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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. Pleasing - harmonious sounds






2. A forceful sermon - lecture - or tirade






3. 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.






4. French for a novel in which hisotrical events and actual people appear under the guise of fiction






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






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






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






8. The excessive pride that often leads tragic heroes to their death






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






10. A verse with five poetic feet per line






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






12. The emotional tone in a work of literature






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






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






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






16. A mild or less negative usage for a harsh or blunt term; i.e. 'pass away' instead of 'die'






17. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






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






19. The resolution that occurs at the end of a play or work of fiction






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






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






22. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






23. A mocking - satirical assault on a person or situation






24. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






33. The quickness of intellect and the power and talent for saying brilliant things that suprise and delight by their unexpectedness; the power to comment subtly and pointedly on the foibles of the passing scene






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






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






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






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






38. A series of comparisons between two unlike objects






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






40. One of the ancient Greek goddesses presiding over the arts. The imaginary source of inspiration for an artist or writer






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






42. The dictionary definition of a word






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






44. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






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






46. '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.






47. 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






48. A synonym for view or feeling; also a refined and tender emotion in literature






49. Similar to the truth; the quality of realism in a work that persuades readers that they are getting a vision of life as it is.






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