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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 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






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






3. The interrelationship among the events in a story; the plot line is the pattern of events - including exposition - rising action - climax - falling action - and resolution.






4. A phrase - idea - or event that through repetition serves to unify or convey a theme in a work of literature






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






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






7. 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






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






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






10. The interpretation or analysis of a text.






11. 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






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






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






14. Literally - 'seize the day'; enjoy life while you can - a common theme in literature






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






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






17. 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.






18. An abbreviated synopsis of a longer work of scholarship or research






19. The pattern of rhymes within a given poem






20. A statement that seems self-contradictory but is nevertheless true






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






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






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






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






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






26. 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






27. The language spoken in England roughly between 1150 and 1500 A.D.






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






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






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






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






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






33. 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.






34. A poem or prose selection that laments or mediates on the passing or death of something or someone of value






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






43. Two rhymed lines written in iambic pentameter and used widely in eighteenth-century verse.






44. 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






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






46. In contrast to Dionysian - it refers to the most noble - godlike qualities of human nature and behavior






47. Three periods (. . .) indicating the omission of words in a thought or quotation






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






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






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