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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.
  • 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. A figure of speech in which a part signifies the whole ('fifty masts' for fifty ships) or the whole signifies the part ('days' for life - as in 'He lived his days in Canada'). Also when the name of the material stands for the thing itself ('pigskin'






2. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






8. A humorous play on words - using similar-sounding or identical words to suggest different meanings






9. 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






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






11. 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...'






12. 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






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






14. The interpretation or analysis of a text.






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






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






17. 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






18. A story containing unreal - imaginary features






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






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






21. 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






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






23. 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






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






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






26. A rendering of a quotation in which actual words are not stated but only approximated or paraphrased






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






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






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






30. The main idea or meaning - often an abstract idea upon which a work of literature is built






31. Pleasing - harmonious sounds






32. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






33. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






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






35. The total environment for the action in a novel or play. It includes time - place - historical milieu - and social - political - and even spiritual circumstances






36. In poetry - the use of successive lines with no punctuation or pause between them






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






38. 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






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






40. A detailed analysis or interpretation of a work of literature






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






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






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






44. The choice of words in oral and written discourse






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






46. The author's attitude toward the subject being written about. The spirit or quality that is the work's emotional essence






47. A literary style used to poke fun at - attack - or ridicule an idea - vice - or foible - often for the purpose of inducing change






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






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






50. 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