Literary Analysis Flashcards

A story opens with a character nervously packing belongings while news reports of an approaching storm play in the background. What literary technique is the author using?

Answer: Foreshadowing

Foreshadowing hints at future events, and the storm imagery here suggests coming turmoil in the character's life.

In the sentence 'The classroom was a zoo,' what does the figurative language suggest?

Answer: The classroom was chaotic and unruly

This metaphor equates the classroom to a zoo to convey disorder and lack of control.

Which element of plot immediately follows the climax?

Answer: Falling action

Falling action occurs after the climax, as tensions begin to ease and the story moves toward resolution.

A poem uses the repeated phrase 'We shall not rest' at the beginning of multiple stanzas. This is an example of:

Answer: Anaphora

Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines or clauses.

A narrator recounts events from their childhood but admits they misunderstood situations at the time. This is an example of:

Answer: An unreliable narrator

An unreliable narrator's account is limited or skewed, often due to age, bias, or incomplete knowledge.

What is the primary purpose of a foil character in fiction?

Answer: To contrast with another character and highlight that character's traits

A foil character has contrasting qualities that serve to emphasize the traits of another character, usually the protagonist.

In a poem, the line 'The wind whispered warnings through the willows' is an example of:

Answer: Alliteration and personification

Alliteration appears in the repeated 'w' sounds, and personification is present in giving the wind the human ability to whisper warnings.