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AP English Literature and Composition Flashcards

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6584649164adageA 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
6584649165allegoryA story in which the narrative or characters carry an underlying symbolic, metaphorical or possibly ethical meaning.1
6584649166alliterationThe 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
6584649167allusionA reference to a person, place, or event meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of an idea.3
6584649168ambiguityA vagueness of meaning; a conscious lack of clarity meant to evoke multiple meanings and interpretation.4
6584649169anachronismA person, scene, event, or other element in literature that fails to correspond with the time/era in which the work is set.5
6584649170analogyA 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
6584649171antagonistA character or force in a work of literature that, by opposing the protagonist produces tension or conflict.7
6584649172antithesisA rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect.8
6584649173aphorismA statement of truth or opinion expressed in a concise and witty manner. The term is often applied to philosophical, moral and literary principles.9
6584649174ApollonianIn contrast to Dionysian, it refers to the most noble, godlike qualities of human nature and behaviour.10
6584649175apostropheA figure of speech where the writer or speaker detaches himself from his present reality and addresses an imaginary character in his speech.11
6584649176archetypeA character, action or situation which represents or reflects a commonly held or universal pattern, such as human nature.12
6584649177assonanceThe repetition of two or more vowel sounds in a group of words or lines in poetry and prose.13
6584649178balladA 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
6584649179bardA poet or a performer in olden times who told heroic stories to musical accompaniment.15
6584649180BildungsromanA 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
6584649181blank 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
6584649182bombastInflated, pretentious language used for trivial subjects.18
6584649183cacophonyThe 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
6584649184caesuraIt 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
6584649185canonThe works most widely read, studied, and considered most important in national literature or in a specific literary period.21
6584649186caricatureA grotesque likeness of striking qualities in persons and things; a portrait that exaggerates a facet of personality.22
6584649187catharsisA cleansing of the spirit brought about by the pity and terror of a dramatic tragedy.23
6584649188classicismDeriving from the orderly qualities of ancient Greek and Roman culture; implies formality, objectivity, simplicity and restraint.24
6584649189conceitA 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
6584649190anticlimaxThis occurs when an action produces far smaller results than one had been led to expect; it is frequently comic in effect.26
6584649191anti-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
6584649192asideA speech (usually just a short comment) made by an actor to the audience, as though momentarily stepping outside of the action on stage.28
6584649193atmosphereThe emotional tone or background that surrounds a scene.29
6584649194black 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
6584649195cadencethe beat or rhythm of poetry in a general sense31
6584649196cantois a divider in long poems, much like chapters in a novel32
6584649197coinagea.k.a. neologism, inventing a word33
6584649198colloquialismthis is a word or phrase used in everyday conversational English that isn't a part of accepted "schoolbook" English34
6584649199controlling imagewhen an image dominates and shapes the entire work35
6584649200metaphysical conceita type of conceit that occurs only in metaphysical poetry36
6584649201connotationthe suggest or implied meaning of a word/phrase37
6584649202consonancethe repetition of two or more consonant sounds within a group of words or a line of poetry38
6584649203coupleta pair of lines that end in rhyme39
6584649204heroic couplettwo rhyming lines in iambic pentameter are called this40
6584649205denotationthe literal, dictionary definition of a word41
6584649206denouementthe resolution that occurs at the end of a play or work or fiction42
6584649207Dionysianas distinguished from Apollonian, the word refers to sensual, pleasure seeking impulses43
6584649208dictionthe choice of words in oral and written discourse44
6584649209syntaxthe ordering and structuring of the words in a sentence45
6584649210dirgea song for the dead, its tone is typically slow, heavy, and melancholy46
6584649211dissonancethe grating of incompatible sounds47
6584649212doggerelcrude, simplistic verse, often in sing-song rhyme48
6584649213dramatic ironywhen the audience knows something that the characters in the drama do not49
6584649214dramatic monologuewhen a single speaker in literature says something to a silent audience50
6584649215elegya poem or prose selection that laments or meditates on the passing/death of something/someone of value51
6584649216elementsthe 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
6584649217ellipsisthree periods (...) indicating the omission of words in a thought or quotation53
6584649218empathya feeling of association or identification with an object/person54
6584649219end stoppeda term that describes a line of poetry that ends with a natural pause often indicated by a mark of punctuation55
6584649220enjambmentthe continuation of a syntactic unit from one line or couplet of a poem to the next with no pause56
6584649221epican 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
6584649222mock epica parody form that deals with mundane events and ironically treats them as worthy of epic poetry58
6584649223epitaphlines 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
6584649224epigrama concise but ingenious, witty and thoughtful statement60
6584649225euphonywhen sounds blend harmoniously; pleasing, harmonious sounds61
6584649226epithetan adjective or phrase that expresses a striking quality of a person or thing62
6584649227eponymousa term for the title character of a work of literature63
6584649228euphemisma mild or less negative usage for a harsh or blunt term64
6584649229explicitto say or write something directly and clearly65
6584649230explicationthe interpretation/analysis of a text66
6584649231extended metaphora series of comparisons between two unlike objects that occur over a number of lines67
6584649232fablea 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
6584649233falling 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
6584649234fantasya story containing unreal, imaginary features70
6584649235farcea comedy that contains an extravagant and nonsensical disregard of seriousness, although it may have a serious, scornful purpose71
6584649236figurative languagein contrast to literal language, this implies meanings. It includes devices such as metaphors, similes, and personification, etc.72
6584649237foila secondary character whose purpose is to highlight the characteristics of a main character, usually by contrast73
6584649238first person narrativea narrative told by a character involved in the story, using first-person pronouns such as "I" and "we"74
6584649239flashbacka return to an earlier time in a story or play in order to clarify present actions or circumstances75
6584649240foreshadowingan event or statement in a narrative that suggests, in miniature, a larger event that comes later76
6584649241footthe basic rhythmic unit of a line in poetry. it is formed by a combination of two or three syllables, either stressed or unstressed77
6584649242framea structure that provides premise or setting for a narrative78
6584649243free versea kind of poetry without rhymed lines, rhythm or fixed metrical feet79
6584649244genrea term used to describe literary forms, such as novel, play, and essay80
6584649245Gothic novela novel in which supernatural horrors and an atmosphere of unknown terror pervades the action. i.e. "Frankenstein"81
6584649246haranguea forceful sermon, lecture, or tirade82
6584649247hubristhe excessive pride/ambition that leads to the main character's downfall83
6584649248hyperboleexaggeration/deliberate overstatement84
6584649249humanisma belief that emphasizes faith and optimism in human potential and creativity85
6584649250implicitto say or write something that suggests and implies but never says it directly or clearly86
6584649251in medias resLatin for "in the midst of things"; a narrative that starts not at the beginning of events but at some other critical point87
6584649252idylla lyric poem or passage that describes a kind of ideal life or place88
6584649253imagea word or phrase representing that which can be seen, touched, tasted, smelled or felt89
6584649254inversionswitching 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
6584649255ironya mode of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is stated, often implying ridicule or light sarcasm91
6584649256invectivea direct verbal assault; a denunciation. i.e. Candide92
6584649257kenninga 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
6584649258lamenta poem of sadness or grief over the death of a loved one or over some other intense loss94
6584649259lampoona satire95
6584649260light versea variety of poetry meant to entertain or amuse, but sometimes with a satirical thrust96
6584649261loose sentencea sentence that is complete before its end. follows customary word order of English sentences i.e. subject-verb-object97
6584649262periodic 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
6584649263lyricpersonal, 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
6584649264melodramaa 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
6584649265litotesa form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity101
6584649266maxima saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth102
6584649267metaphora figure of speech that compares unlike objects103
6584649268metaphysical poetrythe work of poets, particularly those of 17th c., that uses elaborate conceits, is highly intellectual, and expresses the complexities of love and life104
6584649269meterthe pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables found in poetry105
6584649270metonymya 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
6584649271modethe general form, pattern, and manner of expression of a work of literature107
6584649272montagea quick succession of images/impressions used to express an idea108
6584649273moodthe emotional tone in a work of literature109
6584649274nemesisthe protagonist's archenemy or supreme and persistent difficulty110
6584649275objectivitythis treatment of a subject matter is an impersonal/outside view of events111
6584649276subjectivitythis treatment of a subject matter uses the interior/personal view of a single observer and is typically colored with that observer's emotional responses112
6584649277onomatopoeiawords that sound like what they mean113
6584649278morala brief and often simplistic lesson that a reader may infer from a work of literature114
6584649279motifa phrase, idea, event that through repetition serves to unify or convey a theme in a work of literature.115
6584649280museone of the ancient Greek goddesses presiding over the arts. the imaginary source of inspiration for an artist or writer116
6584649281mythan imaginary story that has become accepted part of the cultural or religious tradition of a group/society. often used to explain natural phenomena.117
6584649282narrativea form of verse or prose that tells a story118
6584649283naturalisma term often used as a synonym for "realism"; also a view of experiences that is generally characterized as bleak and pessimistic119
6584649284non sequitura statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before120
6584649285novel of mannersa novel focusing on and describing the social customs and habits of a particular social group121
6584649286odea lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful and exalted feelings toward the subject.122
6584649287omniscient narratora narrator with unlimited awareness, understanding, and insight of characters, setting, background, and all other elements of the story123
6584649288oxymorona phrase composed of opposites; a contradiction. juxtaposition of contradictory element to create a paradoxical effect124
6584649289oppositionone of the most useful concepts in analyzing literature. it means that you have a pair of elements that contrast sharply.125
6584649290ottava rimaan eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem126
6584649291parablelike 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
6584649292paradoxa statement that seems self-contradictory yet true128
6584649293parallelismrepeated syntactical similarities used for effect129
6584649294parodyan imitation of a work meant to ridicule its style and subject130
6584649295paraphrasea version of a text put into simpler, everyday, words131
6584649296pastorala work of literature dealing with rural life132
6584649297pathetic fallacyfaulty reasoning that inappropriately ascribes human feelings to nature or nonhuman objects133
6584649298pathosthat element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow134
6584649299pentametera verse with five poetic feet per line135
6584649300personathe 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
6584649301personificationgiving an inanimate object human like qualities or form137
6584649302plotthe interrelationship among the events in a story, including exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution138
6584649303picaresque novelan episodic novel about a roguelike wanderer who lives off his wits. e.g. "Don Quixote", "Moll Flanders"139
6584649304plainta poem or speech expressing sorrow140
6584649305point of viewthe perspective from which the action of a novel in presented.141
6584649306omniscient narrator3rd person narrator who sees like God into each character's mind and understands all the action going on.142
6584649307limited 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
6584649308objective 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
6584649309first 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
6584649310prosodythe grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry146
6584649311protagonistthe main character in a work of literature147
6584649312preludean introductory poem to a longer work of verse148
6584649313punthe usually humorous use of a word in such a way to suggest two or more meanings149
6584649314pseudonymalso 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
6584649315quatriana four-line poem or a four-line unit of a longer poem151
6584649316refraina line or set of lines repeated several times over the course of a poem152
6584649317requiema song of prayer for the dead153
6584649318realismthe depiction of people, things, and events as they really are without idealization or exaggeration for effect154
6584649319rhetoricthe language of a work and its style; words, often highly emotional, used to convince or sway an audience155
6584649320rhetorical 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
6584649321rhapsodyan intensely passionate verse or section of verse, usually of love or praise157
6584649322rhymethe repetition of similar sounds at regular intervals, used mostly in poetry158
6584649323rhyme schemethe patterns of rhymes within a given poem i.e. abba159
6584649324rhythmthe pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that make up a line of poetry. similar to meter160
6584649325romancean extended narrative about improbable events and extraordinary people in exotic places161
6584649326sarcasma sharp, caustic expression or remark; a bitter jibe or taunt162
6584649327satirea 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
6584649328similefigurative comparison using the words "like" or "as"164
6584649329settingthe total environment for the action in a novel/play. it includes time, place, historical milieu, and social, political and even spiritual circumstances165
6584649330sentimentala term that describes characters' excessive emotional response to experience; also nauseatingly nostalgic and mawkish166
6584649331sentimenta synonym for "view" or "feeling"; also refined and tender emotion in literature167
6584649332scansionthe act of determining the meter of a poetic line.168
6584649333sonneta popular form of verse consisting of fourteen lines and a prescribed rhyme scheme. two types: Shakespearean and Petrarchan169
6584649334soliloquya 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
6584649335stanzaa 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
6584649336stream 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
6584649337stock charactersstandard or cliched character types: the drunk, the miser, the foolish girl, etc.173
6584649338suggestto imply, infer indicate. goes along with the concept of implicit174
6584649339stylethe manner in which an author uses and arranges words, shapes ideas, forms sentences and creates a structure to convey ideas175
6584649340subplota subordinate or minor collection of events in a novel or play, usually connected to the main plot176
6584649341subtextthe implied meaning that underlies the main meaning of a work of literature177
6584649342summarya simple retelling of what you've just read. what you DON'T want to do in the Open Essay section :)178
6584649343symbolisma device in literature where an object represents an idea179
6584649344synecdochea figure of speech in which a part signifies the whole or the whole signifies the part180
6584649345themethe main idea or meaning, often an abstract idea upon which a work of literature is built181
6584649346thesisthe main position of an argument. the central contention that will be supported182
6584649347tonethe author's attitude toward the subject being written about. it's the characteristic emotion that pervades a work or part of a work183
6584649348tragic flawin a tragedy, this is the weakness of a character in an otherwise good individual that ultimately leads to his demise184
6584649349tragedya 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
6584649350travestya grotesque parody186
6584649351truisma way-too-obvious truth187
6584649352utopiaan 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
6584649353verbal ironya discrepancy between the true meaning of a situation and the literal meaning of the written or spoken words189
6584649354versea synonym for poetry. also a group of lines in a song or poem; also a single line of poetry190
6584649355verisimilitudesimilar to the truth; the quality of realism in a work that persuades readers that they are getting a vision of life as it is191
6584649356versificationthe 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
6584649357villanellea French verse form calculated to appear simple and spontaneous but consisting of 19 lines and a prescribed pattern of rhymes193
6584649358voicethe 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
6584649359witthe 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
6584649360zeugmathe 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
6584649361anastropheinversion of the natural or usual word order197
6584649362anaphorarepetition of the same words or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses. e.g. "I have a dream..."198
6584649363epistropherepetition 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
6584649364epanalepsisrepetition 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
6584649365anadiplosisrepetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause. "The crime was common, common be the pain."201
6584649366antimetabolerepetition 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
6584649367chiasmusreversal of grammatical structures in successive phrases or clauses. "Exalts his enemies, his friends destroys."203
6584649368polyptotonrepetition of words derived from the same root. "But in this desert country they may see the land being rendered USELESS by OVERUSE."204
6584649369antanaclasisrepetition of a word in two different senses. "Your argument is sound, nothing but sound."205
6584649370paronomasiause of words alike in sound but different in meaning. "ask for me tomorrow and you will find me a GRAVE man."206
6584649371syllepsisthe 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
6584649372anthimeriathe substitution of one part of speech for another "I'll UNHAIR they head."208
6584649373periphrasissubstitution 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
6584649374autobiographyan account of a person's own life210
6584649375dialecta way of speaking that is characteristic of a particular region/group of people211
6584649376epiphanyin a literary work, a moment of sudden insight/revelation that a character experiences212
6584649377essaya short piece of non-fiction prose that examines a single subject from a limited POV213
6584649378suspensethe uncertainty/anxiety we feel about what is going to happen next in a story214

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