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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 form of verse or prose that tells a story






2. A figure of speech that uses the name of one thing to represent something else with which it is associated. Ex: 'The White House says...'






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






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






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






6. A pair of rhyming lines in a poem






7. 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






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






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






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






11. In literature - the use of an artificial device or gimmick to solve a problem






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






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






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






15. The excessive pride that often leads tragic heroes to their death






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






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






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






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






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






22. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






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






24. The dictionary definition of a word






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






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






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






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






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






30. A short - pithy statement of a generally accepted truth or sentiment






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






32. The choice of words in oral and written discourse






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






34. The suggested or implied meaning of a word or phrase






35. 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






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






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






38. The repetition of one or more initial consonants in a group of words or lines of poetry or prose






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






40. 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






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






42. An extended narrative poem that tells of the adventures and exploits of a hero that is generally larger than life and is often considered a legendary figure - i.e. Odysseus - Beowulf - Homer's Iliad - Vergil's Aeneid.






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






44. 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






45. 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






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






47. Two rhymed lines written in iambic pentameter and used widely in eighteenth-century verse.






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






49. 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






50. A sharp - caustic expression or remark; a bitter jibe or taunt; different from irony - which is more subtle