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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 figure of speech in which objects and animals are given human characteristics






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






3. That element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow






4. A tale in which a young protagonist experiences an introduction to adulthood. The character may develop understanding via disillusionment - education - doses of reality - or any other experiences that alter his or her emotional or intellectual maturi






5. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






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






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






8. A synonym for view or feeling; also a refined and tender emotion in literature






9. A short - pithy statement of a generally accepted truth or sentiment






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






11. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






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






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






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






15. A literary style used to poke fun at - attack - or ridicule an idea - vice - or foible - often for the purpose of inducing change






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






17. A verse with five poetic feet per line






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






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






20. 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






21. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






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






23. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






24. The main character in a work of literature






25. The dictionary definition of a word






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






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






28. Three periods (. . .) indicating the omission of words in a thought or quotation






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






30. A reference to a person - place - or event meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of an idea






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






32. 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.






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






34. A pair of rhyming lines in a poem






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






36. French term for the world of books - criticism - and literature in general






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






38. The emotional tone in a work of literature






39. A piece of writing that reveals weaknesses - faults - frailties - or other shortcomings






40. The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that make up a line of poetry






41. The suggested or implied meaning of a word or phrase






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






43. A highly regarded work of literature or other art form that has withstood the test of time






44. A statement that seems self-contradictory but is nevertheless true






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






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






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






48. Also called 'pen name' or 'nom de plume'; a false name or alias used by writers. Ex: Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)






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






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