Literature: Poetry and Drama Analysis Flashcards

What is the 'tone' of a literary work?

Answer: The author's or speaker's attitude toward the subject or audience

Tone reflects the author's emotional stance or attitude toward the subject, conveyed through word choice, imagery, and writing style.

What is the primary purpose of stage directions in a drama?

Answer: To provide instructions for actors about movement, delivery, and staging details

Stage directions guide actors and directors with specific instructions about physical movement, emotional delivery, and other staging details.

What is imagery in literature?

Answer: The use of language that appeals to the senses to create vivid mental pictures

Imagery uses descriptive language that appeals to the five senses — sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch — to help readers vividly experience the text.

In narrative poetry, what is an epic?

Answer: A long narrative poem that celebrates the heroic deeds of a legendary figure

An epic is a long narrative poem that recounts the grand adventures and heroic deeds of a legendary or mythological hero.

What is the climax in the plot structure of a drama?

Answer: The moment of highest tension and the turning point of the story

The climax is the peak moment of tension in the story where the main conflict reaches its most critical point and the outcome begins to be decided.

What does 'connotation' mean in the context of literary analysis?

Answer: The emotional or cultural associations a word carries beyond its literal meaning

Connotation refers to the implied or emotional meanings associated with a word, going beyond its strict dictionary definition.

In poetry, what is assonance?

Answer: The repetition of similar vowel sounds within nearby words

Assonance is the repetition of similar vowel sounds within words that are near each other, creating internal rhyme and a musical quality.