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AP English Literature Literary Terms Flashcards

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13850486643allegorystory or poem that can be used to reveal a hidden meaning0
13850486644allusionA reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art1
13850486645anaphorarepetition in first part of a sentence , to have an artistic meaning2
13850486646apostrophefigure of speech used to adresss an imaginary character3
13850486647approximate rhymewords in rhyming pattern that sound alike4
13850486648asidewhen a character's dialogue is spoken but not heard by other actors on the stage5
13850486649blank versepoetry written in meter without an ending rhyme6
13850486650cacophonyblend of unharmonious sounds7
13850486651caesurapause in the middle of a line8
13850486652catharsisthe release of emotions through art (emotional cleanse)9
13850486653characterizationprocess of revealing characters personality10
13850486654comedydrama that is amusing or funny11
13850486655didactic writingwriting with a primary purpose to teach or preach12
13850486656dramatic expositionprose commentaries, to provide background information about the characters and their world13
13850486657end stopped lineline ending in regular punctuation14
13850486658epiphanywhen a character receives a spiritual insight into their life15
13850486659euphonysmooth choice and arrangement of sounds16
13850486660extended figureA figure of speech sustained or developed through a considerable number of lines or through a whole poem.17
13850486661figurative languageLanguage that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.18
13850486662figure of speecha way of saying something other than the ordinary way19
13850486663footbasic unit in the scansion or measurement of verse , stressed and un stressed syllables20
13850486664formexternal pattern or shape of a poem21
13850486665hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall22
13850486666verbal ironyA figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant23
13850486667dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.24
13850486668situational ironyrefers to an occurrence that is contrary to what is expected or intended25
13850486669meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry26
13850486670metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it27
13850486671motivationA need or desire that energizes and directs behavior28
13850486672hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor29
13850486673oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.30
13850486674paradoxA contradiction or dilemma31
13850486675rhythmA regularly recurring sequence of events or actions.32
13850486676sarcasmthe use of irony to mock or convey contempt33
13850486677satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.34
13850486678simileA comparison using "like" or "as"35
13850486679soliloquyA long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage36
13850486680stream of consciousnessprivate thoughts of a character without commentary37
13850486681synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa38
13850486682synesthesiadescribing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("a loud color", "a sweet sound")39
13850486683themeCentral idea of a work of literature40
13850486684toneAttitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character41
13850486685understatementthe deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; a deliberate under-emphasis42
13850486686polysyndetonthe use, for rhetorical effect, of more conjunctions than is necessary or natural43
13850486687asyndetona construction in which elements are presented in a series without conjunctions44
13850486688ambiguityAn event or situation that may be interpreted in more than one way.45
13850486689archetypean original model on which something is patterned46
13850486690antecedent actionaction or events which occur before the story begins47
13850486691aphorismA brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.48
13850486692analogymethod of comparing two similar things using parallelism to show similarities49
13850486693anecdotea short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person50
13850486694antithesisan exact opposite; an opposite extreme51
13850486695colloquialcharacteristic of informal conversation52
13850486696chiasmusa statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is structurally reversed53
13850486697coherencethe quality of being logical, orderly, and clearly connected54
13850486698conceita fanciful, particularly clever extended metaphor55
13850486699diacoperepetition of a word or phrase with one or two intervening words56
13850486700explicationa detailed explanation of the meaning of a text57
13850486701juxtapositionplacing two elements side by side to present a comparison or contrast58
13850486702hypophorathe technique of asking a question, then proceeding to answer it59
13850486703euphemismAn indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant60
13850486704enumeratiodetailing parts, causes, effects, or consequences to make a point more forcibly61
13850486705enjambmentline of poetry that ends with no punctuation and consequently runs over into the next line62
13850486706invectiveinsulting, abusive, or highly critical language63
13850486707litotesA form of understatement that involves making an affirmative point by denying its opposite64
13850486708motifA recurring theme, subject or idea65
13850486709parallelismthe use of a series of words, phrases, or sentences that have similar grammatical form66
13850486710syntaxthe grammatical arrangement of words in sentences67
13850486711voltathe shift or point of dramatic change in a poem68
13850486712rhetoricthe art of using language effectively and persuasively69
13850486713rhetorical questionA question asked merely for effect with no answer expected.70
13850486714parodya work which imitates another in a ridiculous manner71
13850486715inferenceA conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning72
13850486716tragedyA drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow73
13850486717undertonea hidden or implied meaning74
13850486718dissonancelack of agreement or harmony75
13850486719frame storystory that contains another story/stories that is/are usually significant to the main story76
13850486720expletivean exclamation or oath, often obscene77
13850486721atmosphere/moodthe mood/ feeling of the literary work created for the reader by the writer.78
13850486722auditory imageryuse of language to represent an experience pertaining to sound79
13850486723universal themeA message about life that can be understood by most cultures80
13850486724implied meaningthe meaning of a word understood, though unexpressed, usually through connotations and imagery; where you have to read between the lines to get the underlying meaning/subtext of a text81
13850486725character sketcha short piece of writing that reveals or shows something important about a person or fictional character82
13850486726epiloguea short passage added at the end of a literary work83
13850486727epistlea letter or literary composition in letter form84
13850486728hexametera line of poetry containing six feet85
13850486729tetrametera line of poetry containing four feet86
13850486730pentametera line of poetry containing five feet87
13850486731lamenta passionate expression of grief or sorrow88

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