Honors English 1 Exam

metaphor

a figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that isn't literally true, but helps explain an idea or make a comparison. It is a type of analogy that compares two things by stating one is the other.

hyperbole

a figure of speech that involves an exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis. It is a literary device that is often used to create humor, but can also be used to make a point or to create a vivid image in the reader's mind.

simile

a figure of speech that compares two things using the words "like" or "as" to highlight their similarities.

allusion

a figure of speech that refers to a well-known person, place, event, or literary work in order to make a comparison in the reader's mind. It is a brief and indirect reference to something else, often without explicit identification.

personification

a literary device in which human qualities or characteristics are attributed to non-human entities, such as animals, objects, or ideas. It is a type of figurative language that helps to create a more vivid and engaging image in the reader's mind. For example, "The wind whispered through the trees" is an example of personification because the wind, a non-human entity, is given the human quality of whispering.

exposition

a literary device used to introduce background information about events, settings, characters, or other elements of a work of fiction or non-fiction. It is usually presented at the beginning of a story or essay to provide context and establish the foundation for the plot or argument. Exposition can take many forms, including dialogue, narration, description, and flashbacks. Its purpose is to help readers understand the story or topic more fully and to engage them in the narrative or argument.

rising action

the part of a plot where the main character faces a series of conflicts that build towards the climax of the story. It is the section of the story where tension and suspense increase as the protagonist faces obstacles and challenges that propel the plot forward.

inciting incident

the event or decision that sets the main conflict of a story in motion. It is the point of no return for the protagonist and often occurs early in the narrative.

climax

the point of highest tension or turning point in the plot where the main character faces the conflict and the outcome of the story is determined.

falling action

the part of a plot where the story begins to wrap up and the conflict is resolved after the climax. It leads to the resolution and conclusion of the story.

dénouement

the final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved.

imagery

refers to the use of descriptive language that creates a vivid mental picture in the reader's mind. It is a literary device that appeals to the senses, such as sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell, to create an emotional or sensory experience for the reader. Imagery is commonly used in poetry, literature, and other forms of creative writing to enhance the reader's understanding and enjoyment of the text.

symbolism

the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities. It is a literary device that adds depth and meaning to a work of literature, art, or other forms of expression. Symbolism can be found in various forms such as colors, objects, animals, and even people. It is often used to convey complex ideas or emotions that cannot be expressed through words alone.

allegory

a literary device in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract qualities and ideas. It is often used to convey complex moral, ethical, or political messages in a more accessible and engaging way.

foreshadowing

a literary device used by authors to hint at or suggest future events in a story. It is a way of preparing the reader for what is to come and can create suspense and tension in the narrative. Foreshadowing can be achieved through various means, such as dialogue, description, or symbolism.

dialogue

a conversation between two or more people in a literary work, such as a novel, play, or movie. It is a way for characters to interact with each other and reveal their thoughts, feelings, and motivations. Dialogue is often written with quotation marks to indicate the words spoken by each character.

mood

refers to the emotional response that the writer wishes to evoke in the reader through a story.

tone

a literary device that reflects the writer’s attitude toward the subject matter or audience of a literary work.

theme

literary device, theme refers to the central, deeper meaning of a written work.

parallelism

the repetition of grammatical elements in writing and speaking

dramatic irony

a useful plot device for creating situations in which the audience knows more about the situations, the causes of conflicts, and their resolutions before the leading characters or actors. 

situational irony

as a literary device, is a form of irony in which something takes place that is different or the opposite of what is expected to happen.

verbal irony

when a speaker speaks something contradictory to what he intends to say.

man vs man

a type of conflict where two characters are in direct opposition to each other. 

man vs nature

an external struggle positioning the character against an animal or a force of nature

man vs technology

a type of literary conflict in which a character faces technology

man vs society

when the protagonist, either alone or together with the other characters, is in direct opposition to the forces of nature. 

man vs self

a type of conflict that takes place inside a character's mind

internal conflict

when a character struggles with their own opposing desires or beliefs

external conflict

sets a character against something or someone beyond their control.

protagonist

the character who drives the action--the character whose fate matters most.

antagonist

the principal opponent or foil of the main character, who is referred to as the protagonist, in a drama or narrative. 

the hero’s journey.

lyric poetry definition

highly musical verse that expresses the observations and feelings of a single speaker. it creates a single, unified expression

lyric poetry rhyme scheme

does not need a required rhyme scheme (lyric)

lyric poetry syllables

does not need required syllables (lyric)

acrostic poetry definition

a poem in which the first letter of each line spells a word or phrase that is the topic of the poem

acrostic poetry rhyme scheme

does not need a required rhyme scheme (acrostic)

acrostic poetry syllables

does not have required syllables (acrostic)

acrostic poetry length

one line for each letter of the word

narrative/ballad poetry

a poem that tells a story in a musical way or musical feeling

narrative/ballad poetry rhyme scheme

even-numbered lines should rhyme

narrative/ballad poetry syllables

odd-numbered lines should be longer than even-numbered lines

narrative/ballad poetry legnth length

can be as long as the story requires

epic poetry definition

a long narrative poem about the adventures of a God or Hero serious in tone, and broad in theme

epic poetry rhyme scheme

does not need a required rhyme scheme (epic)

epic poetry syllables

does not need a required amount of syllables (epic)

epic poetry length

very long

concrete/form poetry

a poem with a physical shape that suggests the topic. the poet arranges the letters, punctuation, and lines to create an image or picture on the page.

concrete/form poetry rhyme scheme

does not need a required rhyme scheme (concrete)

concrete/form poetry syllables

does not need a required amount of syllables (concrete)

concrete/form poetry length

must fit into the shape

haiku definition

a Japanese poem about nature

haiku length

3 lines

haiku syllables

5 syllables

7 syllables

5 syllables

haiku rhyme scheme

does not need a required rhyme scheme (haiku)

cinquain definition

can be about anything

cinquain length

5 lines

cinquain syllables

2 syllables

4 syllables

6 syllables

8 syllables

10 syllables

cinquain rhyme scheme

does not need a rhyme scheme (cinquain)

tanka

can be about anything

tanka length

5 lines

tanka syllables

5 syllables

7 syllables

5 syllables

7 syllables

7 syllables

tanka rhyme scheme

does not need a required rhyme scheme (tanka)

villanelle definition

a highly specialized, 6-stanza 19-line poem that features two repeating lines

villanelle length

19 lines

villanelle syllables

does not need a required amount of syllables (villanelle)

villanelle rhyme scheme

A1, B, C1, D, B, A1, D, B, C1, D, B, A1, D, B, C1, D, B, A1, C1

Shakespearean sonnet definition

a type of sonnet made famous by William Shakespeare

Shakespearean sonnet length

14 lines

Shakespearean sonnet syllables

10 per line

Shakespearean sonnet rhyme scheme

A, B, A, B, C, D, C, D, E, F, E, F, G, G

limerick definition

a humorous, musical feeling poem that oftentimes makes fun of or tells a story about a specific person

limerick length

5 lines

limerick syllables

3 beats

3 beats

2 beats

2 beats

3 beats

limerick rhyme scheme

A , A, B, B, A

ode definition

a formal lyric poem with a serious theme. it is usually long and may be written for a private occasion or a public ceremony. odes often honor people, commemorate events, or respond to natural scenes.

ode length

usually long

ode syllables

does not need a required amount of syllables (ode)

ode rhyme scheme

does not need a required rhyme scheme (ode)

elegy definition

a solemn and formal lyric poem about death. it may mourn a particular person or reflect on a serious or tragic theme. such as the passing of youth, beauty, or a way of life

line

basic structural component of a poem. literally a row of words that ends somewhere

stanza

a formal division of lines in a poem that is considered a unit. separated by spaces like prose paragraphs, only for poetry. conveys a single idea

couplet

2 line stanza

triplet (tercet)

a 3 line stanza

quatrain

4 line stanza

quintet

a 5 line stanza

sextet

6 line stanza

septet

7 line stanza

octave

8 line stanza

monometer

1 foot per line

dimeter

2 feet per line

trimeter

3 feet per line

tetrameter

4 feet per line

pentameter

5 feet per line

hexameter

6 feet per line

heptameter

7 feet per line

octometer

8 feet per line

foot

basic unit of a meter. normally contains either two or three syllables with varying patterns of stress

iambic

unstressed, stressed