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






2. 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






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






4. 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






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






6. A kind of poetry without rhymed lines - rhythm - or fixed metrical feet






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






8. 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






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






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






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






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






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






14. 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






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






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






17. The main character in a work of literature






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






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






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






21. 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.






22. A verse with five poetic feet per line






23. 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






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






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






26. The use of one object to evoke ideas and associations not literally part of the original object






27. Grating - inharmonious sounds






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






29. 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.






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






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






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






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






34. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






35. '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.






36. A figure of speech that compares unlike objects






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






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






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






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






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






42. 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.






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






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






45. The general form - pattern - and manner of expression of a work of literature






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






47. A term that describes characters' excessive emotional response to experience; also nauseatingly nostalgic and mawkish






48. The dictionary definition of a word






49. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






50. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem