Reading: Figurative Language and Literary Devices Flashcards

An allegory is best described as a story that:

Answer: Has characters and events representing deeper moral or political meanings

An allegory is a narrative in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract concepts or moral lessons.

Which phrase is an example of a euphemism?

Answer: He passed away last winter.

A euphemism substitutes a mild or indirect expression for a harsh one; 'passed away' is a softer way of saying 'died.'

Imagery in a text primarily appeals to the reader's:

Answer: Five senses and emotions

Imagery uses descriptive language to create vivid mental pictures and engage the reader's senses.

Which of the following is an example of assonance?

Answer: Hear the mellow wedding bells.

Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words; 'mellow wedding bells' repeats the short 'e' sound.

The phrase 'anaphora' refers to:

Answer: The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines or clauses

Anaphora is the deliberate repetition of a word or phrase at the start of successive clauses for rhetorical effect.

Which sentence is an example of understatement?

Answer: Losing the championship was a little disappointing.

Understatement deliberately describes something as far less significant than it actually is; losing a championship is far more than 'a little disappointing.'

A reader notices that an author repeatedly uses descriptions of darkness and storms whenever the villain appears. This technique is best described as:

Answer: Motif

A motif is a recurring element — image, symbol, or idea — that appears throughout a work to reinforce a theme or character trait.