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






2. 'In the middle of things'--a Latin term for a narrative that starts not at the beginning of events - but at some other critical point.






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






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






5. The use of insincere or overdone sentimentality






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






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






8. The choice of words in oral and written discourse






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






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






11. A French verse form calculated to appear simple and spontaneous but consisting of nineteen lines and a prescribed pattern of rhymes






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






13. The emotional tone in a work of literature






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






15. Faulty reasoning that inappropriately ascribes human feelings to nature or nonhuman objects






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






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






18. A parody of traditional epic form. It usually treats a frivolous topic with extreme seriousness - using conventions such as invocations to the Muse - action-packed battle scenes - and accounts of heroic exploits.






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






20. 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






21. The dictionary definition of a word






22. 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






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






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






26. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






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






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






29. 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






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






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






32. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






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






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






35. A work of literature dealing with rural life






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






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






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






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






40. The high point - or turning point - of a story or play






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






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






43. A forceful sermon - lecture - or tirade






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






45. A sentence that departs from the usual word order of English sentences by expressing its main though only at the end. In other words - the particulars in the sentence are presented before the idea they support.






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






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






48. 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






49. The interpretation or analysis of a text.






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