Literary Analysis Flashcards

Which literary device involves attributing human characteristics to non-human objects, animals, or abstract ideas?

Answer: Personification

Personification gives human traits or actions to non-human things, such as saying 'the wind whispered through the trees.'

What is the 'theme' of a literary work?

Answer: The central message or underlying meaning the author conveys

Theme is the central idea or universal message that the author communicates through the narrative, characters, and events.

In literary analysis, what is 'dramatic irony'?

Answer: When the audience knows something that the characters do not

Dramatic irony occurs when the reader or audience possesses information that one or more characters lack, creating tension or humor.

Which narrative point of view uses 'I' and 'we' and places the narrator inside the story?

Answer: First person

First-person narration uses 'I' or 'we,' meaning the narrator is a character within the story sharing their own perspective.

What is the primary function of a 'foil' character in literature?

Answer: To contrast with another character and highlight their traits

A foil character has contrasting traits that throw the qualities of another character — often the protagonist — into sharper relief.

Which literary device makes a comparison using 'like' or 'as'?

Answer: Simile

A simile explicitly compares two unlike things using the words 'like' or 'as,' such as 'brave as a lion.'

In a story's plot structure, which element typically introduces the characters, setting, and initial conflict?

Answer: Exposition

The exposition is the opening section of a narrative that establishes background information, introduces the setting, characters, and the initial situation.