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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 real or assumed personality used by a writer or speaker






2. The interrelationship among the events in a story; the plot line is the pattern of events - including exposition - rising action - climax - falling action - and resolution.






3. A phrase - idea - or event that through repetition serves to unify or convey a theme in a work of literature






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






5. A comedy that contains an extravagant and nonsensical disregard of seriousness - although it may have a serious - scornful purpose.






6. In contrast to Dionysian - it refers to the most noble - godlike qualities of human nature and behavior






7. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






8. 'In the middle of things'--a Latin term for a narrative that starts not at the beginning of events - but at some other critical point.






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






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






11. An abbreviated synopsis of a longer work of scholarship or research






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






13. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






14. 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






15. The excessive pride that often leads tragic heroes to their death






16. The pattern of rhymes within a given poem






17. A character whose name appears in the title of the novel or play; also known as the eponymous character






18. Language that conveys a speaker's attitude or opinion with regard to a particular subject






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






20. The repetition of two or more vowel sounds in a group of words or lines in poetry and prose






21. A poem or prose selection that laments or mediates on the passing or death of something or someone of value






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






23. A figure of speech in which objects and animals are given human characteristics






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






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






26. 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






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






28. A four-line poem or a four-line unit of a longer poem






29. A form of literature in which the hero is destroyed by some character flaw and a set of forces that cause the hero considerable anguish






30. A term that describes characters' excessive emotional response to experience; also nauseatingly nostalgic and mawkish






31. The general form - pattern - and manner of expression of a work of literature






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






33. A comparison that points out similarities between two dissimilar things






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






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






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






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






38. Also called figure of speech. In contrast to literal language - it implies meanings. Includes metaphors - similes - and personification - among others.






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






40. A style of writing in which the author tries to reproduce the random flow of thoughts in the human mind






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






42. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






43. A mode of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is stated - often implying ridicule or light sarcasm; a state of affairs or events that is the reverse of what might have been expected






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






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






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






47. A sharp - caustic expression or remark; a bitter jibe or taunt; different from irony - which is more subtle






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






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






50. A sentence that departs from the usual word order of English sentences by expressing its main though only at the end. In other words - the particulars in the sentence are presented before the idea they support.