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AP Literary Terms

Subjects : english, ap, literature
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • 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 real or assumed personality used by a writer or speaker






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






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






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






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






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






7. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






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






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






10. Poetry written in iambic pentameter - the primary meter used in English poetry and the works of Shakespeare and Milton






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






12. A form of verse or prose that tells a story






13. The emotional tone in a work of literature






14. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






15. The choice of words in oral and written discourse






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






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






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






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






20. The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that make up a line of poetry






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






22. A grotesque likeness of striking qualities in persons and things






23. 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...'






24. A mild or less negative usage for a harsh or blunt term; i.e. 'pass away' instead of 'die'






25. The act of determining the meter of a poetic line.






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






27. The interpretation or analysis of a text.






28. A narrator with unlimited awareness - understanding - and insight of characters - setting - background - and all other elements of the story






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






30. Similar to the truth; the quality of realism in a work that persuades readers that they are getting a vision of life as it is.






31. 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






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






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






34. An imaginary story that has become an accepted part of the cultural or religious tradition of a group or society






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






36. A statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before






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






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






39. A story containing unreal - imaginary features






40. The dictionary definition of a word






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






42. A figurative comparison using the words like or as






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






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






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






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






47. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






48. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






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






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