Test your basic knowledge |

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






2. 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






3. A verse with five poetic feet per line






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






5. A figure of speech that compares unlike objects






6. A German word referring to a novel structured as a series of events that take place as the hero travels in quest of a goal






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






8. 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






9. The main character in a work of literature






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






11. The choice of words in oral and written discourse






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






13. The language spoken in England roughly between 1150 and 1500 A.D.






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






15. A phrase - idea - or event that through repetition serves to unify or convey a theme in a work of literature






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






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






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






19. 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






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






21. A forceful sermon - lecture - or tirade






22. The resolution that occurs at the end of a play or work of fiction






23. A piece of writing that reveals weaknesses - faults - frailties - or other shortcomings






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






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. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






27. 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






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






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






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






31. The interpretation or analysis of a text.






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






33. A unit of stressed and unstressed syllables used to determine the meter of a poetic line.






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






35. The pattern of rhymes within a given poem






36. 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






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






38. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






39. A novel in which supernatural horrors and an atmosphere of unknown terrors pervades the action






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






41. A figure of speech in which a part signifies the whole ('fifty masts' for fifty ships) or the whole signifies the part ('days' for life - as in 'He lived his days in Canada'). Also when the name of the material stands for the thing itself ('pigskin'






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






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






44. A lyric poem or passage that describes a kind of ideal life or place






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






46. That element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow






47. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






48. 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.






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






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