Literary Terms Review

Middle School & 9th Grade Terms

DirectionsWrite the word that goes with the definition

provided

Note! There is no “word bank”, but if you need a hint, look over at our word/ terms wall

1 Repetition of a sound at the beginning of several

words in a row, such as “Andy and Albus always argue” is an example of _________________________

2A comparison of two dissimilar situations in

order to show a contrast or make a point is known as a(n) ____________________

3The person who opposes the main character of

the story is known as the _____________________

4The people reading the story and/or who the

story is written for is known as the _____________________

5A character’s physical, mental and emotional

description is all part of his overall _______________________

6When two characters speak to one another in a

story (usually written in quotation marks), the author is using __________________________

7__________________________________ is a term that

refers to several types of literary devices, such as simile, metaphor, personification, etc

8When a poem has no set meter or rhythm, the

poetic form is known as ______________________

9An extreme example used for emphasis or

exaggeration (like yo mamma jokes) is called _________________

10_____________________(s) are cultural phrases that

have a specific meaning for people of that culture but cannot be translated literally (like “It’s raining cats and dogs!”)

11Vivid description using and evoking all five

senses is known as _______________________

12A comparison of two dissimilar things not using

like or as is known as a ______________________

13Words that sound like their meaning, like “buzz”

or “drip” are known as _________________________

14____________________________(s) are contradictory

phrases like “jumbo shrimp”

15Giving inanimate objects humanlike abilities or

characteristics such as “the phone screamed” is an example of ____________________________

16The actual events, consisting of a beginning,

middle and end, of a story is known as the ____________________

17The perspective from which a story is told, such

as 1st person, 2nd person, or 3rd person, is known as the _________________________

18The main character of a story is known as the

____________________________

19A word repeated throughout a story or text for

emphasis is known as literary _____________________

20Two words that have mirrored sounds like

“round” and “sound” are words that _________________

21A set tempo or standard meter of a poem or

song is said to have a specific ____________________

22A comparison of two dissimilar things using like

or as is known as a ____________________

23A physical object in a literary work that has

significant meaning and represents something else is known as a __________________

24The main idea in a literary work is known as the

__________________ (our _________________ for the year is Independence)

25The mood that is set in a literary work (like

happy and light or dark and gloomy) is the _______________

26A(n) ______________________ is a reference to

another literary work that is generally famous or well known

27When a character makes a side comment to the

audience (and generally the other characters can’t hear it), it is known as an __________________

28A(n) ____________________________ text is another

name for a coming of age story

29A(n) _________________ is an overused (and kinda

lame) phrase like “only time will tell”

30The _____________________ of a poem or literary

work is it’s deeper or figurative meaning

31The _____________________ of a poem or literary

work is it’s surface or immediate meaning

32The repetition of a consonant sound at the

beginning of several words in a row such as “Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore” is known as _________________________

33A pair of successive lines of verse that usually

have the same rhythm and rhyme scheme are known as a(n) ______________________

34______________________ occurs when a poetic line

goes continuously over a line break in a poem, but is not meant to have a pause or stop

35A(n) ______________________ is an alternate

phrase that is used to avoid stating an embarrassing or impolite truth (such as “they took a roll in the hay”)

36Two literary characters that are set up to be

polar opposites are called literary _______________(s)

37The form of measurement used for poetic lines

are known as __________________________

38Shakespeare’s line known for it’s alternating

stressed/unstressed pattern and ten syllables is known as _____________________________

39When something as at an opposition in terms of

situational, verbal or dramatic _________________, the thing that is said, done or known is not what actually occurs or is meant

40When a character on stage speaks a dramatic

monologue or cannot be heard by the other characters, it is known as a(n) _______________________

Bonus #1A thought or belief that is generally known or

held about a set of individuals set apart by race, religion, gender, hair color, etc, (ex. “white boys can’t jump” or “blonds are dumb”) is known as a(n) __________________________

Bonus #2A variation of ____________________(s) are used in

poetry to create rhythm and meter; Shakespeare’s line consisted of alternations of this in order to create his famous rhythmic pattern of “da DUM da DUM da DUM”

Ready for the answers?

Tally them up!OK, how did you do?

Do you feel that you know these terms better now?

If yes, then good!

If not, you need to review some more!

These terms aren’t going away – you’ll use them your whole high school career, so make sure that you work on them!