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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 locution that addresses a person or personified thing not present






2. The use of insincere or overdone sentimentality






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






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






5. A pair of rhyming lines in a poem






6. The emotional tone in a work of literature






7. A story containing unreal - imaginary features






8. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






9. 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






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






11. A kind of poetry without rhymed lines - rhythm - or fixed metrical feet






12. Grating - inharmonious sounds






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






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






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






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






17. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






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






19. The choice of words in oral and written discourse






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






21. 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






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






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






24. A poem or prose selection that laments or mediates on the passing or death of something or someone of value






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






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






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






28. The language of a work and its style; words - often highly emotional - used to convince or sway an audience






29. 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






30. 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






31. A story consisting of events from which a moral or spiritual truth may be derived






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






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






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






35. The work of poets - particularly those of the seventeenth century - that uses elaborate conceits - is highly intellectual - and expresses the complexities of love and life






36. 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.






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






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






39. 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






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






41. The pattern of rhymes within a given poem






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






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






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






45. 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






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






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






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






49. A rendering of a quotation in which actual words are not stated but only approximated or paraphrased






50. A figurative comparison using the words like or as






Can you answer 50 questions in 15 minutes?



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