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Worksheets

Literary Terms/Devices Review

Total questions: 46

Worksheet time: 23mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

What is the definition of 'setting' in literature? Fill in the blank: Setting is ________.

a)

time and place

b)

the main character

c)

the plot twist

d)

the author's opinion

2.

What is the definition of 'plot' in literature? Fill in the blank: Plot is the sequence of events, or '________'.

a)

What happens

b)

The setting

c)

The characters

d)

The theme

3.

What is a 'character' in literature? Fill in the blank: A character is ________.

a)

a person or animal within a story

b)

the setting of a story

c)

the main idea of a story

d)

the author of a story

4.

What is a 'static character'? Fill in the blank: A static character is ________.

a)

unchanging/usually minor character

b)

a character who changes drastically

c)

the main protagonist

d)

a character with magical powers

5.

What is a 'dynamic character'? Fill in the blank: A dynamic character is ________.

a)

evolving, changing, growing; usually major character

b)

always a villain in the story

c)

a character who never changes

d)

a minor character with no impact

6.

What is the definition of 'theme' in literature? Fill in the blank: Theme is ________.

a)

the underlying message or moral 'the meaning'

b)

the main character in a story

c)

the sequence of events in a story

d)

the time and place where a story occurs

7.

What is the definition of 'conflict' in literature? Fill in the blank: Conflict is ________.

a)

a struggle between opposing forces

b)

the resolution of a story's plot

c)

the main character's best friend

d)

a description of the setting

8.

What is the term for 'a story written about another'?

a)

Biography

b)

Autobiography

c)

Fiction

d)

Memoir

9.

What is the term for 'a story written about oneself'?

a)

Autobiography

b)

Biography

c)

Novel

d)

Essay

10.

What is the term for 'the main character'?

a)

Protagonist

b)

Antagonist

c)

Narrator

d)

Sidekick

11.

What is the term for 'the character or force opposing the main character'?

a)

Antagonist

b)

Protagonist

c)

Narrator

d)

Ally

12.

What is the term for 'visually descriptive figurative language'?

a)

Imagery

b)

Metaphor

c)

Alliteration

d)

Irony

13.

What is the term for 'language specific to a certain region or group'?

a)

Dialect

b)

Syntax

c)

Prose

d)

Jargon

14.

What is the term for 'a conversation between two or more people'?

a)

Dialogue

b)

Monologue

c)

Soliloquy

d)

Narration

15.

What is the term for 'vantage point from which the story is told'?

a)

Point of View (POV)

b)

Theme

c)

Setting

d)

Plot

16.

What is the term for 'a comparison of two unlike things using like or as'?

a)

Simile

b)

Metaphor

c)

Personification

d)

Hyperbole

17.

What is the term for 'a comparison of two unlike things not using like or as'?

a)

Metaphor

b)

Simile

c)

Personification

d)

Hyperbole

18.

Which point of view uses 'I' as the narrator?

a)

1st person

b)

2nd person

c)

3rd person limited

d)

3rd person omniscient

19.

What is the literary term for 'giving human characteristics to an inanimate object'?

a)

Personification

b)

Metaphor

c)

Alliteration

d)

Hyperbole

20.

What is the definition of 'Allusion'?

a)

A reference in literature to something outside the text

b)

A type of figurative language that gives human traits to non-human things

c)

A direct comparison between two unlike things using 'like' or 'as'

d)

A statement that seems contradictory but reveals a truth

21.

What is the literary term for 'a word that mimics its sound'?

a)

Onomatopoeia

b)

Metaphor

c)

Alliteration

d)

Hyperbole

22.

What is the definition of 'Fiction'?

a)

Writing from the imagination

b)

A factual report

c)

A scientific theory

d)

A historical document

23.

What is the literary term for 'writing based on the truth'?

a)

Non-fiction

b)

Fiction

c)

Poetry

d)

Drama

24.

What is the definition of 'Novel'?

a)

A long, developed narrative with complex plots and characters

b)

A short poem with a single theme

c)

A factual report on a scientific topic

d)

A collection of unrelated essays

25.

What is the literary term for 'non-poetic writing--sentence form'?

a)

Prose

b)

Verse

c)

Sonnet

d)

Haiku

26.

What is the definition of 'Foreshadowing'?

a)

Giving hints or clues about something to happen later

b)

Describing a character's appearance in detail

c)

Explaining the main conflict of the story

d)

Summarizing the plot at the end

27.

What is the literary term for 'a literary category'?

a)

Genre

b)

Theme

c)

Plot

d)

Irony

28.

What is the definition of 'Irony'?

a)

A contrast between expectation and reality (verbal, situational, dramatic)

b)

A direct statement of fact without exaggeration

c)

A type of rhyme used in poetry

d)

A form of repetition for emphasis

29.

What is the literary term for 'an object representing something larger than itself'?

a)

Symbolism

b)

Metaphor

c)

Irony

d)

Alliteration

30.

What is the definition of 'Suspense'?

a)

Anxious curiosity

b)

Complete boredom

c)

Total certainty

d)

Absolute indifference

31.

What is the literary term for 'exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally'?

a)

Hyperbole

b)

Metaphor

c)

Irony

d)

Euphemism

32.

What is the definition of 'Idiom'?

a)

Figure of speech not meant to be taken literally

b)

A word that describes a noun

c)

A type of punctuation mark

d)

A mathematical equation

33.

What is the literary term for 'a worn-out idea or overused expression'?

a)

Cliché

b)

Metaphor

c)

Euphemism

d)

Irony

34.

What is the definition of 'Mood'?

a)

The atmosphere or tone of a written work

b)

The main character in a story

c)

The sequence of events in a plot

d)

The moral lesson of a story

35.

What is the definition of 'archetype'? Fill in the blank: An archetype is a typical character that seems to represent universal patterns of human nature. Also known as ________, may be a character, a theme, a symbol, or even a setting.

a)

universal symbol

b)

unique trait

c)

personal habit

d)

rare event

36.

What is the definition of 'anecdote'? Fill in the blank: An anecdote is a short amusing or interesting story about a real ________ or ________.

a)

incident, person

b)

animal, place

c)

object, event

d)

idea, concept

37.

What is the definition of 'analogy'? Fill in the blank: An analogy is a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of ________ or ________.

a)

explanation, clarification

b)

confusion, distraction

c)

entertainment, humor

d)

argument, contradiction

38.

What is the definition of 'oxymoron'? Fill in the blank: An oxymoron is a ________ figure of speech.

a)

contradicting

b)

supportive

c)

repetitive

d)

descriptive

39.

Which of the following is an example of an oxymoron?

a)

Sweet candy

b)

Jumbo shrimp

c)

Fast runner

d)

Tall building

40.

What is the first part of the plot triangle? The first part of the plot triangle is the ________.

a)

introduction

b)

climax

c)

resolution

d)

conflict

41.

What is the second part of the plot triangle? Fill in the blank: The second part of the plot triangle is the ________ action.

a)

rising

b)

falling

c)

climax

d)

resolution

42.

What is the top point of the plot triangle called? Fill in the blank: The top point of the plot triangle is the ________.

a)

climax

b)

introduction

c)

resolution

d)

conflict

43.

What is the final part of the plot triangle? Fill in the blank: The final part of the plot triangle is the ________

a)

conclusion

b)

introduction

c)

climax

d)

rising action

44.
Match the definition with the term:
a short phrase combining two terms that are normally contradictory
a)
hyperbole
b)
onomatopoeia
c)
oxymoron
d)
alliteration
45.

Oxymorons are contradictory phrases.

a)

True

b)

False

46.
Which of the following is NOT oxymoron?
a)
mild hot sauce
b)
comfortable misery 
c)
a wise fool 
d)
 a smart decision