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






2. A phrase - idea - or event that through repetition serves to unify or convey a theme in a work of literature






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






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






5. 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






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






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






9. A work of literature dealing with rural life






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






11. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






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






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






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






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






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






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






18. 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






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






20. 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






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






22. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






23. Pleasing - harmonious sounds






24. A story containing unreal - imaginary features






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






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






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






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






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






30. 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.






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






32. The emotional tone in a work of literature






33. A pair of rhyming lines in a poem






34. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






35. A group of two or more lines in poetry combined according to subject matter - rhyme - or some other plan






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






43. A verse with five poetic feet per line






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






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






46. The suggested or implied meaning of a word or phrase






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






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






49. The repetition of two or more vowel sounds in a group of words or lines in poetry and prose






50. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth