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






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






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






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






5. A series of comparisons between two unlike objects






6. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






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






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






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






10. A verse with five poetic feet per line






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






12. The dictionary definition of a word






13. A work of literature dealing with rural life






14. Novels written for mass consumption - often emphasizing exciting and titillating plots






15. The excessive pride that often leads tragic heroes to their death






16. The work of poets - particularly those of the seventeenth century - that uses elaborate conceits - is highly intellectual - and expresses the complexities of love and life






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






24. 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






25. 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






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






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






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






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






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






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






32. A poem or prose selection that laments or mediates on the passing or death of something or someone of value






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






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






35. 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...'






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






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






38. A novel focusing on and describing the social customs and habits of a particular social group






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






40. That element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow






41. A parody of traditional epic form. It usually treats a frivolous topic with extreme seriousness - using conventions such as invocations to the Muse - action-packed battle scenes - and accounts of heroic exploits.






42. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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