Test your basic knowledge |

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 pause somewhere in the middle of a verse - often (but not always) marked by punctuation






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






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






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






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






6. 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






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






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






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






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






11. A locution that addresses a person or personified thing not present






12. The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables found in poetry






13. The background and events that lead to the presentation of the main idea or purpose of a work of literature






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






15. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






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






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






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






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






20. A short - pithy statement of a generally accepted truth or sentiment






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






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






23. A story containing unreal - imaginary features






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






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






26. A mode of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is stated - often implying ridicule or light sarcasm; a state of affairs or events that is the reverse of what might have been expected






27. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






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






29. The manner in which an author uses and arranges words -






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






31. A tale in which a young protagonist experiences an introduction to adulthood. The character may develop understanding via disillusionment - education - doses of reality - or any other experiences that alter his or her emotional or intellectual maturi






32. A reference to a person - place - or event meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of an idea






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






34. A figure of speech that uses the name of one thing to represent something else with which it is associated. Ex: 'The White House says...'






35. The interpretation or analysis of a text.






36. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






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






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






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






40. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






41. 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






42. A figurative comparison using the words like or as






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






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






45. A mild or less negative usage for a harsh or blunt term; i.e. 'pass away' instead of 'die'






46. 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






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






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






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






50. A work of literature meant to ridicule a subject; a grotesque imitation