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






2. 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






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






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






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






6. The choice of words in oral and written discourse






7. The interpretation or analysis of a text.






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






9. A forceful sermon - lecture - or tirade






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






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






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






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






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






15. 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






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






17. The implied meaning that underlies the main meaning of a work of literature






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






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






20. Language that conveys a speaker's attitude or opinion with regard to a particular subject






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






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






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






24. 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






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






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






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






28. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






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






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






31. 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






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






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






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






35. A figure of speech that compares unlike objects






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






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






38. 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






39. The main character in a work of literature






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






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






42. A pair of rhyming lines in a poem






43. Grating - inharmonious sounds






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






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






46. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






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






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






49. The language spoken in England roughly between 1150 and 1500 A.D.






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