Day 5: Literary Terms Quiz and Irony Lesson Plan
Check for mastery and introduce the nuances of irony. In Day 5 of the Grade 9 English course, students complete their first formal assessment with a Literary Terms Quiz before diving into verbal, situational, and dramatic irony using high-engagement media clips.
Time: 75 Minutes | Key Concepts: Irony (Verbal, Situational, Dramatic), Summative Assessment, Plot Review
Learning Goals and Standards
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
- Demonstrate understanding of core literary terms introduced earlier in the unit
- Apply literary terminology accurately in reading and discussion
- Distinguish between verbal, situational, and dramatic irony
- Identify examples of irony in visual media and narrative contexts
- Use literary vocabulary to support interpretation of texts
Aligned Global Competencies / Standards / ELA Curriculum
This lesson supports international secondary English expectations such as:
Ontario Curriculum Alignment (ENL1W)
Strand B: Foundations of Language — Demonstrating an understanding of specialized terminology and figurative language to interpret and create texts (B2.1)
Strand A: Literacy Connections and Applications — Applying knowledge of literary elements and terminology to support comprehension and communication (A1.2)
Common Core (Grades 9–10 Reading: Craft and Structure)
Determine the meaning of words and phrases as they are used in a text, including figurative and connotative meanings (RL.9–10.4)
IB Language & Literature (ATL Skills)
Develop analytical vocabulary and interpret how language choices influence meaning and audience understanding
Cambridge IGCSE English Literature
Recognize writers’ methods and explain how language and structure create effects
OECD Global Competence Framework
Interpret communication across texts using discipline-specific vocabulary
UNESCO Literacy Framework
Strengthen interpretive reading through explicit understanding of literary terminology
Resources
- Literary Devices Quiz – Part 1 (Google Forms)
- Teen Titans Go Videos (Embedded Below)
Bell Ringer
“Which Term Fits?” (5 minutes)
Write this sentence on the board:
The wind whispered through the trees.
Ask students:
- What device is being used?
- How do you know?
- What makes it not imagery alone?
Follow with:
The fire swallowed the entire house.
Ask again:
What changed?
Students begin distinguishing personification vs imagery vs metaphor, which prepares them for success on the quiz and reinforces precise terminology rather than guessing.
Lesson Flow
1. Independent Reading & Reading Log (15 minutes)
Begin class by handing out the reading logs.
Students will read silently for 10–15 minutes and record one important thing from their book.
2. Literary Terms Quiz (10–15 minutes)
Administer the literary terms quiz using Google Forms (covering the first 15 terms from the glossary introduced earlier in the unit).
Allow students to complete the quiz individually.
This gives you quick, trackable data on which terms need reteaching.
3. Video Clips: Irony in Teen Titans Go (10 minutes)
Play a short YouTube clip of Teen Titans Go that highlights different types of irony (verbal, situational, dramatic).
Ask students to note examples as they watch.
4. Writing Definitions of Irony (10 minutes)
After the clip, have students write out the definitions for:
Verbal Irony
Situational Irony
Dramatic Irony
Discuss as a class, making sure they can apply examples from the video.
| Type of Irony | Definition | Simple Example |
| Verbal Irony | When a character says the opposite of what they mean (Sarcasm). | Looking at a rainstorm and saying, “What a beautiful day!” |
| Situational Irony | When the actual outcome is the opposite of what was expected. | A fire station burning down. |
| Dramatic Irony | When the audience knows something the characters do not. | In a horror movie, the audience sees the killer in the closet, but the protagonist does not. |
5. Complete and Submit Plot Diagrams (10 minutes)
Have students return to their plot diagrams from the previous lesson.
Give them a few minutes to finish, then collect them for assessment.
Content & Activity
Teen Titans Videos on Irony:
Verbal Irony
Dramatic Irony
Situational irony
First-Hand Suggestions
I treat this quiz as a checkpoint rather than a high-stakes test. It gives me quick information about which terms students actually remember and which ones need reteaching. I’ve found that pairing the quiz with short irony examples right afterward keeps the lesson active and prevents it from feeling like a “test day.”
Differentiation
For Students with IEPs
- Allow extended time on the quiz
- Reduce answer choices where appropriate
- Provide a word bank version if needed
- Permit oral clarification of instructions
- Offer one example question together before starting
For English Language Learners
Pre-teach irony vocabulary before the video segment:
| Term | Student-Friendly Meaning |
|---|---|
| verbal irony | saying the opposite of what you mean |
| situational irony | the opposite of what you expect happens |
| dramatic irony | the audience knows something characters do not |
Strategies:
- Pause video clips to discuss examples visually
- Provide sentence frames:
- “This is ironic because…”
- Allow partner discussion before written definitions
- Accept short phrases instead of full definitions initially
Literary Terms Quiz FAQ
What terms are covered in the Day 5 Literary Terms Quiz? The quiz covers the first 15 terms from the Grade 9 English glossary, including basics like alliteration, allusion, and anaphora introduced in the first week of the course.
How do Teen Titans Go! clips help teach irony? The show uses meta-humor and exaggerated situations that clearly illustrate the difference between verbal, situational, and dramatic irony in a way that is highly accessible for Grade 9 students.
Is the literary terms quiz available as a digital download? Yes, this lesson plan includes a link to a Google Forms version of the quiz that teachers can copy and customize for their own classrooms.
Previous Lesson: Practice Identifying Plot
Next Lesson: Mood and Setting in Literature
