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






2. A figurative comparison using the words like or as






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






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






5. 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






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






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






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






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






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






11. A sharp - caustic expression or remark; a bitter jibe or taunt; different from irony - which is more subtle






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






13. A forceful sermon - lecture - or tirade






14. The high point - or turning point - of a story or play






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






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






17. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






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






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






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






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






22. 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'






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






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






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






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






27. A figure of speech in which objects and animals are given human characteristics






28. A list of works cited or otherwise relevant to a subject or other work.






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






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






31. A person - scene - event - or other element in literature that fails to correspond with the time or era in which the work is set






32. French for a novel in which hisotrical events and actual people appear under the guise of fiction






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






34. A verse with five poetic feet per line






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






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






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






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






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






40. 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.






41. The repetition of two or more consonant sounds in a group of words or a line of poetry






42. 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






43. Language that conveys a speaker's attitude or opinion with regard to a particular subject






44. The main character in a work of literature






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






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






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






48. 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.






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






50. A humorous play on words - using similar-sounding or identical words to suggest different meanings