LITERARY TERMS CROSSWORD 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
15
14
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
24
Across
1. Figure of speech that is an exaggeration or
overstatement
3. The moment of sudden understanding
7. Story in which characters, things, or actions represent
or lead to a strong moral or lesson
9. Feeling of the story (happy, sad, tense, suspenseful,
etc.)
10. Story longer than a short story but not as long or
complex as a novel
12. Sequence of events in a story
14. Long narrative poem that tells the great deeds of a hero
15. Words or phrases that convey the opposite meaning or
expected outcome
18. Often-repeated idea in a story
20. The lesson of a story
23. Person, place, thing, or event that stands for something
else
24. Kind of writing that expresses a person's viewpoint
25. Literary device used to make fun of human weaknesses
23
25
Down
2. Statement that seems contrary to truth but may be true
4. Story that uses humorous excessive exaggeration to
mock something
5. Person telling the story
6. Literary reference to a familiar thing
8. Category or type (of literature)
9. Humorous play on words resulting from two similar
words being misused
11. Short verse written in memory of someone
13. Figure of speech in which two unlike things are
compated using 'like' or 'as'
16. Combination of contradictory terms (jumbo shrimp)
17. Direct conversation between characters
19. Story in which the hero is destroyed
21. Characterized by mystery, castles, supernatural events,
old mansions, etc.
22. Series of events in search of something
Copyright 2009 Teacher's Pet Publications, Inc.
LITERARY TERMS CROSSWORD 1 ANSWER KEY
1
H
2
Y
P
E
R
B
O
L
E
3
A
E
4
P
I
P
5
H
A
N
Y
6
R
A
7
A
A
A
R
R
8
L
L
E
G
O
R
Y
9
D
L
E
M
10
O
U
N
X
S
R
O
O
D
R
11
O
V
E
L
L
P
A
D
L
Y
A
T
12
I
E
I
A
13
S
O
15
I
P
L
O
T
14
T
16
R
O
E
P
I
C
T
I
R
17
N
Y
D
A
R
18
M
X
I
P
A
H
M
O
F
19
I
Y
T
P
20
L
E
M
21
O
R
A
L
I
22
23
O
A
O
Q
S
R
G
G
U
M
O
E
U
E
D
Y
E
Y
M
B
O
L
T
H
24
N
G
25
S
S
A
Y
S
T
Across
1. Figure of speech that is an exaggeration or
overstatement
3. The moment of sudden understanding
7. Story in which characters, things, or actions represent
or lead to a strong moral or lesson
9. Feeling of the story (happy, sad, tense, suspenseful,
etc.)
10. Story longer than a short story but not as long or
complex as a novel
12. Sequence of events in a story
14. Long narrative poem that tells the great deeds of a hero
15. Words or phrases that convey the opposite meaning or
expected outcome
18. Often-repeated idea in a story
20. The lesson of a story
23. Person, place, thing, or event that stands for something
else
24. Kind of writing that expresses a person's viewpoint
25. Literary device used to make fun of human weaknesses
A
T
I
R
E
C
Down
2. Statement that seems contrary to truth but may be true
4. Story that uses humorous excessive exaggeration to
mock something
5. Person telling the story
6. Literary reference to a familiar thing
8. Category or type (of literature)
9. Humorous play on words resulting from two similar
words being misused
11. Short verse written in memory of someone
13. Figure of speech in which two unlike things are
compated using 'like' or 'as'
16. Combination of contradictory terms (jumbo shrimp)
17. Direct conversation between characters
19. Story in which the hero is destroyed
21. Characterized by mystery, castles, supernatural events,
old mansions, etc.
22. Series of events in search of something
Copyright 2009 Teacher's Pet Publications, Inc.
LITERARY TERMS Word List
No. Word
Clue/Definition
1. ALLEGORY
Story in which characters, things, or actions represent or lead to a strong moral or
lesson
2. ALLUSION
Literary reference to a familiar thing
3. ANALOGY
Comparison of two or more similar objects
4. ANECDOTE
Short summary of a humorous event to make a point
5. ANTAGONIST
Person or thing working against the main character or hero of a story
6. AUTOBIOGRAPHY
Author's own account of his/her own life
7. BIOGRAPHY
Story of a person's life written by someone else
8. CONFLICT
The problem; something vs. something else
9. DENOUEMENT
Outcome of the story
10. DIALOGUE
Direct conversation between characters
11. EPIC
Long narrative poem that tells the great deeds of a hero
12. EPIPHANY
The moment of sudden understanding
13. EPITAPH
Short verse written in memory of someone
14. ESSAY
Kind of writing that expresses a person's viewpoint
15. EXAGGERATION
Stretching the truth
16. EXPOSITORY
Kind of writing that explains something
17. FABLE
Short, fictional story usually involving animals that teaches a lesson
18. FLASHBACK
An event from the past presented in the present, out of order in the story
19. FORESHADOWING
Giving hints or clues about what will come later in the story
20. GENRE
Category or type (of literature)
21. GOTHIC
Characterized by mystery, castles, supernatural events, old mansions, etc.
22. HYPERBOLE
Figure of speech that is an exaggeration or overstatement
23. IMAGERY
Words chosen to paint a vivid picture in the reader's mind
24. IRONY
Words or phrases that convey the opposite meaning or expected outcome
25. MALAPROPISM
Humorous play on words resulting from two similar words being misused
26. METAPHOR
Figure of speech that is a comparison without using 'like' or 'as'
27. MOOD
Feeling of the story (happy, sad, tense, suspenseful, etc.)
28. MORAL
The lesson of a story
29. MOTIF
Often-repeated idea in a story
30. NARRATOR
Person telling the story
31. NOVEL
Lengthy, fictional, written story
32. NOVELLA
Story longer than a short story but not as long or complex as a novel
33. OMNICIENT
Point of view in which the reader knows all thoughts, feelings, and actions of all
the characters
34. OXYMORON
Combination of contradictory terms (jumbo shrimp)
35. PARADOX
Statement that seems contrary to truth but may be true
36. PARODY
Story that uses humorous excessive exaggeration to mock something
37. PERSONIFICATION
Figure of speech where an inanimate object or animal is given human
characteristics
38. PLOT
Sequence of events in a story
39. PROTAGONIST
Main character of the story
40. QUEST
Series of events in search of something
41. SARCASM
Using false praise to mock someone or something
42. SATIRE
Literary device used to make fun of human weaknesses
43. SETTING
Where the action takes place
44. SIMILE
Figure of speech in which two unlike things are compated using 'like' or 'as'
45. SOLILOQUY
Monologue revealing the thoughts of a character, usually alone on a stage
46. STEREOTYPE
Characterizing a person by the general qualities of a group of people, without
individuality
47. SYMBOL
Person, place, thing, or event that stands for something else
48. THEME
Main idea; the point; a statement (usually about life or the human condition)
49. TRAGEDY
Story in which the hero is destroyed
50. UNDERSTATEMENT Figure of speech in which something is emphasized by presenting it as less than
what it is
Copyright 2009 Teacher's Pet Publications, Inc.