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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. An abbreviated synopsis of a longer work of scholarship or research






2. A French verse form calculated to appear simple and spontaneous but consisting of nineteen lines and a prescribed pattern of rhymes






3. 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






4. A lyric poem usually marked by serious - respectful - and exalted feeling towards the subject






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






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






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






8. The real or assumed personality used by a writer or speaker






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






10. A poet; in olden times - a performer who told heroic stories to musical accompaniment






11. The emotional tone in a work of literature






12. A forceful sermon - lecture - or tirade






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






14. A narrative told by a character involved in the story - using first-person pronouns such as I and we.






15. The depiction of people - things - and events as they really are without idealization or exaggeration for effect.






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






17. 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






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






19. A comparison that points out similarities between two dissimilar things






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






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






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






23. A pair of rhyming lines in a poem






24. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






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






26. The high point - or turning point - of a story or play






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






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






29. A work of fiction of roughly 20 -000 to 50 -000 words--longer than a short story - but shorter than a novel






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






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






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






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






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






35. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






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






37. A statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before






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






39. The use of insincere or overdone sentimentality






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






41. 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.






42. 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






43. The interpretation or analysis of a text.






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






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






46. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






47. The pattern of rhymes within a given poem






48. A variety of poetry meant to entertain or amuse - but sometimes with a satirical thrust






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