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AP Literary Terms

Subjects : english, ap, literature
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • 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. Grating - inharmonious sounds






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






3. 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






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






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






6. An extended narrative about improbable events and extraordinary people in exotic places






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






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






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






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






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






12. A character whose name appears in the title of the novel or play; also known as the eponymous character






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






20. 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






21. A forceful sermon - lecture - or tirade






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






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






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






25. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






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






27. The Anglo-Saxon language spoken in what is now England from approximately 450 to 1150 A.D.






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






29. 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






30. A figurative comparison using the words like or as






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






32. The depiction of people - things - and events as they really are without idealization or exaggeration for effect.






33. A saying or proverb containing a truth based on experience and often couched in metaphorical language






34. A list of works cited or otherwise relevant to a subject or other work.






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






36. The implied meaning that underlies the main meaning of a work of literature






37. The choice of words in oral and written discourse






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






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






40. 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






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






42. A phrase - idea - or event that through repetition serves to unify or convey a theme in a work of literature






43. A group of two or more lines in poetry combined according to subject matter - rhyme - or some other plan






44. A rendering of a quotation in which actual words are not stated but only approximated or paraphrased






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






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






47. A term often used as a synonym for realism - also a view of experience that is generally characterized as bleak and pessimistic.






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






49. A pair of rhyming lines in a poem






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