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






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






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






4. An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem






5. The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning






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






7. 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.






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






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






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






11. A term consisting of contradictory elements juxtaposed to create a paradoxical effect






12. A work of fiction of roughly 20 -000 to 50 -000 words--longer than a short story - but shorter than a novel






13. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






14. Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect






15. The grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry






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






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






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






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






20. A story containing unreal - imaginary features






21. 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






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






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






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






25. Pleasing - harmonious sounds






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






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






28. The repetition of two or more vowel sounds in a group of words or lines in poetry and prose






29. 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






30. 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






31. 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






32. A narrative told by a character involved in the story - using first-person pronouns such as I and we.






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






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






35. A series of comparisons between two unlike objects






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






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






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






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






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






41. 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'






42. 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






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






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






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






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






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






48. 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






49. 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.






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