IEO Literary Devices and Figures of Speech 2

Question 1

The word 'bittersweet' is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Oxymoron

Answer

An oxymoron combines two contradictory or opposite words in a single expression; 'bitter' and 'sweet' are opposites placed together.

Question 2

The repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words, as in 'fleet feet sweep by sleeping geeks,' is called:

Accepted Answer

Assonance

Answer

Assonance is the repetition of similar vowel sounds in nearby words; the repeated 'ee' sound in this phrase is the key example.

Question 3

'The pen is mightier than the sword' is an example of:

Accepted Answer

Metaphor

Answer

This is a metaphor because it directly compares writing/words (pen) to physical force (sword) without using 'like' or 'as'.

Question 4

When an author drops hints about future events in a story, the device used is called:

Accepted Answer

Foreshadowing

Answer

Foreshadowing is a literary technique where the author hints at or warns of future events in the narrative.

Question 5

A reference to a well-known person, place, event, or work of literature within a text is called:

Accepted Answer

Allusion

Answer

An allusion is an indirect reference to something outside the text that the reader is expected to recognize, such as a historical event or classic work.

IEO - International English Olympiad Practice Test

IEO - International English Olympiad Practice Test

IEO Literary Devices and Figures of Speech 2