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AP Literary Terms

Subjects : english, ap, literature
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
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  • Match each statement with the correct term.
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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. A variety of poetry meant to entertain or amuse - but sometimes with a satirical thrust






2. 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






3. A synonym for view or feeling; also a refined and tender emotion in literature






4. A vagueness of meaning; a conscious lack of clarity meant to evoke multiple meanings and interpretation






5. A term that describes a line of poetry that ends with a natural pause often indicated by a mark of punctuation.






6. Grating - inharmonious sounds






7. A structure that provides premise or setting for a narrative






8. A character or force in a work of literature that - by opposing the protagonist produces tension or conflict






9. A highly regarded work of literature or other art form that has withstood the test of time






10. An abstract or ideal conception of a type; a perfectly typical example; an original model or form






11. A lyric poem or passage that describes a kind of ideal life or place






12. A term for the title character of a work of literature






13. The works considered most important in a national literature or period; works widely read and studied






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






15. The manner in which an author uses and arranges words -






16. The interpretation or analysis of a text.






17. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






18. A mild or less negative usage for a harsh or blunt term; i.e. 'pass away' instead of 'die'






19. A popular form of verse consisting of fourteen lines and a prescribed rhyme scheme.






20. A narrative told by a character involved in the story - using first-person pronouns such as I and we.






21. A work of fiction of roughly 20 -000 to 50 -000 words--longer than a short story - but shorter than a novel






22. 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






23. The implied meaning that underlies the main meaning of a work of literature






24. The real or assumed personality used by a writer or speaker






25. A poet; in olden times - a performer who told heroic stories to musical accompaniment






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






27. A tale in which a young protagonist experiences an introduction to adulthood. The character may develop understanding via disillusionment - education - doses of reality - or any other experiences that alter his or her emotional or intellectual maturi






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






29. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






30. A form of verse or prose that tells a story






31. The quickness of intellect and the power and talent for saying brilliant things that suprise and delight by their unexpectedness; the power to comment subtly and pointedly on the foibles of the passing scene






32. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






33. The structural form of a line of verse as revealed by the number of feet it contains. For example: monometer = 1foot; tetrameter = 4 feet; pentameter = 5 feet - and so forth






34. The action in a play or story that occurs after the climax and that leads to the conclusion and often to the resolution of the conflict






35. Pleasing - harmonious sounds






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






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






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






39. The suggested or implied meaning of a word or phrase






40. A short tale often featuring nonhuman characters that act as people whose actions enable the author to make observations or draw useful lessons about human behavior






41. An episodic novel about a roguelike wanderer who lives off his wits. Ex: Don Quixote - Moll Flanders






42. Three periods (. . .) indicating the omission of words in a thought or quotation






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






44. A simple narrative verse that tells a story that is sung or recited






45. French term for the world of books - criticism - and literature in general






46. A piece of writing that reveals weaknesses - faults - frailties - or other shortcomings






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






48. A story containing unreal - imaginary features






49. The repetition of two or more consonant sounds in a group of words or a line of poetry






50. A series of comparisons between two unlike objects