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






2. The language spoken in England roughly between 1150 and 1500 A.D.






3. The emotional tone in a work of literature






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






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






6. The choice of words in oral and written discourse






7. The works considered most important in a national literature or period; works widely read and studied






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






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






10. A mode of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is stated - often implying ridicule or light sarcasm; a state of affairs or events that is the reverse of what might have been expected






11. The pattern of rhymes within a given poem






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






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






14. A figure of speech that compares unlike objects






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






16. The excessive pride that often leads tragic heroes to their death






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






18. An extended narrative poem that tells of the adventures and exploits of a hero that is generally larger than life and is often considered a legendary figure - i.e. Odysseus - Beowulf - Homer's Iliad - Vergil's Aeneid.






19. A work of literature meant to ridicule a subject; a grotesque imitation






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






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






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






23. The generic name for a figure of speech such as image - symbol - simile - and metaphor






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






25. An adjective or phrase that expresses a striking quality of a person or thing - ex. sun-bright topaz - sun-lit lake - sun-bright lake






26. A unit of stressed and unstressed syllables used to determine the meter of a poetic line.






27. A figurative comparison using the words like or as






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






29. A detailed analysis or interpretation of a work of literature






30. A verse with five poetic feet per line






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






32. A forceful sermon - lecture - or tirade






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






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






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






36. The act of determining the meter of a poetic line.






37. A pair of rhyming lines in a poem






38. The quickness of intellect and the power and talent for saying brilliant things that suprise and delight by their unexpectedness; the power to comment subtly and pointedly on the foibles of the passing scene






39. The structural form of a line of verse as revealed by the number of feet it contains. For example: monometer = 1foot; tetrameter = 4 feet; pentameter = 5 feet - and so forth






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






41. A term consisting of contradictory elements juxtaposed to create a paradoxical effect






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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