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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. 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






2. A grotesque likeness of striking qualities in persons and things






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






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






5. A story containing unreal - imaginary features






6. A forceful sermon - lecture - or tirade






7. That element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow






8. Also called figure of speech. In contrast to literal language - it implies meanings. Includes metaphors - similes - and personification - among others.






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






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






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






12. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






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






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






15. The repetition of similar sounds at regular intervals - used mostly in poetry.






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






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






18. 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






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






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






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






22. The pattern of rhymes within a given poem






23. 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...'






24. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






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






26. The dictionary definition of a word






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






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






29. A circumstance in which the audience or reader knows more about a situation than a character - ex. Oedipus Rex






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






31. A figurative comparison using the words like or as






32. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






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






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






35. A form of verse or prose that tells a story






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






37. 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'






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






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






40. The main character in a work of literature






41. As distinguished from Apollonian - the word refers to sensual - pleasure-seeking impulses






42. 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






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






44. The emotional tone in a work of literature






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






46. A work of literature meant to ridicule a subject; a grotesque imitation






47. The work of poets - particularly those of the seventeenth century - that uses elaborate conceits - is highly intellectual - and expresses the complexities of love and life






48. The use of one object to evoke ideas and associations not literally part of the original object






49. 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.






50. A verse with five poetic feet per line