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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. A concise but ingenious - witty - and thoughtful statement






2. A variety of poetry meant to entertain or amuse - but sometimes with a satirical thrust






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






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






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






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






7. A saying or proverb containing a truth based on experience and often couched in metaphorical language






8. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






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






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






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






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






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






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






15. A figurative comparison using the words like or as






16. 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






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






18. The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables found in poetry






19. A pause somewhere in the middle of a verse - often (but not always) marked by punctuation






20. 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.






21. A statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before






22. 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






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






24. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






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






26. The generic name for a figure of speech such as image - symbol - simile - and metaphor






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






28. The repetition of one or more initial consonants in a group of words or lines of poetry or prose






29. A cleansing of the spirit brought about by the pity and terror of a dramatic tragedy






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






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






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






33. A story containing unreal - imaginary features






34. 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.






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






36. 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






37. 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...'






38. 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






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






40. A verse with five poetic feet per line






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






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






43. A novel focusing on and describing the social customs and habits of a particular social group






44. 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.






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






46. 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.






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






48. A figure of speech that compares unlike objects






49. A feeling of association or identification with an object or person






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