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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.
  • 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 brief explanation - summary - or evaluation of a text or work of literature






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






3. A German word referring to a novel structured as a series of events that take place as the hero travels in quest of a goal






4. 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'






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






6. The action in a play or story that occurs after the climax and that leads to the conclusion and often to the resolution of the conflict






7. A synonym for poetry. Also a group of lines in a song or poem; also a single line of poetry






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






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






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






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






12. 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...'






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






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






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






16. A novel in which supernatural horrors and an atmosphere of unknown terrors pervades the action






17. A piece of writing that reveals weaknesses - faults - frailties - or other shortcomings






18. Poetry written in iambic pentameter - the primary meter used in English poetry and the works of Shakespeare and Milton






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






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






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






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






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






24. 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.






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






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






27. French term for the world of books - criticism - and literature in general






28. A belief that emphasizes faith and optimism in human potential and creativity






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






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






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






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






33. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






34. 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.






35. Grating - inharmonious sounds






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






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






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






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






40. A story containing unreal - imaginary features






41. A figurative comparison using the words like or as






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






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






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






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






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






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






48. 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






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






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