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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 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






2. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






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






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






5. A belief that emphasizes faith and optimism in human potential and creativity






6. 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






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






8. A term that describes a line of poetry that ends with a natural pause often indicated by a mark of punctuation.






9. 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.






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






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






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






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






14. The use of insincere or overdone sentimentality






15. An extended narrative about improbable events and extraordinary people in exotic places






16. The dictionary definition of a word






17. A forceful sermon - lecture - or tirade






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






20. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






21. The language of a work and its style; words - often highly emotional - used to convince or sway an audience






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






23. In literature - the use of an artificial device or gimmick to solve a problem






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






36. A series of comparisons between two unlike objects






37. A sentence containing a deliberate omission of words. In the sentence 'May was hot and June the same -' the verb 'was' is omitted from the second clause






38. A synonym for poetry. Also a group of lines in a song or poem; also a single line of poetry






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






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






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






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






43. A story consisting of events from which a moral or spiritual truth may be derived






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






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






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






47. A work of literature dealing with rural life






48. 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.






49. 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






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