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






2. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






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






4. A term that describes a line of poetry that ends with a natural pause often indicated by a mark of punctuation.






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






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






7. Also called 'pen name' or 'nom de plume'; a false name or alias used by writers. Ex: Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)






8. A forceful sermon - lecture - or tirade






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






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






11. 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.






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






13. A witty or ingenious thought; a diverting or highly fanciful idea - often stated in figurative language






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






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






16. The interpretation or analysis of a text.






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






26. Language that conveys a speaker's attitude or opinion with regard to a particular subject






27. Grating - inharmonious sounds






28. The choice of words in oral and written discourse






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






41. A pair of rhyming lines in a poem






42. 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






43. Pleasing - harmonious sounds






44. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






45. A work of literature dealing with rural life






46. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






47. 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






48. 'In the middle of things'--a Latin term for a narrative that starts not at the beginning of events - but at some other critical point.






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






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