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






2. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






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






4. A story containing unreal - imaginary features






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






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






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






8. As distinguished from Apollonian - the word refers to sensual - pleasure-seeking impulses






9. 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






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






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






12. A work of literature dealing with rural life






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






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






15. The pattern of rhymes within a given poem






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






17. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






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






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






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






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






22. 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.






23. 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






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






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






26. The main idea or meaning - often an abstract idea upon which a work of literature is built






27. A vagueness of meaning; a conscious lack of clarity meant to evoke multiple meanings and interpretation






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






29. 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






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






31. A figurative comparison using the words like or as






32. A forceful sermon - lecture - or tirade






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






34. The real or assumed personality used by a writer or speaker






35. A return to an earlier time in a story or play in order to clarify present action or circumstances.






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






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






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






39. The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables found in poetry






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






41. 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






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






43. A reference to a person - place - or event meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of an idea






44. 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






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






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






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






48. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






49. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






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