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AP English Literature and Composition Flashcards

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13457886502adageA saying that becomes widely accepted as truth over time. Usually observances of life and behaviour that express a general truth. Ex: "A penny saved is a penny earned."0
13457886503allegoryA story in which the narrative or characters carry an underlying symbolic, metaphorical or possibly ethical meaning.1
13457886504alliterationThe repetition of one or more initial consonant in a group of words or lines of poetry or prose. Writers use this for ornament or for emphasis.2
13457886505allusionA reference to a person, place, or event meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of an idea.3
13457886506ambiguityA vagueness of meaning; a conscious lack of clarity meant to evoke multiple meanings and interpretation.4
13457886507anachronismA person, scene, event, or other element in literature that fails to correspond with the time/era in which the work is set.5
13457886508analogyA comparison in which an idea or a thing is compared to something else that is quite different from it. It aims at explaining that idea or thing by comparing it to something that is familiar.6
13457886509antagonistA character or force in a work of literature that, by opposing the protagonist produces tension or conflict.7
13457886510antithesisA rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect.8
13457886511aphorismA statement of truth or opinion expressed in a concise and witty manner. The term is often applied to philosophical, moral and literary principles.9
13457886512ApollonianIn contrast to Dionysian, it refers to the most noble, godlike qualities of human nature and behaviour.10
13457886513apostropheA figure of speech where the writer or speaker detaches himself from his present reality and addresses an imaginary character in his speech.11
13457886514archetypeA character, action or situation which represents or reflects a commonly held or universal pattern, such as human nature.12
13457886515assonanceThe repetition of two or more vowel sounds in a group of words or lines in poetry and prose.13
13457886516balladA simple narrative verse that tells a story that is sung or recited; a long narrative poem, usually in very regular meter and rhyme, typically has a folksy quality14
13457886517bardA poet or a performer in olden times who told heroic stories to musical accompaniment.15
13457886518BildungsromanA special kind of novel that focuses on the psychological and moral growth of its main character from his or her youth to adulthood. Generally, such a novel starts with a loss or a tragedy that disturbs the main character emotionally. He or she leaves on a journey to fill that vacuum.16
13457886519blank versePoetry written in iambic pentameter, the primary meter used in English poetry and the works of Shakespeare and Milton; its lines generally do not rhyme.17
13457886520bombastInflated, pretentious language used for trivial subjects.18
13457886521cacophonyThe use of words with sharp, harsh, hissing and unmelodious sounds, primarily those of consonants, to achieve the desired results. Ex: "I detest war because cause of war is always trivial."19
13457886522caesuraIt involves creating a fracture within a sentence, where the two separate parts are distinguishable from one another yet intrinsically linked; the purpose is to create a dramatic pause. Ex: "Mozart- oh, how your music makes me soar!"20
13457886523canonThe works most widely read, studied, and considered most important in national literature or in a specific literary period.21
13457886524caricatureA grotesque likeness of striking qualities in persons and things; a portrait that exaggerates a facet of personality.22
13457886525catharsisA cleansing of the spirit brought about by the pity and terror of a dramatic tragedy.23
13457886526classicismDeriving from the orderly qualities of ancient Greek and Roman culture; implies formality, objectivity, simplicity and restraint.24
13457886527conceitA figure of speech in which two vastly different objects are likened together with the help of similes or metaphors; it develops a comparison which is exceedingly unlikely but is, nonetheless, intellectually imaginative.25
13457886528anticlimaxThis occurs when an action produces far smaller results than one had been led to expect; it is frequently comic in effect.26
13457886529anti-heroA protagonist who is markedly un-heroic, morally weak, cowardly, dishonest, or any number of other unsavoury qualities; he is not just good or noble like a conventional hero.27
13457886530asideA speech (usually just a short comment) made by an actor to the audience, as though momentarily stepping outside of the action on stage.28
13457886531atmosphereThe emotional tone or background that surrounds a scene.29
13457886532black humorThe use of disturbing themes in comedy. Ex: two tramps comically debating over which should commit suicide first, and whether the branches of a tree will support their weight.30
13457886533cadencethe beat or rhythm of poetry in a general sense31
13457886534cantois a divider in long poems, much like chapters in a novel32
13457886535coinagea.k.a. neologism, inventing a word33
13457886536colloquialismthis is a word or phrase used in everyday conversational English that isn't a part of accepted "schoolbook" English34
13457886537controlling imagewhen an image dominates and shapes the entire work35
13457886538metaphysical conceita type of conceit that occurs only in metaphysical poetry36
13457886539connotationthe suggest or implied meaning of a word/phrase37
13457886540consonancethe repetition of two or more consonant sounds within a group of words or a line of poetry38
13457886541coupleta pair of lines that end in rhyme39
13457886542heroic couplettwo rhyming lines in iambic pentameter are called this40
13457886543denotationthe literal, dictionary definition of a word41
13457886544denouementthe resolution that occurs at the end of a play or work or fiction42
13457886545Dionysianas distinguished from Apollonian, the word refers to sensual, pleasure seeking impulses43
13457886546dictionthe choice of words in oral and written discourse44
13457886547syntaxthe ordering and structuring of the words in a sentence45
13457886548dirgea song for the dead, its tone is typically slow, heavy, and melancholy46
13457886549dissonancethe grating of incompatible sounds47
13457886550doggerelcrude, simplistic verse, often in sing-song rhyme48
13457886551dramatic ironywhen the audience knows something that the characters in the drama do not49
13457886552dramatic monologuewhen a single speaker in literature says something to a silent audience50
13457886553elegya poem or prose selection that laments or meditates on the passing/death of something/someone of value51
13457886554elementsthe basic techniques of each genre of literature. IN SHORT STORY: characters, irony, theme, symbol, plot, setting. IN POETRY: figurative language, symbol, imagery, rhythm, rhyme. IN DRAMA: conflict, characters, climax, conclusion, exposition, rising action, falling action, props. IN NONFICTION: argument, evidence, reason, appeals, fallacies, thesis.52
13457886555ellipsisthree periods (...) indicating the omission of words in a thought or quotation53
13457886556empathya feeling of association or identification with an object/person54
13457886557end stoppeda term that describes a line of poetry that ends with a natural pause often indicated by a mark of punctuation55
13457886558enjambmentthe continuation of a syntactic unit from one line or couplet of a poem to the next with no pause56
13457886559epican 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 figure57
13457886560mock epica parody form that deals with mundane events and ironically treats them as worthy of epic poetry58
13457886561epitaphlines that commemorate the dead at their burial place. usually a line or handful of lines, often serious or religious, but sometimes witty and even irreverent59
13457886562epigrama concise but ingenious, witty and thoughtful statement60
13457886563euphonywhen sounds blend harmoniously; pleasing, harmonious sounds61
13457886564epithetan adjective or phrase that expresses a striking quality of a person or thing62
13457886565eponymousa term for the title character of a work of literature63
13457886566euphemisma mild or less negative usage for a harsh or blunt term64
13457886567explicitto say or write something directly and clearly65
13457886568explicationthe interpretation/analysis of a text66
13457886569extended metaphora series of comparisons between two unlike objects that occur over a number of lines67
13457886570fablea short tale often featuring nonhuman character that act as people whose actions enable the author to make observations or draw useful lessons about human behavior. i.e Orwell's "Animal Farm"68
13457886571falling actionthe action in a play or story that occurs after the climax and that leads to the conclusion and often to the resolution of the conflict69
13457886572fantasya story containing unreal, imaginary features70
13457886573farcea comedy that contains an extravagant and nonsensical disregard of seriousness, although it may have a serious, scornful purpose71
13457886574figurative languagein contrast to literal language, this implies meanings. It includes devices such as metaphors, similes, and personification, etc.72
13457886575foila secondary character whose purpose is to highlight the characteristics of a main character, usually by contrast73
13457886576first person narrativea narrative told by a character involved in the story, using first-person pronouns such as "I" and "we"74
13457886577flashbacka return to an earlier time in a story or play in order to clarify present actions or circumstances75
13457886578foreshadowingan event or statement in a narrative that suggests, in miniature, a larger event that comes later76
13457886579footthe basic rhythmic unit of a line in poetry. it is formed by a combination of two or three syllables, either stressed or unstressed77
13457886580framea structure that provides premise or setting for a narrative78
13457886581free versea kind of poetry without rhymed lines, rhythm or fixed metrical feet79
13457886582genrea term used to describe literary forms, such as novel, play, and essay80
13457886583Gothic novela novel in which supernatural horrors and an atmosphere of unknown terror pervades the action. i.e. "Frankenstein"81
13457886584haranguea forceful sermon, lecture, or tirade82
13457886585hubristhe excessive pride/ambition that leads to the main character's downfall83
13457886586hyperboleexaggeration/deliberate overstatement84
13457886587humanisma belief that emphasizes faith and optimism in human potential and creativity85
13457886588implicitto say or write something that suggests and implies but never says it directly or clearly86
13457886589in medias resLatin for "in the midst of things"; a narrative that starts not at the beginning of events but at some other critical point87
13457886590idylla lyric poem or passage that describes a kind of ideal life or place88
13457886591imagea word or phrase representing that which can be seen, touched, tasted, smelled or felt89
13457886592inversionswitching customary order of elements in a sentence or phrase. when done badly it can give a stilted, artificial look-at-me-I'm-poetry feel to the verse. type of syntax90
13457886593ironya mode of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is stated, often implying ridicule or light sarcasm91
13457886594invectivea direct verbal assault; a denunciation. i.e. Candide92
13457886595kenninga device employed in Anglo-Saxon poetry in which the name of a thing is replaced by one of its functions/qualities, as in "ring-giver" for king and "whale-road" for ocean93
13457886596lamenta poem of sadness or grief over the death of a loved one or over some other intense loss94
13457886597lampoona satire95
13457886598light versea variety of poetry meant to entertain or amuse, but sometimes with a satirical thrust96
13457886599loose sentencea sentence that is complete before its end. follows customary word order of English sentences i.e. subject-verb-object97
13457886600periodic sentencea sentence not grammatically complete until it has reached its final phrase; sentence that departs from the usual word order of English sentences by expressing its main thought only at the end98
13457886601lyricpersonal, reflective poetry that reveals the speaker's thoughts and feelings about the subject; the word is used to describe tone, it refers to a sweet, emotional melodiousness99
13457886602melodramaa form of overly-dramatic theater in which the hero is very, very good, the villain mean and rotten, and the heroine oh-so-pure.100
13457886603litotesa form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity101
13457886604maxima saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth102
13457886605metaphora figure of speech that compares unlike objects103
13457886606metaphysical poetrythe work of poets, particularly those of 17th c., that uses elaborate conceits, is highly intellectual, and expresses the complexities of love and life104
13457886607meterthe pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables found in poetry105
13457886608metonymya figure of speech that uses the name of one thing to represent something else with which it is associated. e.g. "The White House says..."106
13457886609modethe general form, pattern, and manner of expression of a work of literature107
13457886610montagea quick succession of images/impressions used to express an idea108
13457886611moodthe emotional tone in a work of literature109
13457886612nemesisthe protagonist's archenemy or supreme and persistent difficulty110
13457886613objectivitythis treatment of a subject matter is an impersonal/outside view of events111
13457886614subjectivitythis treatment of a subject matter uses the interior/personal view of a single observer and is typically colored with that observer's emotional responses112
13457886615onomatopoeiawords that sound like what they mean113
13457886616morala brief and often simplistic lesson that a reader may infer from a work of literature114
13457886617motifa phrase, idea, event that through repetition serves to unify or convey a theme in a work of literature.115
13457886618museone of the ancient Greek goddesses presiding over the arts. the imaginary source of inspiration for an artist or writer116
13457886619mythan imaginary story that has become accepted part of the cultural or religious tradition of a group/society. often used to explain natural phenomena.117
13457886620narrativea form of verse or prose that tells a story118
13457886621naturalisma term often used as a synonym for "realism"; also a view of experiences that is generally characterized as bleak and pessimistic119
13457886622non sequitura statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before120
13457886623novel of mannersa novel focusing on and describing the social customs and habits of a particular social group121
13457886624odea lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful and exalted feelings toward the subject.122
13457886625omniscient narratora narrator with unlimited awareness, understanding, and insight of characters, setting, background, and all other elements of the story123
13457886626oxymorona phrase composed of opposites; a contradiction. juxtaposition of contradictory element to create a paradoxical effect124
13457886627oppositionone of the most useful concepts in analyzing literature. it means that you have a pair of elements that contrast sharply.125
13457886628ottava rimaan eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem126
13457886629parablelike a fable or an allegory, it's a story that instructs; a story consisting of events from which a moral or spiritual truth may be derived127
13457886630paradoxa statement that seems self-contradictory yet true128
13457886631parallelismrepeated syntactical similarities used for effect129
13457886632parodyan imitation of a work meant to ridicule its style and subject130
13457886633paraphrasea version of a text put into simpler, everyday, words131
13457886634pastorala work of literature dealing with rural life132
13457886635pathetic fallacyfaulty reasoning that inappropriately ascribes human feelings to nature or nonhuman objects133
13457886636pathosthat element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow134
13457886637pentametera verse with five poetic feet per line135
13457886638personathe role/facade that a character assumes or depicts to a reader, viewer, or the world at large; the narrator in a non-first-person novel136
13457886639personificationgiving an inanimate object human like qualities or form137
13457886640plotthe interrelationship among the events in a story, including exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution138
13457886641picaresque novelan episodic novel about a roguelike wanderer who lives off his wits. e.g. "Don Quixote", "Moll Flanders"139
13457886642plainta poem or speech expressing sorrow140
13457886643point of viewthe perspective from which the action of a novel in presented.141
13457886644omniscient narrator3rd person narrator who sees like God into each character's mind and understands all the action going on.142
13457886645limited omniscient narrator3rd person narrator who generally reports only what one character (usually the main) sees, and who only reports the thoughts of that one privileged character.143
13457886646objective narrator3rd person narr. who only reports on what would be visible to a camera, doesn't know what the character is thinking unless the character speaks of it.144
13457886647first person narratorthis is a narrator who is a character in the story and tells the tale from his/her POV. when the narrator is crazy, a liar, very young, or for some reason not entirely credible, the narrator is "unreliable"145
13457886648prosodythe grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry146
13457886649protagonistthe main character in a work of literature147
13457886650preludean introductory poem to a longer work of verse148
13457886651punthe usually humorous use of a word in such a way to suggest two or more meanings149
13457886652pseudonymalso called "pen name", a false name or alias used by writers. i.e Mark Twain (Samuel Clemens) George Eliot (Mary Ann Evans) George Orwell (Eric Blair)150
13457886653quatriana four-line poem or a four-line unit of a longer poem151
13457886654refraina line or set of lines repeated several times over the course of a poem152
13457886655requiema song of prayer for the dead153
13457886656realismthe depiction of people, things, and events as they really are without idealization or exaggeration for effect154
13457886657rhetoricthe language of a work and its style; words, often highly emotional, used to convince or sway an audience155
13457886658rhetorical questiona question that suggests an answer. in theory, the effect is that it causes the listener to feel they have come up with the answer themselves156
13457886659rhapsodyan intensely passionate verse or section of verse, usually of love or praise157
13457886660rhymethe repetition of similar sounds at regular intervals, used mostly in poetry158
13457886661rhyme schemethe patterns of rhymes within a given poem i.e. abba159
13457886662rhythmthe pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that make up a line of poetry. similar to meter160
13457886663romancean extended narrative about improbable events and extraordinary people in exotic places161
13457886664sarcasma sharp, caustic expression or remark; a bitter jibe or taunt162
13457886665satirea literary style used to poke fun at, attack or ridicule an idea, vice, or foible, often for the purpose of inducing change. great subjects for this include hypocrisy, vanity and greed, especially if those characteristics have become institutionalized in society163
13457886666similefigurative comparison using the words "like" or "as"164
13457886667settingthe total environment for the action in a novel/play. it includes time, place, historical milieu, and social, political and even spiritual circumstances165
13457886668sentimentala term that describes characters' excessive emotional response to experience; also nauseatingly nostalgic and mawkish166
13457886669sentimenta synonym for "view" or "feeling"; also refined and tender emotion in literature167
13457886670scansionthe act of determining the meter of a poetic line.168
13457886671sonneta popular form of verse consisting of fourteen lines and a prescribed rhyme scheme. two types: Shakespearean and Petrarchan169
13457886672soliloquya speech spoken by a character alone on stage. meant to convey the impression that the audience is listening to the character's THOUGHTS. unlike an aside, it is not meant to imply that the actor acknowledges the audience's presence170
13457886673stanzaa group of lines in verse, roughly analogous in function to the paragraph in prose; a group of two or more lines in poetry combined according to subject matter, rhyme, or some other plan171
13457886674stream of consciousnessa style of writing in which the author tries to reproduce the random flow of thoughts in the human mind, e.g. Ernest Hemingway172
13457886675stock charactersstandard or cliched character types: the drunk, the miser, the foolish girl, etc.173
13457886676suggestto imply, infer indicate. goes along with the concept of implicit174
13457886677stylethe manner in which an author uses and arranges words, shapes ideas, forms sentences and creates a structure to convey ideas175
13457886678subplota subordinate or minor collection of events in a novel or play, usually connected to the main plot176
13457886679subtextthe implied meaning that underlies the main meaning of a work of literature177
13457886680summarya simple retelling of what you've just read. what you DON'T want to do in the Open Essay section :)178
13457886681symbolisma device in literature where an object represents an idea179
13457886682synecdochea figure of speech in which a part signifies the whole or the whole signifies the part180
13457886683themethe main idea or meaning, often an abstract idea upon which a work of literature is built181
13457886684thesisthe main position of an argument. the central contention that will be supported182
13457886685tonethe author's attitude toward the subject being written about. it's the characteristic emotion that pervades a work or part of a work183
13457886686tragic flawin a tragedy, this is the weakness of a character in an otherwise good individual that ultimately leads to his demise184
13457886687tragedya form of literature in which the hero is destroyed by some character flaw and a set of forces that cause the hero considerable anguish, or even death185
13457886688travestya grotesque parody186
13457886689truisma way-too-obvious truth187
13457886690utopiaan idealized place. imaginary communities in which people are able to live in happiness, prosperity and peace. Sir Thomas More came up with this idea.188
13457886691verbal ironya discrepancy between the true meaning of a situation and the literal meaning of the written or spoken words189
13457886692versea synonym for poetry. also a group of lines in a song or poem; also a single line of poetry190
13457886693verisimilitudesimilar to the truth; the quality of realism in a work that persuades readers that they are getting a vision of life as it is191
13457886694versificationthe structural form of a line of verse as revealed by the number of feet it contains. i.e. monometer = 1 foot; tetrameter = 4 feet; pentameter = 5 feet, etc.192
13457886695villanellea French verse form calculated to appear simple and spontaneous but consisting of 19 lines and a prescribed pattern of rhymes193
13457886696voicethe real or assumed personality used by a writer or speaker. a verb is in the active voice when it expresses an action performed by its subject. a verb is in the passive voice when it expresses an action performed upon its subject or when the subject is the result of the action. Active: The crew raked the leaves. Passive: The leaves were raked by the crew.194
13457886697witthe quickness of intellect and the power and talent for saying brilliant things that surprise and delight by their unexpectedness; the power to comment subtly and pointedly on the foibles of the passing scene195
13457886698zeugmathe use of a word to modify two or more words, but used for different meanings. "He close the door and his heart on his lost love."196
13457886699anastropheinversion of the natural or usual word order197
13457886700anaphorarepetition of the same words or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses. e.g. "I have a dream..."198
13457886701epistropherepetition of the same word or group of words at the ends of successive clauses "When we first came we were very many and you were very few. Now you are many and we are getting very few."199
13457886702epanalepsisrepetition at the end of a clause of the word that occurred at the beginning of the clause. "Blood hat bought blood, and blows have answer'd blows"200
13457886703anadiplosisrepetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause. "The crime was common, common be the pain."201
13457886704antimetabolerepetition of words, in successive clauses, in reverse grammatical order. "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."202
13457886705chiasmusreversal of grammatical structures in successive phrases or clauses. "Exalts his enemies, his friends destroys."203
13457886706polyptotonrepetition of words derived from the same root. "But in this desert country they may see the land being rendered USELESS by OVERUSE."204
13457886707antanaclasisrepetition of a word in two different senses. "Your argument is sound, nothing but sound."205
13457886708paronomasiause of words alike in sound but different in meaning. "ask for me tomorrow and you will find me a GRAVE man."206
13457886709syllepsisthe use of a word understood differently in relation to two or more other words, which it modifies/governs. "The ink, like our pig, keeps running out of the pen."207
13457886710anthimeriathe substitution of one part of speech for another "I'll UNHAIR they head."208
13457886711periphrasissubstitution of a descriptive word or phrase for a proper name or of a proper name for a quality associated with the name. "They do not escape JIM CROW; they merely encounter another, not less deadly variety."209
13457886712autobiographyan account of a person's own life210
13457886713dialecta way of speaking that is characteristic of a particular region/group of people211
13457886714epiphanyin a literary work, a moment of sudden insight/revelation that a character experiences212
13457886715essaya short piece of non-fiction prose that examines a single subject from a limited POV213
13457886716suspensethe uncertainty/anxiety we feel about what is going to happen next in a story214

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