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






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






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






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






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






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






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






8. 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






9. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






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






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






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






13. A structure that provides premise or setting for a narrative






14. 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






15. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






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






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






18. 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






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






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






21. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






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






23. 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.






24. The quickness of intellect and the power and talent for saying brilliant things that suprise and delight by their unexpectedness; the power to comment subtly and pointedly on the foibles of the passing scene






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






26. 'In the middle of things'--a Latin term for a narrative that starts not at the beginning of events - but at some other critical point.






27. A popular form of verse consisting of fourteen lines and a prescribed rhyme scheme.






28. A short - pithy statement of a generally accepted truth or sentiment






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






30. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






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






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






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






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






35. The pattern of rhymes within a given poem






36. A series of comparisons between two unlike objects






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






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






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






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






41. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






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






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






44. An adjective or phrase that expresses a striking quality of a person or thing - ex. sun-bright topaz - sun-lit lake - sun-bright lake






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






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






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






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






49. An episodic novel about a roguelike wanderer who lives off his wits. Ex: Don Quixote - Moll Flanders






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