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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 main character in a work of literature






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






3. A structure that provides premise or setting for a narrative






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






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






6. 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






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






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






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






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






11. A synonym for poetry. Also a group of lines in a song or poem; also a single line of poetry






12. A work of literature dealing with rural life






13. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






14. 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






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






16. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






17. 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






18. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






19. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






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






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






22. A work of fiction of roughly 20 -000 to 50 -000 words--longer than a short story - but shorter than a novel






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






24. The interpretation or analysis of a text.






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






35. The relation in which a narrator or speaker stands to the story or subject matter of a poem.






36. The repetition of two or more vowel sounds in a group of words or lines in poetry and prose






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






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






39. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






40. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






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






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






43. A story containing unreal - imaginary features






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






45. Grating - inharmonious sounds






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






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






48. 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






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






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