and feelings.

An author deliberately uses complex, layered sentences. Which element of prose is this a direct choice about?

• Plot

• Theme

• Syntax

• Conflict

If a story focuses on a character's internal struggle with self-doubt, what kind of conflict is predominantly featured?

• Character versus Character

• Character versus Society

• Character versus Nature

• Character versus Self

A writer uses many short, choppy sentences to show a character's panic. This choice is primarily an example of manipulating:

• Diction

• Tone

• Pacing

• Setting

What is the narrative voice most often called when the story is told by a character within the events, using 'I'?

• Second-person perspective

• Omniscient point of view

• First-person perspective

• Objective third-person view

The author shows an old clock stopping just before a major disaster occurs. This technique is an example of what literary device?

• Dialogue

• Foreshadowing

• Resolution

• Climax

A novel's main idea about the destruction caused by greed is best identified as the story's overall:

• Setting

• Plot

• Theme

• Atmosphere

Which of the following is an example of direct characterization used by an author?

• She always stood stiffly, never meeting anyone's gaze directly.

• The narrator states, 'He was a notoriously dishonest businessman.'

• He often muttered to himself while pacing the length of the hall.

• Others avoided his path, whispering as he passed them quickly.

A story opens with a long description of a dark, foggy, ruined mansion. This detailed description is mainly establishing the mood and the:

• Conflict

• Pacing

• Setting

• Moral

An author chooses the words 'decrepit,' 'musty,' and 'shadowy.' This selection of words is part of the author's overall stylistic choice, known as:

• Syntax

• Diction

• Foreshadowing

• Imagery