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






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






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






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






5. 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.






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






7. 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






8. The structural form of a line of verse as revealed by the number of feet it contains. For example: monometer = 1foot; tetrameter = 4 feet; pentameter = 5 feet - and so forth






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






10. 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






11. 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'






12. 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.






13. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






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






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






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






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






18. A word or phrase representing that which can be seen - touched - tasted - smelled - or felt






19. '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.






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






21. In contrast to Dionysian - it refers to the most noble - godlike qualities of human nature and behavior






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






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






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






25. A story containing unreal - imaginary features






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






27. 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






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






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






30. Providing hints of things to come in a story or play






31. A witty or ingenious thought; a diverting or highly fanciful idea - often stated in figurative language






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






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






34. The repetition of two or more consonant sounds in a group of words or a line of poetry






35. A discrepancy between the true meaning of a situation and the literal meaning of the written or spoken words






36. A French verse form calculated to appear simple and spontaneous but consisting of nineteen lines and a prescribed pattern of rhymes






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






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






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






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






41. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






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






43. 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






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






45. The implied meaning that underlies the main meaning of a work of literature






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






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






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






49. A simple narrative verse that tells a story that is sung or recited






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