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






2. 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'






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






4. Also called figure of speech. In contrast to literal language - it implies meanings. Includes metaphors - similes - and personification - among others.






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






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






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






8. 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






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






10. 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






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






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






13. The excessive pride that often leads tragic heroes to their death






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






15. 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






16. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






17. The main character in a work of literature






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






19. Deriving from the orderly qualities of ancient Greek and Roman culture; implies formality - objectivity - simplicity - and restraint






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






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






22. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






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






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






25. The choice of words in oral and written discourse






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






27. A rendering of a quotation in which actual words are not stated but only approximated or paraphrased






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






29. 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.






30. A popular form of verse consisting of fourteen lines and a prescribed rhyme scheme.






31. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






32. 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






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






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






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






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






37. 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.






38. A feeling of association or identification with an object or person






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






40. A verse with five poetic feet per line






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






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






43. A figurative comparison using the words like or as






44. A literary style used to poke fun at - attack - or ridicule an idea - vice - or foible - often for the purpose of inducing change






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






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






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






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






49. A style of writing in which the author tries to reproduce the random flow of thoughts in the human mind






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