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






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






4. 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






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






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






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






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






9. 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






10. The choice of words in oral and written discourse






11. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






21. 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






22. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






23. A verse with five poetic feet per line






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. A pair of rhyming lines in a poem






26. 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.






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






28. A German word referring to a novel structured as a series of events that take place as the hero travels in quest of a goal






29. A novel focusing on and describing the social customs and habits of a particular social group






30. The interpretation or analysis of a text.






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






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






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






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






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






36. A character or force in a work of literature that - by opposing the protagonist produces tension or conflict






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






38. The emotional tone in a work of literature






39. A figurative comparison using the words like or as






40. Also called 'pen name' or 'nom de plume'; a false name or alias used by writers. Ex: Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)






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






42. The dictionary definition of a word






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






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






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






46. 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.






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






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






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






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