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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. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






9. 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






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






11. A style of writing in which the author tries to reproduce the random flow of thoughts in the human mind






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






13. The use of insincere or overdone sentimentality






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






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






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






17. A word or phrase representing that which can be seen - touched - tasted - smelled - or felt






18. 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






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






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






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






22. 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






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






24. 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'






25. 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.






26. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






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






28. The main character in a work of literature






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






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






31. A figure of speech that compares unlike objects






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






33. 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...'






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






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






36. An abbreviated synopsis of a longer work of scholarship or research






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






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






39. 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






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






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






42. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






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






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






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






46. A narrator with unlimited awareness - understanding - and insight of characters - setting - background - and all other elements of the story






47. 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.






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






49. Grating - inharmonious sounds






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







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