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






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






3. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






4. The pattern of rhymes within a given poem






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






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






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






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






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






10. That element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow






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






12. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






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






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






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






16. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






17. In contrast to Dionysian - it refers to the most noble - godlike qualities of human nature and behavior






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






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






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






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






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






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






24. A figurative comparison using the words like or as






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






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






27. Novels written for mass consumption - often emphasizing exciting and titillating plots






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






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






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






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






32. 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






33. A short - pithy statement of a generally accepted truth or sentiment






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






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






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






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. An extended narrative about improbable events and extraordinary people in exotic places






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






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






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. The choice of words in oral and written discourse






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






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






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






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






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






48. 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.






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






50. 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