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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. Personal - reflective poetry that reveals the speaker's thoughts and feelings about the subject






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






3. The generic name for a figure of speech such as image - symbol - simile - and metaphor






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






5. Grating - inharmonious sounds






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






7. Deriving from the orderly qualities of ancient Greek and Roman culture; implies formality - objectivity - simplicity - and restraint






8. A figurative comparison using the words like or as






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






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






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






12. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






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






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






15. A rendering of a quotation in which actual words are not stated but only approximated or paraphrased






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






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






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






19. Also called 'pen name' or 'nom de plume'; a false name or alias used by writers. Ex: Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens)






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






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






22. Similar to the truth; the quality of realism in a work that persuades readers that they are getting a vision of life as it is.






23. A story containing unreal - imaginary features






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






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






26. 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






27. A narrative told by a character involved in the story - using first-person pronouns such as I and we.






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






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






30. A story in which the narrative or characters carry an underlying symbolic - metaphorical - or possibly an ethical meaning






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






39. A forceful sermon - lecture - or tirade






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






41. The repetition of one or more initial consonants in a group of words or lines of poetry or prose






42. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






43. A statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before






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






45. Also called figure of speech. In contrast to literal language - it implies meanings. Includes metaphors - similes - and personification - among others.






46. A comparison that points out similarities between two dissimilar things






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






48. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






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






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