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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. Personal - reflective poetry that reveals the speaker's thoughts and feelings about the subject






2. A poem or prose selection that laments or mediates on the passing or death of something or someone of value






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






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






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






6. The pattern of rhymes within a given poem






7. A literary style used to poke fun at - attack - or ridicule an idea - vice - or foible - often for the purpose of inducing change






8. A kind of poetry without rhymed lines - rhythm - or fixed metrical feet






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






10. A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth






11. The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables found in poetry






12. A reference to a person - place - or event meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of an idea






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






14. Grating - inharmonious sounds






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






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






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






18. That element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow






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






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






21. A work of literature meant to ridicule a subject; a grotesque imitation






22. 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'






23. 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






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






25. A forceful sermon - lecture - or tirade






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






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






28. The total environment for the action in a novel or play. It includes time - place - historical milieu - and social - political - and even spiritual circumstances






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






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






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






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






33. 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






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






35. A parody of traditional epic form. It usually treats a frivolous topic with extreme seriousness - using conventions such as invocations to the Muse - action-packed battle scenes - and accounts of heroic exploits.






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






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






38. The emotional tone in a work of literature






39. '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.






40. A direct verbal assault; a denunciation






41. A term often used as a synonym for realism - also a view of experience that is generally characterized as bleak and pessimistic.






42. A character whose name appears in the title of the novel or play; also known as the eponymous character






43. A figure of speech that compares unlike objects






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






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






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






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






48. 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






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






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