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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. A work of literature dealing with rural life






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






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






4. A humorous play on words - using similar-sounding or identical words to suggest different meanings






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






7. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






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






9. A brief explanation - summary - or evaluation of a text or work of literature






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






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






12. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






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






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






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






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






17. 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






18. 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






19. The emotional tone in a work of literature






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






21. A discrepancy between the true meaning of a situation and the literal meaning of the written or spoken words






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






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






24. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






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






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






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






28. '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.






29. Pleasing - harmonious sounds






30. The high point - or turning point - of a story or play






31. Grating - inharmonious sounds






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






33. The use of insincere or overdone sentimentality






34. A pair of rhyming lines in a poem






35. 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






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






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






38. A series of comparisons between two unlike objects






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






40. A verse with five poetic feet per line






41. A figure of speech in which a part signifies the whole ('fifty masts' for fifty ships) or the whole signifies the part ('days' for life - as in 'He lived his days in Canada'). Also when the name of the material stands for the thing itself ('pigskin'






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






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






44. An extended narrative poem that tells of the adventures and exploits of a hero that is generally larger than life and is often considered a legendary figure - i.e. Odysseus - Beowulf - Homer's Iliad - Vergil's Aeneid.






45. A term consisting of contradictory elements juxtaposed to create a paradoxical effect






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






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






48. 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






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






50. 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