Explain 'dramatic irony' with an example.
When the audience knows something that the characters do not. Example: In 'Oedipus Rex', the audience knows Oedipus's true parentage.
Explain 'existentialism' in literature.
A movement that focuses on individual existence, freedom, and choice, often in a meaningless or absurd world.
Define 'pathetic fallacy' with an example.
Attributing human emotions to nature. Example: 'The angry clouds' in a stormy scene.
Define 'assonance' and provide an example.
The repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words. Example: 'The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.'
Explain 'alliteration' with an example.
The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent words. Example: 'She sells sea shells'.
Define 'antithesis' and give an example.
The direct opposite, a sharp contrast. Example: 'It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.'
Define 'picaresque novel' and give an example.
A genre of prose fiction that depicts the adventures of a roguish hero. Example: 'Don Quixote' by Miguel de Cervantes.
Define 'oxymoron' and provide an example.
A figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction. Example: 'Jumbo shrimp'.
Define 'free verse' in poetry.
Poetry that does not rhyme or have a regular meter.
Define 'sonnet' and its types.
A 14-line poem with a variable rhyme scheme. Types: Petrarchan (Italian) and Shakespearean (English).
Define 'anagnorisis' in tragedy.
The moment when the protagonist realizes a key piece of information that changes the entire situation.
Explain 'metonymy' with an example.
A figure of speech where something is called by a new name that is related in meaning. Example: 'The White House announced' instead of 'The President announced'.
Define 'synecdoche' and give an example.
A figure of speech where a part is made to represent the whole. Example: 'All hands on deck' means all crew members.
Define 'blank verse' and provide an example.
Unrhymed iambic pentameter. Example: Shakespeare's plays, like 'Hamlet'.
Define 'ambiguity' in literature.
The quality of being open to more than one interpretation.
Define 'satirical novel' and provide an example.
A novel that uses satire to critique society, individuals, and institutions. Example: 'Gulliver's Travels' by Jonathan Swift.
Define 'epic poetry' and give an example.
A long narrative poem, often written about a hero or heroines. Example: 'The Odyssey' by Homer.
Define 'stream of consciousness' and name an author known for this style.
A narrative mode depicting the many thoughts and feelings passing through the mind. Example: James Joyce.
Define 'pastoral literature' and give an example.
Literature that idealizes rural life and landscapes. Example: 'As You Like It' by Shakespeare.
Explain 'juxtaposition' in literature.
The act of placing two things side by side for contrast.
Define 'tragic flaw' in a character.
A trait in a character leading to their downfall. Example: Hamlet's indecisiveness.
Explain the concept of 'the Byronic hero'.
A charismatic but flawed character, often rebellious, melancholic, and isolated from society.
Explain 'narrative poetry' with an example.
Poetry that tells a story. Example: 'The Raven' by Edgar Allan Poe.
Define 'lyric poetry' and give an example.
A short poem expressing personal feelings and emotions. Example: 'Ode to a Nightingale' by John Keats.
Define 'allegory' and give an example.
A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. Example: 'Animal Farm' by George Orwell.