Featured Quizzes
User Quizzes
Create Quiz
Data and Charts
Word Search
Flash Cards
Badges and Games
About JetPunk
Message Board
Random Quiz
Dark Mode
Pandora's Box - Literary Terms
Practice quiz to learn the literary terms pulled out of Pandora's infamous Box.😮
Rate:
Last updated: October 10, 2025
You have not attempted this quiz yet.
More quiz info >>
| First submitted | September 12, 2025 |
| Times taken | 13 |
| Average score | 37.5% | Report this quiz | Report |
10:00
The quiz is paused. You have remaining.
Copied!
Scoring
You scored / = %
This beats or equals
% of test takers
also scored 100%
The average score is
Your high score is
Your fastest time is
Keep scrolling down for answers and more stats ...
1. A short poem expressing the personal feelings of a first-person speaker.
metonymy
stanza
couplet
lyric
2. Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid.
meter
parody
figurative language
in medias res
3. A novel that explores the maturation of the protagonist, with the narrative usually moving the main character from childhood into adulthood.
couplet
frame narrative
bildungsroman
enjambment
4. Speech delivered by a character in a play, usually with other characters present.
point of view
slant rhyme
monologue
speaker
5. The character who is currently delivering lines.
point of view
protagonist
perspective
speaker
6. An eight-line stanza.
octet
quatrain
tercet
sestet
7. Poetry with no rhyme or set meter.
mock epic
genre
free verse
parody
8. A contrasting character who allows the protagonist to stand out more distinctly.
juxtaposition
foil
antihero
antagonist
9. A relatively brief novel, usually not exceeding 200 pages.
ode
poem
parable
novella
10. Narrative scene in which action previously unrevealed takes place.
free verse
persona
inversion
flashback
11. A protagonist with villainous qualities who nevertheless can be relatively sympathetic in a narrative.
elegy
antihero
ode
farce
12. A brief work of fictional prose invented roughly in the early 1800s.
poem
ode
novella
short story
13. Long narrative poem, usually featuring a larger-than-life hero who takes a journey during which he receives divine intervention.
metonymy
metaphor
play
epic poem
14. A poem of praise and dedication.
parable
simile
reversal
ode
15. An unexpected but fitting twist in a narrative.
irony
motif
play
oxymoron
16. A character’s transformative moment of realization.
onomatopoeia
parallelism
euphemism
epiphany
17. The protagonist of a narrative.
antihero
hubris
hero/heroine
antagonist
18. A recurring pattern of images and symbols.
motif
stream of consciousness
octet
protagonist
19. Occurs when someone means the opposite of what she says.
verbal irony
dramatic irony
irony irony
situational irony
20. In a poem, two consecutive rhyming lines.
iambic pentameter
spondee
couplet
dialogue
21. A play on words that derives its humor from the replacement of one word with another that has similar pronunciation or spelling but a different meaning.
rhyme
pun
speaker
refrain
22. Part of a narrative that moves from the climax to the denouement
metonymy
falling action
ode
onomatopoeia
23. The central character of a literary work.
protagonist
antihero
hero
antagonist
24. Imagery in which the part stands for the whole or vice versa.
structure
symbol
stanza
synecdoche
25. The emotional atmosphere of a work, especially the emotional undercurrents of a setting.
rhythm
setting
mood
prose
26. Occurs when events in a story take an unexpected turn, but one can still understand how the events could have happened.
dramatic irony
verbal irony
situational irony
irony irony
27. It is created by alteration of the standard English word order of a subject being followed by a verb and its object in a declarative sentence.
octet
satire
inversion
quatrain
28. From the Greek for “good speech,” this is a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for generally unpleasant words or concepts.
metaphor
prose
euphemism
lyric
29. The emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the author’s choice of objects that are described.
colloquialism
atmosphere
eulogy
form
30. A voice and viewpoint that an author adopts in order to deliver a story or poem.
mood
tone
point of view
persona
31. A representation, especially pictorial or literary, in which the subject’s distinctive features or peculiarities are deliberately exaggerated to produce a comic or grotesque effect.
motif
hyperbole
caricature
parable
32. Type of narration that mimics the mind’s free flow of thought.
parody
stream of consciousness
stanza
point of view
33. A work of prose or poetry intended for performance on a stage.
play
stanza
point of view
ode
34. Unrhymed iambic pentameter verse – formal, but still conversational.
metonymy
comedy
eulogy
blank verse
35. Common tragic flaw of protagonists.
quatrain
hyperbole
hubris
mood
36. Appears within one line of poetry.
internal rhyme
end rhyme
rhyme scheme
slant rhyme
37. Any literary work that is not poetry, but is written in sentences and paragraphs.
verse
prose
novella
ode
38. A line, lines, or a stanza in a poem that repeat(s) at intervals.
refrain
theme
synecdoche
speaker
39. Explain how the stage is set, where and when the actors should move, and, occasionally, in what manner the actors should deliver their lines.
stage directions
mood
setting
ode
40. Narrative in which the characters, setting, and events are all symbolic.
analogy
allegory
bildungsroman
simile
41. Long section of an epic poem.
iamb
catharsis
epiphany
canto
42. A literary device that sets up a striking analogy between two entities that would not usually invite comparison, often drawing connections between the physical and spiritual.
reversal
personification
metaphysical conceit
monologue
43. Placing dissimilar items, descriptions, or ideas close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast
novella
metaphor
juxtaposition
metaphysical conceit
44. An object, setting, event, or flat character that represents an idea.
simile
oxymoron
metaphor
symbol
45. Absurd type of comedy that involves flat characters, slapstick action, and ridiculous misunderstandings.
hyperbole
farce
flashback
metonymy
46. A type of flat character based on a stereotype; one who falls into an immediately recognizable category or type – such as the absentminded professor or the town drunk – and thus resists unique characterization.
static
round
stock
flat
47. Experiences a change in personality, attitude, or behavior during the course of the narrative.
flat
dynamic
stock
static
48. A reference to something appearing elsewhere in history, culture, or literature.
enjambment
connotation
archetype
allusion
49. Statement in which two opposites are paired to make a point.
irony
antithesis
dialogue
farce
50. A story within a story.
frame narrative
metaphor
juxtaposition
ode
51. Stylistic approach in a literary work whereby the text’s lack of clarity allows for multiple, even conflicting interpretations.
ambiguity
flashback
cadence
ballad
52. The presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.
metaphor
understatement
hyperbole
pun
53. Appears at the end of a line of poetry, the most common type of rhyme.
internal rhyme
end rhyme
rhyme scheme
slant rhyme
54. The opponent of a narrative’s protagonist or hero.
persona
caesura
antagonist
foil
55. A metaphor that continues over several lines or throughout an entire literary work.
super long metaphor
super short metaphor
extended metaphor
metaphor metaphor
56. A short, witty statement designed to surprise and audience or a reader.
metaphysical conceit
epigram
stanza
pun
57. Techniques by which writers manipulate language for effect.
metaphor
pun
understatement
wordplay
58. A poem, speech, or other work written in great praise of something or someone, usually a person no longer living.
lyric
juxtaposition
free verse
eulogy
59. The instilling of human characteristics in something nonhuman.
stanza
point of view
personification
short story
60. Comic work in which the foibles of society are addressed and mocked.
irony
setting
satire
figurative language
61. The personality defect that leads the hero in a play to make an error in judgment.
satire
novella
tragic flaw
prose
62. The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.
cadence
elegy
antecedent
antithesis
63. The implied, rather than direct meaning of a word.
metaphor
lyric
connotation
free verse
64. A quotation preceding a work of literature that helps set the text’s mood or suggests its themes.
parable
epigraph
oxymoron
free verse
65. A broad term, refers to a piece of writing that is metered and rhythmic.
stanza
free verse
ode
verse
66. A device in which the initial sound of a word is repeated at least twice in a line of poetry or in a sentence.
conceit
diction
anaphora
alliteration
67. The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events.
sestet
narrative
refrain
novella
68. A clever, brief observation about some aspect of life, also called a maxim or a saying.
aphorism
imagery
structure
dissonance
69. A short narrative scene or description, often one in a series.
vignette
couplet
ode
stanza
70. An agent committing action in a narrative, usually human, but not necessarily so.
protagonist
antagonist
character
foil
71. The most common metrical foot in English poetry.
irony
paradox
monologue
iamb
72. A more developed, complex character.
dynamic
round
stock
flat
73. A play in which a temporarily unstable situation is restored to order by the end.
flashback
comedy
consonance
epigraph
74. A narrative that, even in retrospect, symbolically predicted something in the narrative’s future.
irony
form
foreshadowing
monologue
75. Appears after the exposition of a narrative. In this part of a story, complications begin to arise for the characters.
climax
rising action
falling action
exposition
76. Underdeveloped character, one-dimensional and predictable.
round
dynamic
stock
flat
77. An address to something as if it were human, or an address to someone not present.
synesthesia
apostrophe
verse
rhythm
78. The audience’s release of pity and fear once the tragic hero of a play has experienced a downfall.
foreshadowing
metonymy
epiphany
catharsis
79. Divides its discussion between an octave and a sestet.
italian sonnet
the evil sonnet
english sonnet
the good sonnet
80. Poem in which a character speaks as if delivering a soliloquy.
enjambment
metaphor
iamb
dramatic monologue
81. A word that has the opposite meaning of another.
figurative language
dialect
denouement
antonym
82. A satiric dramatic form that lampoons social conventions; the highest level of comedy.
euphemism
metaphysical conceit
consonance
comedy of manners
83. An indirect comparison between two unlike things.
simile
juxtaposition
oxymoron
metaphor
84. The organization of a work.
setting
structure
form
poem
85. Exaggeration for effect.
pun
irony
hyperbole
figurative language
86. A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds or words.
onomatopoeia
parody
setting
stream of consciousness
87. An extended metaphor continuing from an initial comparison.
understatement
wordplay
tercet
conceit
88. The literal definition of a word, often referred to as the “dictionary definition.”
denotation
monologue
hyperbole
iamb
89. The formal, regular organization of stressed and unstressed syllables, measured in feet.
monologue
meter
form
form
90. The pattern of rhyme occurring in a poem, usually listed as a sequence of alphabetical letters (e.g. ABABCDCDEFEFGG) in which like letters indicate end rhyme.
internal rhyme
rhyme scheme
end rhyme
slant rhyme
91. Also called “near rhyme,” words at the ends of poem lines that almost but don’t quite rhyme. Not necessarily a weakness in the poem.
internal rhyme
rhyme scheme
slant rhyme
end rhyme
92. The most common meter in English poetry; has roughly ten syllables with the accents on even syllables.
iambic pentameter
imagery
refrain
parable
93. A sung poem that recounted a dramatic story.
farce
ballad
canto
caesura
94. The written depiction of conversation between characters.
hubris
novella
dialogue
diction
95. A poetic blending of sensory images.
verse
prose
antithesis
synesthesia
96. Usually, the repetition of final sounds in words at set intervals.
stage directions
rhythm
rhyme
structure
97. A direct comparison of two unlike things.
poem
metaphor
satire
parallelism
98. A sudden decline in tension, especially with comic effect or ironic disappointment.
anticlimax
falling action
dissonance
climax
99. Quality of spoken text formed from combing the text’s rhythm with the rise and fall in the inflection of the speaker’s voice.
cadence
flashback
caricature
meter
100. Refers to the defining structural characteristics of a work, especially a poem.
form
rhythm
novella
metonymy
101. A brief, symbolic story whose purpose is to instruct.
speaker
parable
symbol
rising action
102. Satirical work that parodies the form of the epic poem.
parody
poem
mood
mock epic
103. Character that remains the same throughout a work.
dynamic
flat
static
stock
104. The perspective from which a narrative is told.
personification
point of view
tone
mood
105. A device used to produce figurative language.
figure of speech
pun
hyperbole
flashback
106. The repetition of a word or phrase for rhetorical effect.
anaphora
inversion
assonance
prose
107. Harsh, unpleasant sounds, especially in poetry.
dramatic monologue
foreshadowing
iambic pentameter
dissonance
108. A resemblance drawn between two items.
catharsis
epigram
analogy
foreshadowing
109. The universal truth, observation about life, or main idea of a literary work.
structure
mood
theme
tone
110. A symbol so ancient and fundamental that its meaning is understood by the unconscious mind, even without contextual explanation.
conceit
connotation
archetype
diction
111. Occurs when the audience knows something that a character doesn’t.
situational irony
irony irony
dramatic irony
verbal irony
112. Part of a narrative during which characters, setting, and initial action are explained. A good bulk of a story’s exposition takes place near the beginning.
sarcasm
exposition
narrative
iamb
113. The time and place of a narrative.
atmosphere
mood
tone
setting
114. A line of poetry that continues its sentence into the next line without a break.
enjambment
in medias res
ode
short story
115. A seemingly self-contradictory statement that upon closer scrutiny actually reveals a truth.
oxymoron
rhyme
paradox
parallelism
116. Latin for “in the middle of things.”
metaphor
inversion
stanza
in medias res
117. A character who possesses a flaw or commits an error in judgment that leads to his or her downfall and a reversal of fortune.
protagonist
antihero
character
tragic hero
118. The repetition of a vowel sound in a sentence or line of poetry.
foot
cadence
anaphora
assonance
119. Lines in a poem that the poet has chosen to group together, usually separated from other lines by a space.
sestet
stanza
couplet
ode
120. The narrator’s attitude toward her subject.
setting
tone
mood
atmosphere
121. Divides its discussion among three quatrains and a final couplet.
the evil sonnet
english sonnet
the good sonnet
italian sonnet
122. The method by which the author builds, or reveals, a character; it can be direct or indirect.
characterization
falling action
setting
exposition
123. French for “unknotting,” this final segment of a narrative follows the climax and “winds things up” in the story.
tone
denouement
vignette
synecdoche
124. Similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases or clauses.
oxymoron
parallelism
poem
paradox
125. A metric distinguished by the number of syllables it contains and how stress is placed on the syllables – stressed (´) or unstressed (˘).
ode
inversion
foot
lyric
126. A figure of speech in which something is represented by another thing that is related to it.
rhyme
persona
metonymy
narrative
127. A description of how something looks, feels, tastes, smells, or sounds.
lyric
metaphor
figurative language
imagery
128. An expression or language construction appropriate only for casual, informal speaking or writing.
colloquialism
comedy of manners
epigram
climax
129. In a narrative, the point of irreversible action, when what is done cannot be undone.
climax
genre
epigram
farce
130. The major category in which a literary work fits.
hero
genre
rhythm
narrative
131. Dialogue or narration written to simulate regional or cultural speech patterns.
genre
dialect
metonymy
diction
132. A poetic closed form devised during the early renaissance by the Italian writer Petrarch.
rhythm
rhyme
ode
sonnet
133. A contemplative poem, on death and mortality, often written for someone who has died.
eulegy
inversion
mock epic
elegy
134. Word choice; the most basic element of a text.
irony
metonymy
diction
form
135. A three-line stanza.
octet
sestet
tercet
quatrain
136. A work that mocks another text by closely modeling its style and content.
sonnet
rhyme
poem
parody
137. A six-line stanza.
tercet
couplet
octet
sestet
138. A pause in the middle of a line of poetry.
denotation
consonance
caesura
euphemism
139. From the Greek meaning “to tear flesh," involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something.
sarcasm
irony
oxymoron
ode
140. A work written in verse rather than prose.
erse
stanza
poem
ode
141. When, in a narrative, the protagonist’s fortunes take an unforeseen turn.
theme
stage directions
reversal
rhyme
142. A plot device in which the author places the main narrative of his or her work within another narrative
frame frame
picture frame
narrative frame
he got framed
143. A serious dramatic work in which the protagonist experiences a series of unfortunate reversals due to some character trait.
tragedy
oxymoron
comedy
octet
144. A seemingly self-contradictory term or phrase.
rhythm
paradox
oxymoron
parallelism
Save Your Stats
Your Next Quiz
Can you name the capitals cities of all 196 countries in the world?
Can you name the countries with the most heavy metal bands, both in total and per capita?
Spin the global to a random spot and then guess the countries that appear.
From the list of words, choose the ones that are also a European city, town, village, municipality, etc...
Comments
No comments yet
New and Popular