English Quiz - Literary Devices

Evanescent

Quickly fading or disappearing, like a fleeting moment.

Abyss

A deep, immeasurable chasm; something vast and seemingly bottomless.

Brigand

A bandit or robber, usually one who ambushes travelers.

Misanthropy

A general dislike, distrust, or hatred of humankind.

Frayed

Worn out or unraveled at the edges (literally, like fabric) or figuratively, emotionally strained

Vain

Excessively proud of one’s looks or achievements; also means “futile, without success.”

Arid

Extremely dry (climate/landscape) or lacking in interest/excitement.

Temerity

Boldness or reckless confidence.

Superciliously

Acting with arrogance, as if one is superior to others.

Sepulchral

Gloomy, dismal, funereal; related to a tomb or burial.

Ignominy

Deep personal humiliation, disgrace, or dishonor.

Lugubrious

Mournful, sad, or gloomy in an exaggerated way.

Situational Irony

When the actual outcome of a situation is the opposite of what was expected.

Metaphor

A direct comparison between two unlike things (e.g., “time is a thief”).

Allegory

A complete narrative where characters, events, and settings symbolically represent deeper moral, political, or spiritual meanings.

Symbol

An object, character, or event that represents a larger idea or theme.

Foreshadowing

Hints or clues in a story that suggest future events.

Direct Characterization

When the author explicitly describes a character’s traits.

Indirect Characterization

When a character’s traits are revealed through actions, dialogue, thoughts, or how others react to them.

Theme

The central idea, message, or underlying meaning of a work.

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, smell).

Setting

The time and place in which a story occurs.

Mood

The atmosphere or emotional feeling created in a reader by a text.

Tone

The author’s attitude toward the subject or audience, conveyed through style and word choice.

Ryunosuke Akutagawa

Japanese writer (1892–1927), known as the “Father of the Japanese short story”; author of Rashōmon and In a Grove.

Jorge Luis Borges

Argentine writer (1899–1986), famous for philosophical short stories exploring infinity, time, and labyrinths (Ficciones).

Anita Desai

Indian novelist (b. 1937), known for exploring themes of identity, family, and cultural displacement (Clear Light of Day).