CAASPP Literary Analysis 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: An author's 'diction' refers to:
- The rhyme scheme of a poem
- The word choices the author makes (Correct answer)
- The structure of sentences in prose
- The sequence of events in the plot
Correct answer: The word choices the author makes
Diction is the specific selection of words an author uses, which contributes to voice, tone, and style.
Question 2: Which sentence structure technique involves beginning multiple sentences with the same word or phrase for emphasis?
- Anaphora (Correct answer)
- Chiasmus
- Synecdoche
- Metonymy
Correct answer: Anaphora
Anaphora is the repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences, commonly used for rhetorical effect.
Question 3: In analyzing a play, which term describes a remark spoken by a character that other characters onstage cannot hear, meant for the audience?
- Soliloquy
- Monologue
- Aside (Correct answer)
- Dialogue
Correct answer: Aside
An aside is a brief remark a character makes directly to the audience that other characters are assumed not to hear.
Question 4: When a story skips back to an earlier time to reveal relevant background information, this technique is called:
- Foreshadowing
- In medias res
- Flashback (Correct answer)
- Flash-forward
Correct answer: Flashback
A flashback interrupts the chronological narrative to present a scene from an earlier time, providing context or backstory.
Question 5: A text with multiple layers of meaning in which characters and events represent abstract ideas is called:
- A parody
- An allegory (Correct answer)
- A satire
- An elegy
Correct answer: An allegory
An allegory is a narrative in which characters, settings, and events symbolize broader moral, political, or philosophical ideas.
Question 6: Which of the following best describes 'connotation' as it applies to word choice?
- The dictionary definition of a word
- The emotional or cultural associations a word carries (Correct answer)
- The grammatical category a word belongs to
- The etymology or origin of a word
Correct answer: The emotional or cultural associations a word carries
Connotation refers to the implied meanings and feelings associated with a word beyond its literal dictionary definition.
Question 7: In the CAASPP framework, which skill requires a student to analyze how an author's use of structure contributes to meaning?
- Summarizing the plot in sequence
- Identifying figurative language definitions
- Examining craft and structure (Correct answer)
- Comparing two characters' dialogue
Correct answer: Examining craft and structure
The CAASPP Literary Analysis standard 'Craft and Structure' requires students to analyze how an author's choices about structure, point of view, and language shape meaning.
CAASPP Literary Analysis 4
An author's 'diction' refers to: