ACT Review: Key Literary Terms

Alliteration: The repetition of initial sounds in neighboring words. The two types of alliteration are assonance
and consonance.
Examples: sweet smell of success, a dime a dozen, bigger and better

Assonance: The repetition of vowel sounds, as in “another antelope ate the apple”

Consonance: The repetition of consonant sounds, as in “dark deep dread dampened the day”

Allusion: A brief reference to a person, event, or place, real or ficticious, or to a work of art. A casual
reference to a famous historical or literary figure or event. An allusion may be drawn from
history, geography, literature, or religion.

Analogy: The comparison of two pairs which have the same relationship. The key is to ascertain the
relationship between the first so you can choose the correct second pair.
Example: hot is to cold as fire is to ice

Characterization: The method used by a writer to develop a character. The method includes (1) showing the
character's appearance, (2) displaying the character's actions, (3) revealing the character's
thoughts, (4) letting the character speak, and (5) getting the reactions of others.

Foreshadowing: The use of hints or clues to suggest what will happen later in literature.

Metaphor: A comparison of two unlike things using the verb "to be" and not using “like” or “as.”
Example: “He is a pig. Thou art sunshine.”

Simile: The comparison of two unlike things using like or as.

Example: “He eats like a pig. Vines like golden prisons.”

Onomatopoeia: A word or words that sound like the action or thing they describe or represent.
Example: Meow, Buzz, Bang

Euphemism: The substitution of an agreeable or less offensive expression in place of one that may offend or
suggest something unpleasant to the listener.
Example: “He has passed away.”

Hyperbole: An exaggeration or overstatement.

Example: “I'm so hungry I could eat a horse;” “He's as big as a house.”

Imagery: Language that evokes one or all of the five senses: seeing, hearing, tasting, smelling, touching.
Example: “The salty wind stung my face as it blew noisily off the crashing waves.”

Mood: The emotional attitude the author takes towards his or her subject.

Flashback: Action that interrupts the story to show an event that happened at an earlier time.

Personification: Giving human qualities to animals or objects.

Example: a smiling moon, an angry sun
 Name___________________________________________ Class_____________ Date______________

ACT Review: Literary Terms Test

Alliteration Characterization Foreshadowing Simile

Allusion Consonance Hyperbole Tone
Anagram Epilogue Imagery Onomatopoeia
Analogy Euphemism Metaphor Personification
Assonance Flashback Mood Point of View

Choose the correct word for each of the definitions.

_______________ 1. The repetition of initial sounds in neighboring words.

_______________ 2. Giving human qualities to animals or objects.

_______________ 3. The repetition of vowel sounds at the beginnings of words.

_______________ 4. Action that interrupts to show an event that happened at an earlier time which is
necessary to better understand the story.

_______________ 5. The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of words.

_______________ 6. The emotional attitude the author takes towards his or her subject.
_______________ 7. A brief reference to a person, even, or place, real or fictitious, or to a work of art.

8. Language that evokes one or all of the five senses: seeing hearing, tasting
_______________
smelling, touching.

_______________ 9. The comparison of two pairs that have the same relationship.

_______________ 10.An exaggeration or overstatement.

_______________ 11.The method used by a writer to develop a character.

_______________ 12.The substitution of an agreeable or less offensive expression in place of one that
may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the listener.
_______________
13.The use of hints or clues to suggest what will happen later in a story.
_______________
14.A word or words that sound like the action or thing they describe or represent.

_______________ 15.A comparison of two unlike things using a form of the verb “be” and not using
“like” or “as.”

_______________ 16.The comparison of two unlike things using “like” or “as.”

Give an example for each of the following terms.

17. Alliteration ___________________________________________________________

18. Assonance ____________________________________________________________

19. Consonance ___________________________________________________________

20. Analogy ______________________________________________________________

21. Metaphor _____________________________________________________________

22. Simile ________________________________________________________________

23. Onomatopoeia _________________________________________________________

24. Euphemism ____________________________________________________________

25. Hyperbole _____________________________________________________________

26. Imagery _______________________________________________________________

27. Personification __________________________________________________________

Choose the term that best describes each of the following examples.

____ 28. “The waves, with their lily-white hands…”

a. Personification b. Euphemism
c. Hyperbole d. Imagery

____ 29. “A million ideas flew through my mind at once.”

a. Personification b. Euphemism
c. Hyperbole d. Imagery

____ 30. “A crash and a boom left a sharp buzzing in my ears.”

a. Alliteration b. Analogy
c. Onomatopoeia d. Metaphor

____ 31. "Another animal walked away from the awning above it.”
a. Alliteration b. Analogy
c. Onomatopoeia d. Metaphor

____ 32. “The author of the book was like a prophet sent from the stars.”
a. Assonance b. Consonance
c. Simile d. Metaphor
 Name___________________________________________ Class_____________ Date______________

ACT Review: Literary Terms Test Key

Alliteration Characterization Foreshadowing Simile

Allusion Consonance Hyperbole Tone
Anagram Epilogue Imagery Onomatopoeia
Analogy Euphemism Metaphor Personification
Assonance Flashback Mood Point of View

Choose the correct word for each of the definitions.

__Alliteration___
1. The repetition of initial sounds in neighboring words.
_Personification__ 2. Giving human qualities to animals or objects.

___Assonance___ 3. The repetition of vowel sounds at the beginnings of words.

___Flashback___ 4. Action that interrupts to show an event that happened at an earlier time which is
necessary to better understand the story.

5. The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginnings of words.

__Consonance__
6. The emotional attitude the author takes towards his or her subject.
_____Tone_____
7. A brief reference to a person, even, or place, real or fictitious, or to a work of art.
__Allusion__
8. Language that evokes one or all of the five senses: seeing hearing, tasting
__Imagery__
smelling, touching.

__Analogy__ 9. The comparison of two pairs that have the same relationship.

__Hyperbole__ 10.An exaggeration or overstatement.

_Characterization 11.The method used by a writer to develop a character.

_Euphemism_ 12.The substitution of an agreeable or less offensive expression in place of one that
may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the listener.
_Foreshadowing_
13.The use of hints or clues to suggest what will happen later in a story.
_Onomatopoeia_
14.A word or words that sound like the action or thing they describe or represent.

__Metaphor__ 15.A comparison of two unlike things using a form of the verb “be” and not using
“like” or “as.”

__Simile__ 16.The comparison of two unlike things using “like” or “as.”

Give an example for each of the following terms. (Answers will vary)

17. Alliteration ___________________________________________________________

18. Assonance ____________________________________________________________

19. Consonance ___________________________________________________________

20. Analogy ______________________________________________________________

21. Metaphor _____________________________________________________________

22. Simile ________________________________________________________________

23. Onomatopoeia _________________________________________________________

24. Euphemism ____________________________________________________________

25. Hyperbole _____________________________________________________________

26. Imagery _______________________________________________________________

27. Personification __________________________________________________________

Choose the term that best describes each of the following examples.

__a_ 28. “The waves, with their lily-white hands…”

a. Personification b. Euphemism
c. Hyperbole d. Imagery

__c_ 29. “A million ideas flew through my mind at once.”

a. Personification b. Euphemism
c. Hyperbole d. Imagery

__c_ 30. “A crash and a boom left a sharp buzzing in my ears.”

a. Alliteration b. Analogy
c. Onomatopoeia d. Metaphor

__a_ 31. "Another animal walked away from the awning above it.”
a. Alliteration b. Analogy
c. Onomatopoeia d. Metaphor

__c_ 32. “The author of the book was like a prophet sent from the stars.”
a. Assonance b. Consonance
c. Simile d. Metaphor