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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.
  • 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. 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.






2. 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...'






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






4. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






15. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






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






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






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






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






20. A simple narrative verse that tells a story that is sung or recited






21. A concise but ingenious - witty - and thoughtful statement






22. The structural form of a line of verse as revealed by the number of feet it contains. For example: monometer = 1foot; tetrameter = 4 feet; pentameter = 5 feet - and so forth






23. A series of comparisons between two unlike objects






24. A story containing unreal - imaginary features






25. 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






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






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






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






29. The interpretation or analysis of a text.






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






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






32. A figurative comparison using the words like or as






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






34. 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






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






36. The choice of words in oral and written discourse






37. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






47. The pattern of rhymes within a given poem






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






49. The repetition of similar sounds at regular intervals - used mostly in poetry.






50. 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