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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. Faulty reasoning that inappropriately ascribes human feelings to nature or nonhuman objects






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






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






4. Personal - reflective poetry that reveals the speaker's thoughts and feelings about the subject






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






6. The high point - or turning point - of a story or play






7. The main character in a work of literature






8. A story containing unreal - imaginary features






9. A work of literature meant to ridicule a subject; a grotesque imitation






10. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






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






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






13. A series of comparisons between two unlike objects






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






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






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






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






18. 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






19. 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






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






21. A work of literature dealing with rural life






22. 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.






23. A form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity. Ex: He's not a bad dancer






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






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






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






27. The act of determining the meter of a poetic line.






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






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






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






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






32. A narrator with unlimited awareness - understanding - and insight of characters - setting - background - and all other elements of the story






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






34. 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






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






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






37. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






38. The use of one object to evoke ideas and associations not literally part of the original object






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






40. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






41. An imaginary story that has become an accepted part of the cultural or religious tradition of a group or society






42. In literature - the use of an artificial device or gimmick to solve a problem






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






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






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






46. A brief explanation - summary - or evaluation of a text or work of literature






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






48. 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.






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






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