Literary Elements Quiz

plot

the sequence of interconnected events that drive the narrative forward, including the causes and effects of these events

ex) series of events in a murder mystery, from the initial crime to the final resolution

theme

the inferred stance taken on the central topic or message of a story; communicate important ideas and messages about issues that face the characters and the setting of a narrative

setting

the time and place in which a story or scene unfolds. It can also include the surrounding environment, atmosphere, and social context

ex)

point of view

the perspective from which a story is told

ex) first, second, and third person

irony

when a character says the opposite of what they really mean or when an event or action is the opposite of what we had expected

ex) "Oh, great, another rainy day." 

simile

figure of speech that compares two dissimilar things using the words "like" or "as."

ex) "The child ran like the wind". 

metaphor

figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unlike things, often by stating that one thing is another

ex) "The world is a stage" or "He's a lion in battle"

hyperbole

figure of speech that involves deliberate exaggeration to emphasize a point or create a stronger effect

ex) "I'm so tired I could sleep for a week." or "That suitcase weighed a ton!"

personification

inanimate objects, concepts, or animals are given human characteristics, actions, or emotions

ex) "The wind whispered secrets through the trees" (giving the wind the human action of whispering)