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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. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






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






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






4. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






5. 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






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






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






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






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






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






11. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






12. 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






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






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






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






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






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






18. The author's attitude toward the subject being written about. The spirit or quality that is the work's emotional essence






19. 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.






20. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






21. A tale in which a young protagonist experiences an introduction to adulthood. The character may develop understanding via disillusionment - education - doses of reality - or any other experiences that alter his or her emotional or intellectual maturi






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






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






24. A figure of speech that compares unlike objects






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






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






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






28. The background and events that lead to the presentation of the main idea or purpose of a work of literature






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






30. A sentence that follows the customary word order of English sentences - i.e. subject-verb-object. The main idea of the sentence is presented first and is then followed by one or more subordinate clauses






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






39. A rhetorical opposition or contrast of ideas by means of a grammatical arrangement of words - clauses - or sentences: 'They promised freedom but provided slavery'






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






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






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






43. The organization of language into meaningful structure; every sentence has a particular pattern of words






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






45. A pair of rhyming lines in a poem






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






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






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






49. The pattern of rhymes within a given poem






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