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






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






3. A unit of stressed and unstressed syllables used to determine the meter of a poetic line.






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






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






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






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






8. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






14. A figure of speech that compares unlike objects






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






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






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






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






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






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






21. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






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






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






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






25. A sentence containing a deliberate omission of words. In the sentence 'May was hot and June the same -' the verb 'was' is omitted from the second clause






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






27. 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






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






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






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






31. 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'






32. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






33. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






34. A four-line poem or a four-line unit of a longer poem






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






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






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






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






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






40. A sharp - caustic expression or remark; a bitter jibe or taunt; different from irony - which is more subtle






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






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






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






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






45. The main character in a work of literature






46. The choice of words in oral and written discourse






47. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






48. 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






49. 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.






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