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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 detailed analysis or interpretation of a work of literature






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






3. As distinguished from Apollonian - the word refers to sensual - pleasure-seeking impulses






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






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






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






7. 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






8. 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






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






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






11. The interpretation or analysis of a text.






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






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






14. The main character in a work of literature






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






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






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






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






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






20. The main idea or meaning - often an abstract idea upon which a work of literature is built






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






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






23. 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.






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






25. A circumstance in which the audience or reader knows more about a situation than a character - ex. Oedipus Rex






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






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






28. A forceful sermon - lecture - or tirade






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






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






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






32. 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






33. Grating - inharmonious sounds






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






35. 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






36. 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






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






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






39. '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.






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






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






42. 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






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






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






45. The use of insincere or overdone sentimentality






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






47. Novels written for mass consumption - often emphasizing exciting and titillating plots






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






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






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