Chiasmus, zeugma, metonymy and other named devices

Grade 11 Reading Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.

1. 1.

   “We did not win because we practiced; we practiced because we wanted to win.” Ari is drawing arrows in the sentence frame. Which device does the sentence use, and where do its arrows go?

   • Anaphora: each clause begins with the same repeated words.
   • Antithesis: the two halves set winning against losing in matching halves.
   • Chiasmus: “We” returns at the start of each half, so the openings match.
   • Chiasmus: “win … practiced” returns as “practiced … win,” so the words cross.
2. 2.

   “City Hall announced on Monday that the library will stay open until nine.” Luz is drawing the arrow from “City Hall” to what it stands for. Where does the arrow point?

   • To the building itself, the hall on Main Street where the city meets.
   • To the library staff, who will keep the doors open until nine.
   • To the townspeople at large, who share in the decision.
   • To the city's leaders, who made and announced the decision.
3. 3.

   “The work was hard, but the reward was easy to see.” Tala must decide whether this sentence is chiasmus or a look-alike. Which label and reason are right?

   • Antithesis, because each half begins with the word “the.”
   • Zeugma, because one verb serves two different subjects.
   • Chiasmus, because the second half reverses the first half's words.
   • Antithesis, because the opposites hard and easy sit in matching halves.
4. 4.

   “The ferry crew lost the timetable and, soon after, their patience.” Jun is drawing arrows in the sentence frame. Which device does the sentence use, and where do its arrows go?

   • Zeugma: one verb, “lost,” serves two objects in two senses.
   • Metonymy: “patience” stands for the crew's calm manner, a related idea.
   • Asyndeton: the conjunctions between the parts of the sentence are left out.
   • Zeugma: one noun, “crew,” serves as the subject of two different verbs.
5. 5.

   “By noon, forty sails were crowding the bay for the regatta.” Pia is drawing the arrow from “forty sails” to what it stands for. Where does the arrow point?

   • To forty boats, each named by one of its parts, its sail.
   • To the whole harbor town, which turned out for the regatta.
   • To forty sailors, the people who raised the sails that morning.
   • To forty loose pieces of canvas blowing across the water.
6. 6.

   “After thirty years on the stage, Ms. Lin is retiring to write.” Bo must decide whether “the stage” is metonymy or synecdoche. Which label and reason are right?

   • Apostrophe, because the program speaks directly to the stage.
   • Metonymy, because “the stage” is a related thing that stands for acting.
   • Synecdoche, because “the stage” is one part that stands for the whole theater building.
   • Metonymy, because “the stage” means the raised floor where Ms. Lin stood.
7. 7.

   “The orchard needs extra hands for the September picking.” Milo is drawing arrows in the sentence frame. Which device does the sentence use, and where does its arrow go?

   • Synecdoche: “the orchard,” a whole, stands for a single apple tree.
   • Synecdoche: “hands,” a part, stands for whole workers.
   • Metonymy: “hands” is a related idea that stands for hard work in general.
   • Apostrophe: the newsletter speaks directly to the workers' hands.
8. 8.

   “This hall is for the curious, this hall is for the patient, this hall is for anyone who asks why.” Kira must decide whether this repetition is anaphora or a look-alike. Which label and reason are right?

   • Epistrophe, because each clause ends with the same repeated words.
   • Anaphora, because the sentence lists three kinds of visitors.
   • Chiasmus, because the words of the first clause return in reverse order.
   • Anaphora, because each clause begins with the same words, “this hall is for.”
9. 9.

   “Old light on the point, you have outlasted every keeper who climbed your stairs.” Ren is drawing arrows in the sentence frame. Which device does the sentence use, and where does its arrow go?

   • Apostrophe: the speaker speaks directly to the keepers who climbed the stairs.
   • Rhetorical question: the speaker asks the lighthouse something without wanting an answer.
   • Personification: the lighthouse is given human traits but is not spoken to.
   • Apostrophe: the speaker turns and speaks directly to the lighthouse.
10. 10.

    “Do not fit the facts to your idea; fit your idea to the facts.” Esme is drawing the crossing arrows in this chiasmus. Which words cross?

    • “Do not fit” and “fit,” which set a wrong way against a right way.
    • “Do not” and “fit,” which trade places in the second half.
    • The whole sentence, which repeats word for word in backward order.
    • “the facts” and “your idea,” which trade places in the second half.