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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 brief explanation - summary - or evaluation of a text or work of literature






2. A novel in which supernatural horrors and an atmosphere of unknown terrors pervades the action






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






4. An imaginary story that has become an accepted part of the cultural or religious tradition of a group or society






5. 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






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






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






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






9. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






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






11. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






22. 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






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






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






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






26. An episodic novel about a roguelike wanderer who lives off his wits. Ex: Don Quixote - Moll Flanders






27. Deriving from the orderly qualities of ancient Greek and Roman culture; implies formality - objectivity - simplicity - and restraint






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






29. Literally - 'seize the day'; enjoy life while you can - a common theme in literature






30. A work of literature dealing with rural life






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






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






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






34. 'In the middle of things'--a Latin term for a narrative that starts not at the beginning of events - but at some other critical point.






35. That element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow






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






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






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






39. 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.






40. A pair of rhyming lines in a poem






41. A figure of speech that compares unlike objects






42. The role or facade that a character assumes or depicts to a reader - a viewer - or the world at large






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






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






45. 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






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






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






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






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






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