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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 term that describes a line of poetry that ends with a natural pause often indicated by a mark of punctuation.






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






3. 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.






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






5. A list of works cited or otherwise relevant to a subject or other work.






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






7. A verse with five poetic feet per line






8. The choice of words in oral and written discourse






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






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






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






12. 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






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






14. 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






15. The dictionary definition of a word






16. 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.






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






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






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






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






21. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






22. 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






23. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






24. The general form - pattern - and manner of expression of a work of literature






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






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






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






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






29. '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.






30. A novel focusing on and describing the social customs and habits of a particular social group






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






41. A subordinate or minor collection of events in a novel or play - usually connected to the main plot






42. An adjective or phrase that expresses a striking quality of a person or thing - ex. sun-bright topaz - sun-lit lake - sun-bright lake






43. A group of two or more lines in poetry combined according to subject matter - rhyme - or some other plan






44. A series of comparisons between two unlike objects






45. 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






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






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






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






49. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






50. A term used to describe literary forms - such as novel - play - and essay