Semester Exam Practice - Literary Elements (Part 1)

The time and place in which a story takes place is referred to as the setting. It helps to establish the context and atmosphere of the narrative, allowing readers to better understand the events and characters within the story. The setting can play a significant role in shaping the plot and themes of a literary work, as it influences the actions and experiences of the characters.

A sonnet comprised of three quatrains plus a concluding couplet is known as a Shakespearean sonnet or an English sonnet. This type of sonnet follows a specific rhyme scheme of abab cdcd efef gg. Each of the quatrains explores a different variation of the main theme, and the couplet presents a concluding statement.

Tragedy is a type of drama or literature that depicts the downfall or destruction of a noble or outstanding character. It typically involves a protagonist who possesses a character weakness or tragic flaw. Works like Hamlet by Shakespeare and Antigone by Sophocles are examples of this genre, as they explore the tragic fates of their main characters. Tragedy often delves into themes of fate, morality, and the consequences of human actions.

Pastoral refers to the quality of literary works that focus on the joys and simplicity of rural life or the desire to escape to a simpler time and place. It often portrays idyllic landscapes, peaceful shepherds, and the beauty of nature. Christopher Marlowe's "The Passionate Shepherd to His Love" is an example of pastoral poetry, which is a specific form of literature that embodies these themes.

The climax is the point in a literary work where the tension and suspense reach their highest point. It is the most intense and pivotal moment in the story, where the conflict comes to a head and the outcome is determined. The climax is often a turning point that leads to the resolution of the story.

The imaginary voice assumed by the writer of a poem is known as the speaker. The speaker is not necessarily the poet themselves, but rather a fictional persona created by the poet to convey the thoughts, feelings, and experiences within the poem. The speaker serves as the narrator of the poem, providing insight into the subject matter and allowing the reader to engage with the poem on a deeper level.

A soliloquy is a long speech in a play or prose work where a character, who is alone, expresses their private thoughts and feelings to the audience or reader. This allows the audience to gain insight into the character's innermost emotions and motivations. Soliloquies are often used to reveal a character's true intentions or to provide commentary on the events of the story.

Carpe Diem is a Latin phrase meaning "seize the day" or "make the most of passing time." Many great literary works have been written with the carpe diem theme--presenting arguments for enjoying life in the present. Herrick's poem is one of the best-known poems with the carpe diem theme.

Hyperbole is a figure of speech that involves deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. It is used to create emphasis or make a point more strongly. The examples provided in the question demonstrate the use of hyperbole, as they all involve extreme exaggeration to convey a certain emotion or message.

Scansion is the process of analyzing the metrical pattern of a poem. It involves identifying and marking the stressed and unstressed syllables in each line, determining the rhyme scheme, and understanding the overall rhythm of the poem. By studying scansion, readers can gain a deeper understanding of the poem's structure and the poet's intended meaning.

In the given question, the correct answer is "allusion". This is because an allusion refers to a reference made in a work of literature to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art. In the Twilight series, Stephenie Meyer mentions Wuthering Heights and Romeo and Juliet, which are well-known literary works, thus making it an example of allusion.

A fourteen-line lyric poem with a single theme is known as a sonnet. This type of poem is usually written in iambic pentameter, but variances in meter do exist.

The correct answer is simile. A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using "like" or "as". In the given excerpt, Christina Rossetti compares the two sisters to "two blossoms of one stem", "two flakes of new-fallen snow", and "two wands of ivory tipped with gold for awful kings". This comparison helps to create a vivid image in the reader's mind and emphasizes the close bond between the sisters.

The given passage describes poetry that does not follow a regular rhythmical pattern or meter. Instead, this type of poetry has a rhythm that suits its meaning and uses the sounds of spoken language in lines of different lengths. This type of poetry is known as free verse.

Metonymy is a literary device where a word or phrase is substituted with another word or phrase that is closely associated with it. In this case, calling a cigarette a "smoke" or a businessman a "suit" is using metonymy because the substituted words are closely related to the original words and convey the same meaning.

While the example demonstrates alliteration, the definition does not.

A literary work that has a happy ending, often marked by marriage, is called a comedy. This genre focuses on humorous and light-hearted situations and usually ends with the resolution of conflicts and the characters finding happiness. Examples of comedies include "The Taming of the Shrew" and "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare.

A paradox is a statement or situation that appears to be contradictory or absurd, but upon further examination, reveals a deeper truth or meaning. In the given statement, "destroyer and preserver," the words "destroyer" and "preserver" seem to be opposites, suggesting a contradiction. However, upon closer inspection, one can understand that destruction and preservation can coexist in certain contexts, such as in the natural cycle of life and death or in the act of breaking down old structures to create something new. Therefore, the statement represents a paradox.

Blank verse is the correct answer because it refers to unrhymed poetry written in iambic pentameter. In iambic pentameter, each line has five pairs of unstressed and stressed syllables. Blank verse is commonly used in English literature, particularly in plays and epic poems, as it mimics natural speech patterns and allows for flexibility in expression. It provides a rhythmic structure without the constraints of rhyme, allowing the poet to focus on the content and meaning of the poem.

A ballad is a type of song or poem that tells a story, often involving adventure or romance. It is characterized by its division into four- or six-line stanzas, its use of rhyme, simple language, and depiction of dramatic action. Ballads are known for their narrative quality and are often passed down orally through generations. They are a popular form of storytelling in many cultures and can be found in various literary traditions.

A narrative poem is a type of poem that tells a story in verse. It often includes characters, plot, and a sequence of events. The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge is an example of a narrative poem as it tells the story of a mariner's supernatural experiences at sea. Other traditional types of narrative poetry include ballads, epics, and metrical romances.

A sonnet that is divided into two parts - an octave and a sestet - and usually has a rhyme scheme of abba abba cde cde is known as a Petrarchan sonnet. The two parts of this sonnet work together. The octave raises a question, states a problem, or presents a brief narrative; the sestet answers the question, solves the problem or comments on the narrative.

A kenning is a metaphorical phrase used in Anglo-Saxon poetry to replace a concrete noun. It is a form of figurative language where a compound word or phrase is used to describe something in a unique or poetic way. In the examples given, each kenning replaces a concrete noun with a phrase that evokes a vivid image or idea. For example, "battle-sweat" is used to describe blood, "raven-harvest" is used to describe a corpse, and "whale-road" is used to describe the sea. Kenning adds richness and depth to the poetry by using imaginative and descriptive language.

The given line from Robert Frost's poem "To Earthward" describes the scent of musk coming from hidden grapevine springs. This appeals to the sense of smell, making it an example of olfactory imagery. The use of the word "musk" and the reference to the scent of grapevine springs evoke a strong olfactory experience for the reader.

The correct answer is polyptoton. Polyptoton is a stylistic device in which words derived from the same root are repeated, but in different grammatical forms. In this case, "sleep" is used as a noun in "uninvaded sleep" and as a verb in "sleepeth." This repetition of the root word creates emphasis and adds poetic effect to the passage.

In the given excerpt from "Ode to the West Wind" by Percy Bysshe Shelley, the speaker uses various literary devices to describe the power of the wind. Apostrophe is used when the speaker directly addresses the wind as "O wild West Wind" and "Wild Spirit." Paradox is used when the speaker refers to the wind as both a "destroyer and preserver." Simile is used when the speaker compares the movement of the wind to the blowing of a clarion by the sister of Spring. Synecdoche is used when the speaker refers to the wind as the "breath of Autumn's being." However, oxymoron is not used in this excerpt to describe the power of the wind.

The speaker compares the wind to a charioteer, a plague, a sorcerer, and a trumpeter, but not a corpse. The wind is described as the breath of Autumn's being, the unseen presence that drives the dead leaves like ghosts, and the charioteer that carries the winged seeds to their wintry bed. The wind is also referred to as the destroyer and preserver, which implies its power and vitality. However, there is no mention or comparison to a corpse in the given passage.

The correct answer is Spenserian. A Spenserian sonnet is a variant of the English form, named after the poet Edmund Spenser. It follows a rhyme scheme of abab bcbc cdcd ee. This form is different from the Miltonian, Petrarchan, and Shakespearean sonnets, which have their own distinct rhyme schemes and structures.

A lyric poem is a type of poem that expresses the observations and feelings of a single speaker. It is often personal and emotional in nature, focusing on the speaker's thoughts and experiences. Unlike narrative poems that tell a story or epic poems that are long and heroic, a lyric poem is shorter and more introspective. It allows the poet to convey their emotions and reflections in a concise and heartfelt manner.

The passage above represents a conceit, which is a type of extended metaphor. The speaker compares their relationship with the Lord to that of a shepherd and a sheep, using vivid imagery to describe the care and guidance provided by the Lord. This comparison creates a complex and elaborate metaphor, making it an example of conceit.