A play on words for literary effect is_________

Analyze the question: The question asks for the literary term that means a "play on words" used for a particular effect, such as humour or emphasis.

Explain the concept: Let's look at each option:

• A. Paradox: A statement that seems self-contradictory but reveals a deeper truth. Example: "The more you learn, the less you know."
• B. Pun: A play on words that exploits words with similar sounds or multiple meanings, usually for humour or emphasis. Example: Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet: "Ask for me tomorrow, and you shall find me a grave man." (Here "grave" means both serious and a burial place.)
• C. Satire: A work or style that uses ridicule, irony, or exaggeration to criticize people, society, or institutions.
• D. Elegy: A mournful poem written to lament the dead.

Solution: The key phrase is "play on words." This is the standard definition of a pun. A paradox plays with ideas, not words. Satire is about criticism. An elegy is about mourning.

Answer: The correct option is B. A Pun.

Tip: Link the words "pun" and "play" together: Pun = Play on words. When you see "play on words" in an exam, think pun right away. Also remember that a paradox is an idea that seems contradictory, not a word game.