Literary and Poetic Devices & Dramatic Significance

Comprehensive fill-in-the-blank practice flashcards covering structural, sound, point of view, comparative, and irony devices in poetry and drama, as well as the five categories of dramatic significance.

A long form speech delivered by a single character in a play or a film is called a __________.

Monologue

A speech by a character that is shared only with the audience, and no other character on stage, is a __________.

Soliloquy

Dialogue in which a single line spoken by one character is answered by another character's line that plays off the language of the first is known as __________.

Stichomythia

A structural device where the same phrase repeats at the beginning of each line is called __________.

Anaphora

Lines of poetry which end on a period or on a natural break in the sentence are known as __________.

End-Stopped Lines

A line break that interrupts the flow of a sentence in poetry is called __________.

Enjambment

Meter consists of two components: the number of syllables, and a pattern of __________ on those syllables.

emphasis

A metrical foot consisting of a repetition of unstressed-stressed syllables ($duh-DUH$) is an __________.

Iamb

Each line of iambic pentameter, the most common form of verse Shakespeare used, is __________ syllables long.

ten

A metrical foot consisting of repetitions of unstressed-unstressed-stressed syllables ($duh-duh-DUH$) is called an __________.

Anapest

A metrical foot with repetitions of stressed-unstressed syllables ($DUH-duh$) is called a __________.

Trochee

A metrical foot consisting of repetitions of stressed-unstressed-unstressed syllables ($DUH-duh-duh$) is a __________.

Dactyl

Two rhyming words juxtaposed inside of a line of verse is called __________.

Internal Rhyme

An instance when the speaker talks to a person or object that is absent from the poem is called __________.

Apostrophe

A remark or comment directed to the audience by a character that is not heard by any other character on stage is called an __________.

Aside

A statement, pair of statements, or exploration of an idea that seems contradictory upon first glance is a __________.

Paradox

A form of metaphor in which ideas or inanimate objects are given qualities that are exclusive to human beings is called __________.

Personification

A play on words that exploits multiple meanings or replaces one word with another of similar sound but different meaning is a __________.

Pun

A directly stated comparison between two different things, usually using 'like' or 'as', is a __________.

Simile

A literary device where a part of something is substituted for the whole is known as __________.

Synecdoche

A device where one verb is used to mean two different things for two different objects is known as __________.

Zeugma

The repetition of consonant sounds in words close together, particularly at the beginning of words or stressed syllables, is __________.

Alliteration

The repetition of same or similar vowel sounds in stressed syllables that end with different consonant sounds is __________.

Assonance

The sound effect that occurs when a poet repeatedly uses harsh, staccato sounds is known as __________.

Cacophony

The omission or incompleteness, usually in the last foot of a line in metrical verse, is called __________.

Catalexis

A form of near-rhyme where words end with similar consonant sounds, though the vowels preceding them differ, is called __________.

Consonance

An intentional disruption of harmonic sounds or rhythms that relies on the organization of sound for a jarring effect is called __________.

Dissonance

The removal of an unstressed syllable or letter from a word to mix words together and decrease overall syllables is called __________.

Elision

Words or sentences which flow pleasantly and sound sweetly are referred to as __________.

Euphony

The overarching term for the appearance of things being different from reality is __________.

Irony

The form of irony that occurs when there is a difference between what is said and what is actually meant is __________.

Verbal irony

A situation where the audience knows more about immediate circumstances or future events than a character is known as __________.

Dramatic irony

The type of irony that occurs when the opposite of what can be expected occurs is called __________.

Situational irony

Placing things side by side with the outcome being that specific qualities are contrasted is called __________.

Juxtaposition

An understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite is called __________.

Litotes

A figure of speech based on association where something concrete strongly associated with a bigger idea represents that idea is __________.

Metonymy

The process of creating new words and phrases through writing or speaking is called __________.

Neologism

A figure of speech involving word arrangement where words of opposite meaning are combined for effect is an __________.

Oxymoron

A narrative which has both a literal meaning and a representative one is an __________.

Allegory

A figure of speech that makes brief reference to a historical or literary figure, event, or object is an __________.

Allusion

A method used in description where something unfamiliar is explained by comparing it to something more familiar is an __________.

Analogy

A device in which two opposite things or ideas are placed side by side for contrasting effect is __________.

Antithesis

When words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order, the device is __________.

Chiasmus

An extended metaphor is called a __________.

Conceit

The five categories of dramatic significance are Plot, Setting, Character, Theme, and __________.

Dramatic Effects

In analyzing dramatic significance, antecedent background information and unseen offstage information fall under the category of __________.

Plot

Under the category of Setting, dramatic analysis covers Time, Place, Socioeconomic status, and __________.

Atmosphere

Motifs or recurring concrete images often point to a theme arising from five big ideas: Ambition, Appearance vs. Reality, Corruption, The Supernatural, and __________.

Loyalty & Guilt

The Dramatic Effects category of dramatic significance includes dramatic irony, comic relief, juxtaposition of scenes, foreshadowing, and __________.

Pathos