Literature and Writing Flashcards
6 cards from real B.L.A.; occasionally A.L.B. Bachelor of Liberal Arts practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Literature and Writing flashcards as text
Which literary device involves giving human qualities to non-human objects or abstract concepts?
Answer: Personification
Personification assigns human traits, emotions, or behaviors to inanimate objects, animals, or abstract ideas.
In academic writing, a thesis statement should primarily accomplish which function?
Answer: Present the central argument or claim of the essay
A thesis statement articulates the central claim or argument of an essay, guiding the reader on what the paper will argue or analyze.
Which narrative perspective uses 'I' and tells the story from the direct experience of one character?
Answer: First-person point of view
First-person narration uses 'I' to tell the story from the narrator's own perspective, providing an intimate but limited viewpoint.
What is the primary difference between a metaphor and a simile?
Answer: A simile uses 'like' or 'as' while a metaphor makes a direct comparison
A simile compares two things using 'like' or 'as,' while a metaphor states that one thing IS another, making a more direct comparison.
In literary analysis, the term 'motif' refers to which element?
Answer: A recurring symbol, theme, or structural pattern throughout a work
A motif is a recurring element—image, symbol, or idea—that helps develop the central themes of a literary work.
Which essay structure presents one side's argument completely before presenting the opposing side?
Answer: Block method
The block method organizes compare-and-contrast essays by presenting all points about one subject before moving to the other.