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






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






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






4. 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...'






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






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






7. A return to an earlier time in a story or play in order to clarify present action or circumstances.






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






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






10. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






11. 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






12. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






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






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






15. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






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






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






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






19. A literary form in which events are exaggerated in order to create an extreme emotional response






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






21. A variety of poetry meant to entertain or amuse - but sometimes with a satirical thrust






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






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






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






25. One of the ancient Greek goddesses presiding over the arts. The imaginary source of inspiration for an artist or writer






26. 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






27. The use of insincere or overdone sentimentality






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






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






30. A simple narrative verse that tells a story that is sung or recited






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






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






33. A term for the title character of a work of literature






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






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






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






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






39. The main idea or meaning - often an abstract idea upon which a work of literature is built






40. A term used to describe literary forms - such as novel - play - and essay






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






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






43. Poetry written in iambic pentameter - the primary meter used in English poetry and the works of Shakespeare and Milton






44. 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.






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






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






47. The total environment for the action in a novel or play. It includes time - place - historical milieu - and social - political - and even spiritual circumstances






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






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






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