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






2. A sharp - caustic expression or remark; a bitter jibe or taunt; different from irony - which is more subtle






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






4. A forceful sermon - lecture - or tirade






5. A concise but ingenious - witty - and thoughtful statement






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






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






8. A term often used as a synonym for realism - also a view of experience that is generally characterized as bleak and pessimistic.






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






10. The works considered most important in a national literature or period; works widely read and studied






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






12. A figure of speech that compares unlike objects






13. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






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






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






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






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






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






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






21. The dictionary definition of a word






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






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






24. 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






25. 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






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






27. The relation in which a narrator or speaker stands to the story or subject matter of a poem.






28. A simple narrative verse that tells a story that is sung or recited






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






30. A story containing unreal - imaginary features






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






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






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






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






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






36. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






37. 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






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






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






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






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






42. A literary form in which events are exaggerated in order to create an extreme emotional response






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






44. The repetition of two or more consonant sounds in a group of words or a line of poetry






45. Novels written for mass consumption - often emphasizing exciting and titillating plots






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






47. Personal - reflective poetry that reveals the speaker's thoughts and feelings about the subject






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






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






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