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






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






3. 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'






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






5. A verse with five poetic feet per line






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






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






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






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






10. French term for the world of books - criticism - and literature in general






11. 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.






12. 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...'






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






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






15. 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






16. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






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






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






19. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






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






21. The background and events that lead to the presentation of the main idea or purpose of a work of literature






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






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






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






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






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






27. A piece of writing that reveals weaknesses - faults - frailties - or other shortcomings






28. A figurative comparison using the words like or as






29. The interpretation or analysis of a text.






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






31. A witty or ingenious thought; a diverting or highly fanciful idea - often stated in figurative language






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






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






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






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






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






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






38. The suggested or implied meaning of a word or phrase






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






40. The dictionary definition of a word






41. 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






42. The use of insincere or overdone sentimentality






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






44. 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






45. A rhetorical opposition or contrast of ideas by means of a grammatical arrangement of words - clauses - or sentences: 'They promised freedom but provided slavery'






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






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






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






49. 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.






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






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