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Quizzes > Quizzes for Business > Education

Test Your Literary Devices Quiz Skills

Sharpen Your Skills with Literary Techniques

Difficulty: Moderate
Questions: 20
Learning OutcomesStudy Material
Colorful paper art depicting elements for a Literary Devices Quiz.

Ready to test your mastery of literary devices? This literary devices quiz challenges users with 15 multiple-choice questions on metaphor, simile, symbolism, and more. Ideal for students, teachers, and aspiring writers looking to sharpen reading comprehension and analytical skills. Each question can be freely modified in our editor to suit any curriculum or study plan. After finishing, explore the Literary Allusions Trivia Quiz or take other Knowledge Assessment Quiz and quizzes for more practice.

Which sentence contains a simile?
The wind whispered secrets.
She is very hungry.
He fought like a lion.
Her smile was the sun.
A simile makes a comparison using 'like' or 'as', as in 'fought like a lion'. The other sentences use different devices or are literal statements.
Identify the metaphor in the following options.
Her eyes sparkled like stars.
I'm so hungry I could eat a horse.
He drowned in a sea of grief.
The thunder grumbled.
A metaphor makes a direct comparison without using 'like' or 'as', such as equating grief to a sea. The others are simile, personification, and hyperbole respectively.
What is an example of personification?
The leaves danced in the wind.
He is a night owl.
Running like the wind.
It was raining cats and dogs.
Personification attributes human qualities to non-human things, as in leaves 'dancing'. The others illustrate simile, idiom, and metaphor or colloquial expression.
Which device is used in the phrase "The classroom was a zoo"?
Simile
Irony
Metaphor
Hyperbole
A metaphor directly compares the classroom to a zoo without 'like' or 'as'. It is not an exaggeration, comparison with like/as, nor an ironic statement.
What type of irony is found when a fire station burns down?
Verbal irony
Dramatic irony
Situational irony
Cosmic irony
Situational irony occurs when the outcome is opposite of expectations, such as a fire station burning. Dramatic and verbal irony involve knowledge or speech, not situational outcome.
The phrase "He has the Midas touch" refers to the Greek king who turned everything to gold. Which device is this?
Hyperbole
Symbolism
Allusion
Metaphor
An allusion references a well-known person or story, here the myth of King Midas. It is not a direct metaphor, symbol, or exaggeration.
In the sentence "The White House issued a statement," what device is used?
Metonymy
Metaphor
Personification
Synecdoche
Metonymy substitutes a related term (White House) for the institution. Synecdoche uses part for whole, but here it's relationship-based substitution.
Which sentence is an example of hyperbole?
He is a rock.
I've told you a million times.
The leaves whispered.
She runs fast as lightning.
Hyperbole is deliberate exaggeration for effect, such as 'a million times'. The other options are simile, personification, and metaphor.
In Maya Angelou's line "The caged bird sings with a fearful trill," what does the caged bird symbolize?
Wealth
Oppression
Joy
Nature
The caged bird symbolizes oppressed people yearning for freedom. It is not literally about nature, joy, or wealth.
What effect does dramatic irony have in a play?
A character makes an unexpected mistake.
The audience knows something characters do not.
The dialogue is humorous.
A simile compares two things.
Dramatic irony occurs when the audience has knowledge that characters lack, creating tension or anticipation. The other options describe different effects or devices.
The sentence "Her voice was music to his ears" is an example of which device?
Irony
Personification
Metaphor
Simile
This is a metaphor because it directly equates voice with music without using 'like' or 'as'.
In Martin Luther King Jr.'s "I have a dream" speech, he repeats the phrase "I have a dream." Which technique is this?
Alliteration
Polysyndeton
Anaphora
Chiasmus
Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, as King does with "I have a dream."
What literary device is used when a character exclaims "What a pleasant day!" during a thunderstorm?
Onomatopoeia
Situational irony
Dramatic irony
Verbal irony
Verbal irony occurs when someone says the opposite of what they mean. The speaker's words contrast with the stormy reality.
Which sentence contains an allusion?
The leaves whispered.
He was her Achilles' heel.
Time flew by.
I've eaten a mountain of food.
An allusion refers to another work or figure, as when invoking the Greek hero Achilles. The others illustrate different devices.
What is onomatopoeia?
A reference to mythology
An exaggeration for effect
Words whose sounds imitate their meaning, e.g., "buzz"
A direct comparison between two things
Onomatopoeia uses words that phonetically imitate sounds, such as "buzz" or "bang." The others define different devices.
In a poem describing winter as a time of despair and spring as resurrection, what device casts seasons as stages of life?
Apostrophe
Synecdoche
Onomatopoeia
Extended metaphor
An extended metaphor runs throughout the poem, equating seasons to life stages. The other options involve different, shorter devices.
In Shakespeare's speech "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players," what is the primary device?
Metaphor
Oxymoron
Simile
Personification
This line directly compares the world to a stage and people to actors without using 'like' or 'as', making it a metaphor.
Milton's phrase "darkness visible" in Paradise Lost illustrates which device?
Irony
Allusion
Paradox
Oxymoron
A paradox presents a seemingly contradictory statement that reveals a deeper truth, as in 'darkness visible.'
Identify the rhetorical device in the phrase "I came, I saw, I conquered."
Asyndeton
Anastrophe
Polysyndeton
Chiasmus
Asyndeton omits conjunctions between clauses to create a concise, forceful effect, as in this famous statement.
A writer describes the sea as "a hungry dog, barking at the moon." Which device is at work, and why is it considered flawed?
Mixed metaphor
Hyperbole
Simile
Personification
A mixed metaphor combines incompatible images (sea as dog) that clash. It's flawed because the fused comparisons create confusion rather than clarity.
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Learning Outcomes

  1. Identify common literary devices in a variety of texts
  2. Analyse examples of metaphor, simile, and symbolism
  3. Explain the impact of irony and allusion in literature
  4. Apply literary terms to interpret complex passages
  5. Evaluate the effectiveness of rhetorical techniques

Cheat Sheet

  1. Understand Metaphors and Similes - Metaphors and similes let you paint vivid pictures in readers' minds by comparing ideas in creative ways. A metaphor boldly states one thing is another, while a simile uses "like" or "as" to draw a playful comparison. Spotting these devices can unlock hidden meanings and add sparkle to your literary analysis. MasterClass: 22 Essential Literary Devices
  2. Identify Symbolism - Symbols are like secret codes in stories that hint at even deeper meanings beneath the surface. From a white dove representing peace to a storm symbolizing chaos, recognizing symbols helps you decode themes and author intent. Master this skill and you'll feel like a literary detective uncovering hidden treasure. Writers.com: Common Literary Devices
  3. Analyze Irony - Irony injects playful twists by contrasting what you expect with what actually happens. Whether it's verbal irony (sarcastic remarks), situational irony (unexpected outcomes), or dramatic irony (the audience knows more than the characters), spotting irony deepens your appreciation for clever storytelling. Get ready to chuckle, gasp, and admire the author's craft. UVU Writing Center: Literary Devices
  4. Recognize Allusions - Allusions are indirect nods to famous works, events, or myths that enrich a story's context. Catching a reference to Shakespeare or Greek mythology brings extra layers of meaning and connects you to a broader literary conversation. Think of it as joining a global book club where every reference counts. MasterClass: 22 Essential Literary Devices
  5. Explore Personification - Personification breathes life into objects or ideas by giving them human traits, like "the wind whispered secrets." This device makes descriptions leap off the page and sparks your imagination. Next time you read, listen for inanimate characters quietly telling their own stories. UVU Writing Center: Literary Devices
  6. Examine Hyperbole - Hyperbole is all about over-the-top exaggeration, like "I've told you a million times!" It's a clever tool authors use to amplify emotions, highlight humor, or stress a point. Once you spot hyperbole, you'll never read complaints or praises the same way again. UVU Writing Center: Literary Devices
  7. Understand Imagery - Imagery paints mental pictures by appealing to your five senses - think "the tangy aroma of oranges" or "the silky rustle of silk." Analyzing imagery helps you feel the mood and grasp the tone of a passage. It's like wearing sensory goggles that make reading more vivid and immersive. UVU Writing Center: Literary Devices
  8. Recognize Alliteration - Alliteration is the catchy repetition of initial sounds, as in "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers." This musical device adds rhythm, emphasis, and memorability to writing. Practice finding alliteration and you'll soon notice a secret beat in your favorite poems and prose. PrepScholar: Literary Devices & Techniques
  9. Identify Oxymorons - An oxymoron pairs contradictory terms - think "deafening silence" or "bittersweet victory" - to capture complex ideas in a nutshell. Spotting oxymorons reveals layers of meaning and emotional nuance in a text. They're like tiny puzzles that make you pause and ponder deeper. PrepScholar: Literary Devices & Techniques
  10. Analyze Juxtaposition - Juxtaposition places contrasting elements side by side to highlight differences or build tension, such as "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." This technique can clarify themes, character dynamics, and emotional impact. Master juxtaposition and you'll unlock a powerful tool for spotting the heart of any story. PrepScholar: Literary Devices & Techniques
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