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






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






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






4. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






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






6. A grotesque likeness of striking qualities in persons and things






7. 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...'






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






9. The emotional tone in a work of literature






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






11. A verse with five poetic feet per line






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






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






14. That element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow






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






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






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






18. 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.






19. 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.






20. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






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






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






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






24. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






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






26. A series of comparisons between two unlike objects






27. A parody of traditional epic form. It usually treats a frivolous topic with extreme seriousness - using conventions such as invocations to the Muse - action-packed battle scenes - and accounts of heroic exploits.






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






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






30. '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.






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






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






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






34. 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






35. The main character in a work of literature






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






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






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






39. A concise but ingenious - witty - and thoughtful statement






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






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






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






43. 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






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






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






46. A figure of speech that compares unlike objects






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






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






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







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