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AP Literary Terms

Subjects : english, ap, literature
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. The high point - or turning point - of a story or play






2. A French verse form calculated to appear simple and spontaneous but consisting of nineteen lines and a prescribed pattern of rhymes






3. The background and events that lead to the presentation of the main idea or purpose of a work of literature






4. A locution that addresses a person or personified thing not present






5. A variety of poetry meant to entertain or amuse - but sometimes with a satirical thrust






6. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






7. A concise but ingenious - witty - and thoughtful statement






8. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






9. A synonym for poetry. Also a group of lines in a song or poem; also a single line of poetry






10. A reference to a person - place - or event meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of an idea






11. That element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow






12. A belief that emphasizes faith and optimism in human potential and creativity






13. The role or facade that a character assumes or depicts to a reader - a viewer - or the world at large






14. The work of poets - particularly those of the seventeenth century - that uses elaborate conceits - is highly intellectual - and expresses the complexities of love and life






15. A person - scene - event - or other element in literature that fails to correspond with the time or era in which the work is set






16. One of the ancient Greek goddesses presiding over the arts. The imaginary source of inspiration for an artist or writer






17. A forceful sermon - lecture - or tirade






18. Deriving from the orderly qualities of ancient Greek and Roman culture; implies formality - objectivity - simplicity - and restraint






19. A statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before






20. A literary form in which events are exaggerated in order to create an extreme emotional response






21. The language spoken in England roughly between 1150 and 1500 A.D.






22. A sentence that follows the customary word order of English sentences - i.e. subject-verb-object. The main idea of the sentence is presented first and is then followed by one or more subordinate clauses






23. A cleansing of the spirit brought about by the pity and terror of a dramatic tragedy






24. A figure of speech that uses the name of one thing to represent something else with which it is associated. Ex: 'The White House says...'






25. A parody of traditional epic form. It usually treats a frivolous topic with extreme seriousness - using conventions such as invocations to the Muse - action-packed battle scenes - and accounts of heroic exploits.






26. A work of literature dealing with rural life






27. Also called 'pen name' or 'nom de plume'; a false name or alias used by writers. Ex: Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)






28. The Anglo-Saxon language spoken in what is now England from approximately 450 to 1150 A.D.






29. A discrepancy between the true meaning of a situation and the literal meaning of the written or spoken words






30. A device employed in Anglo-Saxon poetry in which the name of a thing is replaced by one of its functions or qualities - as in 'ring-giver' for king and 'whale-road' for ocean






31. A lyric poem usually marked by serious - respectful - and exalted feeling towards the subject






32. The emotional tone in a work of literature






33. The resolution that occurs at the end of a play or work of fiction






34. The repetition of one or more initial consonants in a group of words or lines of poetry or prose






35. A sentence containing a deliberate omission of words. In the sentence 'May was hot and June the same -' the verb 'was' is omitted from the second clause






36. A term consisting of contradictory elements juxtaposed to create a paradoxical effect






37. A word or phrase representing that which can be seen - touched - tasted - smelled - or felt






38. A unit of stressed and unstressed syllables used to determine the meter of a poetic line.






39. A novel focusing on and describing the social customs and habits of a particular social group






40. A story consisting of events from which a moral or spiritual truth may be derived






41. French for a novel in which hisotrical events and actual people appear under the guise of fiction






42. A grotesque likeness of striking qualities in persons and things






43. A term used to describe literary forms - such as novel - play - and essay






44. Providing hints of things to come in a story or play






45. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






46. The relation in which a narrator or speaker stands to the story or subject matter of a poem.






47. Novels written for mass consumption - often emphasizing exciting and titillating plots






48. A pair of rhyming lines in a poem






49. A subordinate or minor collection of events in a novel or play - usually connected to the main plot






50. A story in which the narrative or characters carry an underlying symbolic - metaphorical - or possibly an ethical meaning