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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 excessive pride that often leads tragic heroes to their death






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






4. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






5. French term for the world of books - criticism - and literature in general






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






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






8. A four-line poem or a four-line unit of a longer poem






9. Novels written for mass consumption - often emphasizing exciting and titillating plots






10. An abbreviated synopsis of a longer work of scholarship or research






11. A concise but ingenious - witty - and thoughtful statement






12. As distinguished from Apollonian - the word refers to sensual - pleasure-seeking impulses






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






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






21. 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






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






23. A verse with five poetic feet per line






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






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






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






27. 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'






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






29. The choice of words in oral and written discourse






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. 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.






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






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






34. Inflated - pretentious language used for trivial subjects






35. A term that describes characters' excessive emotional response to experience; also nauseatingly nostalgic and mawkish






36. 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.






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






38. French for a novel in which hisotrical events and actual people appear under the guise of fiction






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






40. A form of literature in which the hero is destroyed by some character flaw and a set of forces that cause the hero considerable anguish






41. 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






42. A popular form of verse consisting of fourteen lines and a prescribed rhyme scheme.






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






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






45. A humorous play on words - using similar-sounding or identical words to suggest different meanings






46. A variety of poetry meant to entertain or amuse - but sometimes with a satirical thrust






47. One of the ancient Greek goddesses presiding over the arts. The imaginary source of inspiration for an artist or writer






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






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






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