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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






12. 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






13. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






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






15. A locution that addresses a person or personified thing not present






16. The main character in a work of literature






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






18. Grating - inharmonious sounds






19. A figure of speech that uses the name of one thing to represent something else with which it is associated. Ex: 'The White House says...'






20. 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






21. 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






22. The author's attitude toward the subject being written about. The spirit or quality that is the work's emotional essence






23. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






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






25. The emotional tone in a work of literature






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






27. The choice of words in oral and written discourse






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






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






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






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






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






33. 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






34. A term consisting of contradictory elements juxtaposed to create a paradoxical effect






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






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






37. The dictionary definition of a word






38. A unit of stressed and unstressed syllables used to determine the meter of a poetic line.






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






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






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






42. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






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






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






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






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






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






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






49. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






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