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AP English Literature Terms Flashcards

sources of definitions are The Princeton Review (TPR) and Barron's AP study guides. and class notes that Mr. Enns distributed :)

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4100192242abstractan abbreviated synopsis of a longer work of scholarship or research0
4100192243adagea saying/proverb containing a truth based on experience and often couched in metaphorical language1
4100192244allegorya story in which the narrative/characters carry an underlying symbolic, metaphorical or possibly an ethical meaning2
4100192245alliterationthe 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 emphasis3
4100192246allusiona reference to a person, place, or event meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of an idea4
4100192247ambiguitya vagueness of meaning; a conscious lack of clarity meant to evoke multiple meanings and interpretation5
4100192248anachronisma person, scene, event, or other element in literature that fails to correspond with the time/era in which the work is set6
4100192249analogya comparison that points out similarities between two dissimilar things7
4100192250annotationa brief explanation,summary, or evaluation of a text or work of literature8
4100192251antagonista character or force in a work of literature that, by opposing the protagonist produces tension or conflict9
4100192252antithesisa rhetorical opposition or contrast of ideas by means of a grammatical arrangement of words, clauses, or sentences10
4100192253aphorisma short, pithy statement of a generally accepted truth or sentiment11
4100192254Apollonianin contrast to Dionysian, it refers to the most noble, godlike qualities of human nature and behavior12
4100192255apostrophea locution that addresses a person/personified thing not present13
4100192256archetypean abstract or ideal conception of a type; a perfectly typical example; an original model/form14
4100192257assonancethe repetition of two or more vowel sounds in a group of words or lines in poetry and prose15
4100192258ballada 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 naive folksy quality16
4100192259barda poet, in olden times, a performer who told heroic stories to musical accompaniment17
4100192260bathosthe use of insincere or overdone sentimentality18
4100192261belle-lettresthe French term for the world of books, criticism, and literature in general19
4100192262bibliographya list of works cited or otherwise relevant to a subject or other work20
4100192263Bildungsromana German word referring to a novel structured as a series of events that take place as the hero travels in quest of a goal21
4100192264blank versepoetry written in iambic pentameter, the primary meter used in English poetry and the works of Shakespeare and Milton. its lines generally do not rhyme22
4100192265bombastinflated, pretentious language used for trivial subjects23
4100192266burlesquea work of literature meant to ridicule a subject; a grotesque imitation; a broad parody and exaggerates it into ridiculousness24
4100192267cacophonygrating, inharmonious sounds25
4100192268caesuraa pause somewhere in the middle of a verse, often (but not always marked by punctuation)26
4100192269canonthe works considered most important in national literature or period; works widely read and studied27
4100192270caricaturea grotesque likeness of striking qualities in persons and things; a portrait that exaggerates a facet of personality28
4100192271carpe diem"seize the day"29
4100192272catharsisa cleansing of the spirit brought about by the pity and terror of a dramatic tragedy30
4100192273classica highly regarded work of literature or other art form that has withstood the test of time, similar to canon31
4100192274classicismderiving from the orderly qualities of ancient Greek and Roman culture; implies formality, objectivity, simplicity and restraint32
4100192275climaxthe high point, or turning point, of a story/play33
4100192276novela 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/her emotional/intellectual maturity. e.g. Invisible Man34
4100192277conceita witty or ingenious thought; a diverting or highly fanciful idea, often stated in figurative language; a startling or unusual metaphor, or a metaphor developed and expanded upon several lines35
4100192278anticlimaxthis occurs when an action produces far smaller results than one had been led to expect, it is frequently comic in effect36
4100192279antiheroa protagonist who is markedly unheroic: morally weak, cowardly, dishonest, or any number of other unsavory qualities37
4100192280asidea speech (usually just a short comment) made by an actor to the audience, as though momentarily stepping outside of the action on stage38
4100192281aspecta trait of characteristic, as in "an aspect of the dew drop"39
4100192282atmospherethe emotional tone or background that surrounds a scene40
4100192283black humorthis is the use of disturbing themes in comedy. e.g. two tramps comically debating over which should commit suicide first, and whether the branches of a tree will support their weight41
4100192284cadencethe beat or rhythm of poetry in a general sense42
4100192285cantois a divider in long poems, much like chapters in a novel43
4100192286coinagea.k.a. neologism, inventing a word44
4100192287colloquialismthis is a word or phrase used in everyday conversational English that isn't a part of accepted "schoolbook" English45
4100192288controlling imagewhen an image dominates and shapes the entire work46
4100192289metaphysical conceita type of conceit that occurs only in metaphysical poetry47
4100192290connotationthe suggest or implied meaning of a word/phrase48
4100192291consonancethe repetition of two or more consonant sounds within a group of words or a line of poetry49
4100192292coupleta pair of lines that end in rhyme50
4100192293heroic couplettwo rhyming lines in iambic pentameter are called this51
4100192294denotationthe literal, dictionary definition of a word52
4100192295denouementthe resolution that occurs at the end of a play or work or fiction53
4100192296deus ex machinain literature, the use of an artificial device or gimmick to solve a problem54
4100192297Dionysianas distinguished from Apollonian, the word refers to sensual, pleasure seeking impulses55
4100192298dictionthe choice of words in oral and written discourse56
4100192299syntaxthe ordering and structuring of the words in a sentence57
4100192300dirgea song for the dead, its tone is typically slow, heavy, and melancholy58
4100192301dissonancethe grating of incompatible sounds59
4100192302doggerelcrude, simplistic verse, often in sing-song rhyme60
4100192303dramatic ironywhen the audience knows something that the characters in the drama do not61
4100192304dramatic monologuewhen a single speaker in literature says something to a silent audience62
4100192305elegya poem or prose selection that laments or meditates on the passing/death of something/someone of value63
4100192306elementsthe 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.64
4100192307ellipsisthree periods (...) indicating the omission of words in a thought or quotation65
4100192308empathya feeling of association or identification with an object/person66
4100192309end stoppeda term that describes a line of poetry that ends with a natural pause often indicated by a mark of punctuation67
4100192310enjambmentthe continuation of a syntactic unit from one line or couplet of a poem to the next with no pause68
4100192311epican 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 figure69
4100192312mock epica parody form that deals with mundane events and ironically treats them as worthy of epic poetry70
4100192313epitaphlines that commemorate the dead at their burial place. usually a line or handful of lines, often serious or religious, but sometimes witty and even irreverent71
4100192314epigrama concise but ingenious, witty and thoughtful statement72
4100192315euphonywhen sounds blend harmoniously; pleasing, harmonious sounds73
4100192316epithetan adjective or phrase that expresses a striking quality of a person or thing74
4100192317eponymousa term for the title character of a work of literature75
4100192318euphemisma mild or less negative usage for a harsh or blunt term76
4100192319exegesisa detailed analysis or interpretation of a work of literature77
4100192320exposea piece of writing that reveals weaknesses, faults, frailties, or other short comings78
4100192321explicitto say or write something directly and clearly79
4100192322explicationthe interpretation/analysis of a text80
4100192323extended metaphora series of comparisons between two unlike objects that occur over a number of lines81
4100192324fablea 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"82
4100192325falling 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 conflict83
4100192326fantasya story containing unreal, imaginary features84
4100192327farcea comedy that contains an extravagant and nonsensical disregard of seriousness, although it may have a serious, scornful purpose85
4100192328figurative languagein contrast to literal language, this implies meanings. It includes devices such as metaphors, similes, and personification, etc.86
4100192329foila secondary character whose purpose is to highlight the characteristics of a main character, usually by contrast87
4100192330first person narrativea narrative told by a character involved in the story, using first-person pronouns such as "I" and "we"88
4100192331flashbacka return to an earlier time in a story or play in order to clarify present actions or circumstances i.e. Invisible Man89
4100192332foreshadowingan event or statement in a narrative that suggests, in miniature, a larger event that comes later90
4100192333footthe basic rhythmic unit of a line in poetry. it is formed by a combination of two or three syllables, either stressed or unstressed91
4100192334framea structure that provides premise or setting for a narrative92
4100192335free versea kind of poetry without rhymed lines, rhythm or fixed metrical feet93
4100192336genrea term used to describe literary forms, such as novel, play, and essay94
4100192337Gothic novela novel in which supernatural horrors and an atmosphere of unknown terror pervades the action. i.e. "Frankenstein"95
4100192338haranguea forceful sermon, lecture, or tirade96
4100192339hubristhe excessive pride/ambition that leads to the main character's downfall97
4100192340hyperboleexaggeration/deliberate overstatement98
4100192341humanisma belief that emphasizes faith and optimism in human potential and creativity99
4100192342implicitto say or write something that suggests and implies but never says it directly or clearly100
4100192343in medias resLatin for "in the midst of things"; a narrative that starts not at the beginning of events but at some other critical point101
4100192344idylla lyric poem or passage that describes a kind of ideal life or place102
4100192345imagea word or phrase representing that which can be seen, touched, tasted, smelled or felt103
4100192346inversionswitching 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 syntax104
4100192347ironya mode of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is stated, often implying ridicule or light sarcasm105
4100192348invectivea direct verbal assault; a denunciation. i.e. Candide106
4100192349kenninga 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 "wale-road" for ocean107
4100192350lamenta poem of sadness or grief over the death of a loved one or over some other intense loss108
4100192351lampoona satire109
4100192352light versea variety of poetry meant to entertain or amuse, butt sometimes with a satirical thrust110
4100192353loose sentencea sentence that is complete before its end. follows customary word order of English sentences i.e. subject-verb-object111
4100192354periodic 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 end112
4100192355lyricpersonal, 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 melodiousness113
4100192356melodramaa form of cheesy theater in which the hero is very, very good, the villain mean and rotten, and the heroine oh-so-pure.114
4100192357litotesa form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity115
4100192358maxima saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth116
4100192359metaphora figure of speech that compares unlike objects117
4100192360metaphysical poetrythe work of poets, particularly those of 17th c., that uses elaborate conceits, is highly intellectual, and expresses the complexities of love and life118
4100192361meterthe pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables found in poetry119
4100192362metonymya 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..."120
4100192363modethe general form, pattern, and manner of expression of a work of literature121
4100192364montagea quick succession of images/impressions used to express an idea122
4100192365moodthe emotional tone in a work of literature123
4100192366nemesisthe protagonist's archenemy or supreme and persistent difficulty124
4100192367objectivitythis treatment of a subject matter is an impersonal/outside view of events125
4100192368subjectivitythis treatment of a subject matter uses the interior/personal view of a single observer and is typically colored with that observer's emotional responses126
4100192369onomatopoeiawords that sound like what they mean127
4100192370morala brief and often simplistic lesson that a reader may infer from a work of literature128
4100192371motifa phrase, idea, event that through repetition serves to unify or convey a theme in a work of literature.129
4100192372museone of the ancient Greek goddesses presiding over the arts. the imaginary source of inspiration for an artist or writer130
4100192373mythan imaginary story that has become accepted part of the cultural or religious tradition of a group/society. often used to explain natural phenomena.131
4100192374narrativea form of verse or prose that tells a story132
4100192375naturalisma term often used as a synonym for "realism"; also a view of experiences that is generally characterized as bleak and pessimistic133
4100192376non sequitura statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before134
4100192377novel of mannersa novel focusing on and describing the social customs and habits of a particular social group135
4100192378odea lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful and exalted feelings toward the subject.136
4100192379omniscient narratora narrator with unlimited awareness, understanding, and insight of characters, setting, background, and all other elements of the story137
4100192380oxymorona phrase composed of opposites; a contradiction. juxtaposition of contradictory element to create a paradoxical effect138
4100192381oppositionone of the most useful concepts in analyzing literature. it means that you have a pair of elements that contrast sharply.139
4100192382ottava rimaan eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem140
4100192383parablelike 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 derived141
4100192384paradoxa statement that seems self-contradictory yet true142
4100192385parallelismrepeated syntactical similarities used for effect143
4100192386parodyan imitation of a work meant to ridicule its style and subject144
4100192387paraphrasea version of a text put into simpler, everyday, words145
4100192388pastorala work of literature dealing with rural life146
4100192389pathetic fallacyfaulty reasoning that inappropriately ascribes human feelings to nature or nonhuman objects147
4100192390pathosthat element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow148
4100192391pentametera verse with five poetic feet per line149
4100192392personathe role/facade that a character assumes or depicts to a reader, viewer, or the world at large; the narrator in a non-first-person novel150
4100192393personificationgiving an inanimate object human like qualities or form151
4100192394plotthe interrelationship among the events in a story, including exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution152
4100192395picaresque novelan episodic novel about a roguelike wanderer who lives off his wits. e.g. "Don Quixote", "Moll Flanders"153
4100192396plainta poem or speech expressing sorrow154
4100192397point of viewthe perspective from which the action of a novel in presented.155
4100192398omniscient narrator3rd person narrator who sees like God into each character's mind and understands all the action going on.156
4100192399limited 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.157
4100192400objective 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.158
4100192401first 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"159
4100192402prosodythe grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry160
4100192403protagonistthe main character in a work of literature161
4100192404preludean introductory poem to a longer work of verse162
4100192405punthe usually humorous use of a word in such a way to suggest two or more meanings163
4100192406pseudonymalso 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)164
4100192407quatriana four-line poem or a four-line unit of a longer poem165
4100192408refraina line or set of lines repeated several times over the course of a poem166
4100192409requiema song of prayer for the dead167
4100192410realismthe depiction of people, things, and events as they really are without idealization or exaggeration for effect168
4100192411rhetoricthe language of a work and its style; words, often highly emotional, used to convince or sway an audience169
4100192412rhetorical 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 themselves170
4100192413rhapsodyan intensely passionate verse or section of verse, usually of love or praise171
4100192414rhymethe repetition of similar sounds at regular intervals, used mostly in poetry172
4100192415rhyme schemethe patterns of rhymes within a given poem i.e. abba173
4100192416rhythmthe pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that make up a line of poetry. similar to meter174
4100192417romancean extended narrative about improbable events and extraordinary people in exotic places175
4100192418sarcasma sharp, caustic expression or remark; a bitter jibe or taunt176
4100192419satirea 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 society177
4100192420similefigurative comparison using the words "like" or "as"178
4100192421settingthe total environment for the action in a novel/play. it includes time, place, historical milieu, and social, political and even spiritual circumstances179
4100192422sentimentala term that describes characters' excessive emotional response to experience; also nauseatingly nostalgic and mawkish180
4100192423sentimenta synonym for "view" or "feeling"; also refined and tender emotion in literature181
4100192424scansionthe act of determining the meter of a poetic line.182
4100192425sonneta popular form of verse consisting of fourteen lines and a prescribed rhyme scheme. two types: Shakespearean and Petrarchan183
4100192426soliloquya 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 presence184
4100192427stanzaa 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 plan185
4100192428stream of consciousnessa style of writing in which the author tries to reproduce the random flow of thoughts in the human mind, e.g. Ernest Hemingway186
4100192429stock charactersstandard or cliched character types: the drunk, the miser, the foolish girl, etc.187
4100192430suggestto imply, infer indicate. goes along with the concept of implicit188
4100192431stylethe manner in which an author uses and arranges words, shapes ideas, forms sentences and creates a structure to convey ideas189
4100192432subplota subordinate or minor collection of events in a novel or play, usually connected to the main plot190
4100192433subtextthe implied meaning that underlies the main meaning of a work of literature191
4100192434summarya simple retelling of what you've just read. what you DON'T want to do in the Open Essay section :)192
4100192435symbolisma device in literature where an object represents an idea193
4100192436synecdochea figure of speech in which a part signifies the whole or the whole signifies the part194
4100192437themethe main idea or meaning, often an abstract idea upon which a work of literature is built195
4100192438thesisthe main position of an argument. the central contention that will be supported196
4100192439tonethe author's attitude toward the subject being written about. it's the characteristic emotion that pervades a work or part of a work197
4100192440tragic flawin a tragedy, this is the weakness of a character in an otherwise good individual that ultimately leads to his demise198
4100192441tragedya 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 death199
4100192442travestya grotesque parody200
4100192443truisma way-too-obvious truth201
4100192444utopiaan idealized place. imaginary communities in which people are able to live in happiness, prosperity and peace. Sir Thomas More came up with this idea.202
4100192445verbal ironya discrepancy between the true meaning of a situation and the literal meaning of the written or spoken words203
4100192446versea synonym for poetry. also a group of lines in a song or poem; also a single line of poetry204
4100192447verisimilitudesimilar to the truth; the quality of realism in a work that persuades readers that they are getting a vision of life as it is205
4100192448versificationthe 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.206
4100192449villanellea French verse form calculated to appear simple and spontaneous but consisting of 19 lines and a prescribed pattern of rhymes207
4100192450voicethe 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.208
4100192451witthe 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 scene209
4100192452zeugmathe 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."210
4100192453anastropheinversion of the natural or usual word order211
4100192454parenthesisinsertion of some verbal unit in a position that interrupts the normal syntactical flow of the sentence212
4100192455appositionplacing side by side two coordinate elements, the second of which serves as an explanation or modification of the first. "The mountain was the earth, her home."213
4100192456ellipsisdeliberate omission of a word or words which are readily implied by context214
4100192457asyndetondeliberate omission of conjunctions between a series of related clauses. used to produce a hurried rhythm in the sentence.215
4100192458polysyndetonthe deliberate use of many conjunctions. its effect is to slow down the rhythm of the sentence216
4100192459anaphorarepetition of the same words or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses. e.g. "I have a dream..."217
4100192460epistropherepetition 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."218
4100192461epanalepsisrepetition 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"219
4100192462anadiplosisrepetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause. "The crime was common, common be the pain."220
4100192463climaxthe arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in an order of importance221
4100192464antimetabolerepetition 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."222
4100192465chiasmusreversal of grammatical structures in successive phrases or clauses. "Exalts his enemies, his friends destroys."223
4100192466polyptotonrepetition of words derived from the same root. "But in this desert country they may see the land being rendered USELESS by OVERUSE."224
4100192467antanaclasisrepetition of a word in two different senses. "Your argument is sound, nothing but sound."225
4100192468paronomasiause of words alike in sound but different in meaning. "ask for me tomorrow and you will find me a GRAVE man."226
4100192469syllepsisthe 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."227
4100192470anthimeriathe substitution of one part of speech for another "I'll UNHAIR they head."228
4100192471periphrasissubstitution 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."229
4100192472autobiographyan account of a person's own life230
4100192473dialecta way of speaking that is characteristic of a particular region/group of people231
4100192474epiphanyin a literary work, a moment of sudden insight/revelation that a character experiences232
4100192475essaya short piece of non-fiction prose that examines a single subject from a limited POV233
4100192476suspensethe uncertainty/anxiety we feel about what is going to happen next in a story234

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