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






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






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






4. The depiction of people - things - and events as they really are without idealization or exaggeration for effect.






5. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






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






7. 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...'






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






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






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






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






12. A series of comparisons between two unlike objects






13. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






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






15. Grating - inharmonious sounds






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






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






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






19. The total environment for the action in a novel or play. It includes time - place - historical milieu - and social - political - and even spiritual circumstances






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






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






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






23. A saying or proverb containing a truth based on experience and often couched in metaphorical language






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






25. 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






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






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






28. 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






29. One of the ancient Greek goddesses presiding over the arts. The imaginary source of inspiration for an artist or writer






30. The emotional tone in a work of literature






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






32. A figurative comparison using the words like or as






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






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






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






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






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






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






39. A character or force in a work of literature that - by opposing the protagonist produces tension or conflict






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






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






42. A mode of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is stated - often implying ridicule or light sarcasm; a state of affairs or events that is the reverse of what might have been expected






43. The interpretation or analysis of a text.






44. 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.






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






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






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






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






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






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