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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. 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






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






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






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






5. A brief explanation - summary - or evaluation of a text or work of literature






6. A pair of rhyming lines in a poem






7. 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.






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






9. 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






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






11. A four-line poem or a four-line unit of a longer poem






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






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






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






15. The pattern of rhymes within a given poem






16. 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






17. A synonym for view or feeling; also a refined and tender emotion in literature






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






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






20. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






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






22. The choice of words in oral and written discourse






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






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






25. The interrelationship among the events in a story; the plot line is the pattern of events - including exposition - rising action - climax - falling action - and resolution.






26. Three periods (. . .) indicating the omission of words in a thought or quotation






27. A forceful sermon - lecture - or tirade






28. A form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity. Ex: He's not a bad dancer






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






30. A variety of poetry meant to entertain or amuse - but sometimes with a satirical thrust






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






32. A subordinate or minor collection of events in a novel or play - usually connected to the main plot






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






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






35. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






36. The relation in which a narrator or speaker stands to the story or subject matter of a poem.






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






46. The suggested or implied meaning of a word or phrase






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






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






49. A verse with five poetic feet per line






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