Test your basic knowledge |

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






2. 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






3. A structure that provides premise or setting for a narrative






4. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






5. 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






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






7. A unit of stressed and unstressed syllables used to determine the meter of a poetic line.






8. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






9. A vagueness of meaning; a conscious lack of clarity meant to evoke multiple meanings and interpretation






10. A verse with five poetic feet per line






11. 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






12. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






13. 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'






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






15. The pattern of rhymes within a given poem






16. A sharp - caustic expression or remark; a bitter jibe or taunt; different from irony - which is more subtle






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






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






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






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






21. The language of a work and its style; words - often highly emotional - used to convince or sway an audience






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






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






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






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






26. The background and events that lead to the presentation of the main idea or purpose of a work of literature






27. A sentence that follows the customary word order of English sentences - i.e. subject-verb-object. The main idea of the sentence is presented first and is then followed by one or more subordinate clauses






28. A series of comparisons between two unlike objects






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






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






31. A statement that seems self-contradictory but is nevertheless true






32. The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that make up a line of poetry






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






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






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






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






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






38. The Anglo-Saxon language spoken in what is now England from approximately 450 to 1150 A.D.






39. The use of insincere or overdone sentimentality






40. A form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity. Ex: He's not a bad dancer






41. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






42. 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






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






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






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






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






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






48. The main character in a work of literature






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






50. 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.