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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 return to an earlier time in a story or play in order to clarify present action or circumstances.






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






3. Literally - 'seize the day'; enjoy life while you can - a common theme in literature






4. A quick succession of images or impressions used to express an idea






5. 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.






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






7. A term often used as a synonym for realism - also a view of experience that is generally characterized as bleak and pessimistic.






8. As distinguished from Apollonian - the word refers to sensual - pleasure-seeking impulses






9. An adjective or phrase that expresses a striking quality of a person or thing - ex. sun-bright topaz - sun-lit lake - sun-bright lake






10. A work of literature dealing with rural life






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






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






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






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






15. That element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow






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






17. A story containing unreal - imaginary features






18. 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






19. A novel in which supernatural horrors and an atmosphere of unknown terrors pervades the action






20. A statement that seems self-contradictory but is nevertheless true






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






22. 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






23. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






24. Similar to the truth; the quality of realism in a work that persuades readers that they are getting a vision of life as it is.






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






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






27. A brief and often simplistic lesson that a reader may infer from a work of literature






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






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






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






31. A list of works cited or otherwise relevant to a subject or other work.






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






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






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






35. A rhetorical opposition or contrast of ideas by means of a grammatical arrangement of words - clauses - or sentences: 'They promised freedom but provided slavery'






36. A group of two or more lines in poetry combined according to subject matter - rhyme - or some other plan






37. The emotional tone in a work of literature






38. An extended narrative poem that tells of the adventures and exploits of a hero that is generally larger than life and is often considered a legendary figure - i.e. Odysseus - Beowulf - Homer's Iliad - Vergil's Aeneid.






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






40. The organization of language into meaningful structure; every sentence has a particular pattern of words






41. 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






42. Two rhymed lines written in iambic pentameter and used widely in eighteenth-century verse.






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






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






45. The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that make up a line of poetry






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






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






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






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






50. The language of a work and its style; words - often highly emotional - used to convince or sway an audience







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