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






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






3. The emotional tone in a work of literature






4. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






10. The suggested or implied meaning of a word or phrase






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






12. The main character in a work of literature






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






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






15. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






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






17. A story containing unreal - imaginary features






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






19. 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






20. A pair of rhyming lines in a poem






21. In literature - the use of an artificial device or gimmick to solve a problem






22. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






23. A highly regarded work of literature or other art form that has withstood the test of time






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






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






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






27. Grating - inharmonious sounds






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






29. 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.






30. A work of literature dealing with rural life






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






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






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






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






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






36. A brief and often simplistic lesson that a reader may infer from a work of literature






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






38. 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






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






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






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






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






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






44. A series of comparisons between two unlike objects






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






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






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






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






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






50. A comedy that contains an extravagant and nonsensical disregard of seriousness - although it may have a serious - scornful purpose.