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






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






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






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






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






6. 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






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






8. 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






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






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






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






12. A quick succession of images or impressions used to express an idea






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






14. A character whose name appears in the title of the novel or play; also known as the eponymous character






15. A belief that emphasizes faith and optimism in human potential and creativity






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






17. A term often used as a synonym for realism - also a view of experience that is generally characterized as bleak and pessimistic.






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






19. A pause somewhere in the middle of a verse - often (but not always) marked by punctuation






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






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






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






23. The repetition of similar sounds at regular intervals - used mostly in poetry.






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






25. 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.






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






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






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






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






30. A figure of speech that compares unlike objects






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






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






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






34. A story containing unreal - imaginary features






35. In literature - the use of an artificial device or gimmick to solve a problem






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






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






38. The action in a play or story that occurs after the climax and that leads to the conclusion and often to the resolution of the conflict






39. 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'






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






41. A verse with five poetic feet per line






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






43. Pleasing - harmonious sounds






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






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






46. The pattern of rhymes within a given poem






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






48. 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






49. 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






50. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect