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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.
  • 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. The use of insincere or overdone sentimentality






2. The action in a play or story that occurs after the climax and that leads to the conclusion and often to the resolution of the conflict






3. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






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






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






6. 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






7. A form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity. Ex: He's not a bad dancer






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






9. 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






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






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






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






13. Grating - inharmonious sounds






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






15. 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.






16. A character or force in a work of literature that - by opposing the protagonist produces tension or conflict






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






18. A lyric poem or passage that describes a kind of ideal life or place






19. The pattern of rhymes within a given poem






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






21. A style of writing in which the author tries to reproduce the random flow of thoughts in the human mind






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






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






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






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






26. A cleansing of the spirit brought about by the pity and terror of a dramatic tragedy






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






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






29. A verse with five poetic feet per line






30. The main character in a work of literature






31. 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






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






33. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






34. A sentence that departs from the usual word order of English sentences by expressing its main though only at the end. In other words - the particulars in the sentence are presented before the idea they support.






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






36. A saying or proverb containing a truth based on experience and often couched in metaphorical language






37. 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






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






39. The resolution that occurs at the end of a play or work of fiction






40. In poetry - the use of successive lines with no punctuation or pause between them






41. The dictionary definition of a word






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






43. The Anglo-Saxon language spoken in what is now England from approximately 450 to 1150 A.D.






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






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






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






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






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






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






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