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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. Grating - inharmonious sounds






2. An imaginary story that has become an accepted part of the cultural or religious tradition of a group or society






3. Pleasing - harmonious sounds






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






5. The interpretation or analysis of a text.






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






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






8. The dictionary definition of a word






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






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






11. 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






12. The action in a play or story that occurs after the climax and that leads to the conclusion and often to the resolution of the conflict






13. The emotional tone in a work of literature






14. A verse with five poetic feet per line






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






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






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






18. An abstract or ideal conception of a type; a perfectly typical example; an original model or form






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






20. A poet; in olden times - a performer who told heroic stories to musical accompaniment






21. The main character in a work of literature






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






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






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






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






26. A form of literature in which the hero is destroyed by some character flaw and a set of forces that cause the hero considerable anguish






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






28. A detailed analysis or interpretation of a work of literature






29. 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






30. 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






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






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






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






34. The act of determining the meter of a poetic line.






35. 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






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






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






38. '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.






39. The choice of words in oral and written discourse






40. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






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






42. A work of literature dealing with rural life






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






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






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






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






47. Poetry written in iambic pentameter - the primary meter used in English poetry and the works of Shakespeare and Milton






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






49. The pattern of rhymes within a given poem






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