author techniques lit terms quiz

tone (define, exmp)

the feeling that the author puts in their writing; e.g. the tone of Julius Caesar is serious

verbal irony (define, exmp)

when a character says something but means the opposite; e.g. in Dear Martin, Manny tells Justyce that he is too sensitive

dramatic irony (define, exmp)

when the reader knows something the characters don’t know; e.g. Romeo didn’t know that Juliet wasn’t dead when he killed himself, but the audience did

situational irony (define, exmp)

when something unexpected happens, contrary to belief; e.g. the fire station caught on fire

cosmic irony (define, exmp)

when a divine power changes things that were supposed to happen; e.g. the prophecy in Oedipus Rex

caesura (def, exmp)

a pause or break in a line of text; "now, if you two don't mind, I'm going to bed"

sentimentality (def, exmp)

using excess emotion to the point of ridiculousness; e.g. Romeo killing himself because he thinks Juliet is dead

dialect (def, exmp)

a specific variety of language that an author writes in; e.g. TKAM is written with a Southern dialect

synesthesia (def, exmp)

defining one sense with another; Scarlett in Caraval could hear colors