Literary Analysis Flashcards

What term describes a deliberate pause or break within a line of verse, often indicated by punctuation?

Answer: Caesura

A caesura is a rhythmic pause within a line of poetry, typically marked by punctuation or a natural speech break.

Which of the following best describes an 'extended metaphor'?

Answer: A metaphor sustained throughout an entire poem or passage

An extended metaphor, also called a conceit, sustains a single comparison across an entire work or substantial section.

A poem written in unrhymed iambic pentameter is called:

Answer: Blank verse

Blank verse maintains consistent iambic pentameter without end rhyme, as used extensively by Shakespeare and Milton.

Which technique does a poet use when a sentence or thought carries over from one line to the next without a pause?

Answer: Enjambment

Enjambment runs a sentence across a line break, creating forward momentum and often a sense of breathlessness or urgency.

What is the primary function of an allusion in a literary text?

Answer: To enrich meaning by referencing a shared cultural or literary work

Allusions draw on readers' familiarity with other texts, myths, or historical events to add layers of meaning efficiently.

The term 'tone' in literary analysis refers to:

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

Tone reflects the author's emotional stance—ironic, solemn, playful, and so on—toward the subject matter or reader.

Which narrative technique begins a story in the middle of the action without prior setup?

Answer: In medias res

In medias res drops readers immediately into the action, with background context revealed gradually through dialogue or memory.