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






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






3. A figurative comparison using the words like or as






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






5. A verse with five poetic feet per line






6. 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






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






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






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






10. A literary form in which events are exaggerated in order to create an extreme emotional response






11. The choice of words in oral and written discourse






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






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






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






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






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






17. A reference to a person - place - or event meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of an idea






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






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






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






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






22. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






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






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






25. A rhetorical opposition or contrast of ideas by means of a grammatical arrangement of words - clauses - or sentences: 'They promised freedom but provided slavery'






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






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






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






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






30. A term consisting of contradictory elements juxtaposed to create a paradoxical effect






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






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






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






34. Pleasing - harmonious sounds






35. Three periods (. . .) indicating the omission of words in a thought or quotation






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






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






38. A poem or prose selection that laments or mediates on the passing or death of something or someone of value






39. That element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow






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






41. Grating - inharmonious sounds






42. A subordinate or minor collection of events in a novel or play - usually connected to the main plot






43. The main character in a work of literature






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






45. A story consisting of events from which a moral or spiritual truth may be derived






46. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






47. The repetition of two or more consonant sounds in a group of words or a line of poetry






48. 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






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






50. A locution that addresses a person or personified thing not present