Test your basic knowledge |

SAT Subject Test: Literature

Subjects : sat, literature
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. Something located at a time when it could not have existed or occurred






2. The highest point of anything conceived of as growing or developing or unfolding






3. Background introducing the characters - setting - and basic situation






4. Using elements that can be either factual or impressionistic that act to 'paint a picture'






5. The choices a writer makes; the combination of distinctive features of a literary work






6. Narrator tells a story; events unfold through time






7. Written to persuade audience of the truth (or falsehood) the speaker wishes to make understood






8. The different patterns of development or methods of organization that can be used for self-expression - providing information - persuasion - and entertainment






9. A distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing






10. How a sentence was formed to convey an emotion - image - or aspect of language.






11. Words mean exactly what they say






12. A story about mythical or supernatural beings or events; often handed down orally






13. Point of view in which the narrator is outside of the story - an observer; can be limited or omniscient






14. A couplet consisting of two rhymed lines of iambic pentamenter and written in an elevated style






15. Dramatic speech to oneself






16. A stanza consisting of two successive lines of verse






17. A general truth or rule of conduct; a short saying






18. Address to an absent or imaginary person






19. The attribution of human characteristics to animals or inanimate objects






20. A type of poem - telling a story - meant to be sung; both lyrical and narrative in nature






21. Extended narrative about improbable events and extraordinary people in exotic places; often dealing with love






22. The main (good) character






23. A story that is usually passed down orally and becomes part of a community's tradition






24. Figure of speech; comparison not using like or as






25. Events after the climax - leading to the resolution






26. An event or action in a work of literature that serves to intensify and develop the conflict.






27. The use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; or - incongruity between what is expected and what actually happens






28. The juxtaposition of contrasting words or ideas to give a feeling of balance






29. A unifying idea that is a recurrent element in a literary or artistic work






30. Short (narrative) account of an incident (especially a biographical one)






31. Opposition between characters or forces (especially motivating the development of the plot)






32. Giving human characteristics to something that not human






33. To inform the reader about something using facts - ideas and containing a focus subject






34. The real or assumed personality used by a writer or speaker






35. The repetition of sounds at the ends of words






36. Word or phrase describing a person or thing; descriptive phrase characterizing a person (often contemptous)






37. The repetition of consonants (or consonant patterns) especially at the ends of words






38. Before the main part or actually story






39. A comparison of two different things that are similar in some way






40. The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events.






41. The process by which the writer develops a character






42. A person with powers greater than that of a normal being






43. A protagonist who is more ordinary than a traditional hero(ine) or one who is somewhat villainous






44. A category or type of literary or artistic work






45. The use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in a plot






46. The parts before or after a word or statement that influence its meaning






47. Dictionary definition of a word






48. Unrhymed verse without a consistent metrical pattern






49. The overall emotion created by a work of literature






50. The repetition of similar vowels in the stressed syllables of successive words