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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 concise but ingenious - witty - and thoughtful statement






2. 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.






3. 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.






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






5. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






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






7. A kind of poetry without rhymed lines - rhythm - or fixed metrical feet






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






15. The pattern of rhymes within a given poem






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






17. A version of a text put into simpler - everyday words






18. The dictionary definition of a word






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






20. 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.






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






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






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






24. A story in which the narrative or characters carry an underlying symbolic - metaphorical - or possibly an ethical meaning






25. 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...'






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






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






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






29. 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






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






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






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






33. 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






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






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






36. One of the ancient Greek goddesses presiding over the arts. The imaginary source of inspiration for an artist or writer






37. 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






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






39. 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






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






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






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






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






44. A figurative comparison using the words like or as






45. 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






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






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






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






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






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







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