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






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






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






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






5. A story consisting of events from which a moral or spiritual truth may be derived






6. A version of a text put into simpler - everyday words






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






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






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






10. A person - scene - event - or other element in literature that fails to correspond with the time or era in which the work is set






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






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






13. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






14. The use of insincere or overdone sentimentality






15. A variety of poetry meant to entertain or amuse - but sometimes with a satirical thrust






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






17. 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.






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






19. A form of verse or prose that tells a story






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






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






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






23. 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






24. A work of literature dealing with rural life






25. Pleasing - harmonious sounds






26. A rhetorical opposition or contrast of ideas by means of a grammatical arrangement of words - clauses - or sentences: 'They promised freedom but provided slavery'






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






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






29. A sentence containing a deliberate omission of words. In the sentence 'May was hot and June the same -' the verb 'was' is omitted from the second clause






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






31. A pair of rhyming lines in a poem






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






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






34. A pause somewhere in the middle of a verse - often (but not always) marked by punctuation






35. A brief explanation - summary - or evaluation of a text or work of literature






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






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






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






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






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






41. A sharp - caustic expression or remark; a bitter jibe or taunt; different from irony - which is more subtle






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






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






44. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






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






46. The role or facade that a character assumes or depicts to a reader - a viewer - or the world at large






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






48. The emotional tone in a work of literature






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






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