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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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4224784945allegorya story in which the narrative/characters carry an underlying symbolic, metaphorical or possibly an ethical meaning0
4224784946alliterationthe 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 emphasis1
4224784947allusiona reference to a person, place, or event meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of an idea2
4224784949anachronisma person, scene, event, or other element in literature that fails to correspond with the time/era in which the work is set3
4224784950analogya comparison that points out similarities between two dissimilar things4
4224784954aphorisma short, pithy statement of a generally accepted truth or sentiment5
4224784956apostrophea locution that addresses a person/personified thing not present6
4224784958assonancethe repetition of two or more vowel sounds in a group of words or lines in poetry and prose7
4224784959ballada 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 quality8
4224784960barda poet, in olden times, a performer who told heroic stories to musical accompaniment9
4224784961bathosthe use of insincere or overdone sentimentality10
4224784962belle-lettresthe French term for the world of books, criticism, and literature in general11
4224784963bibliographya list of works cited or otherwise relevant to a subject or other work12
4224784964Bildungsromana German word referring to a novel structured as a series of events that take place as the hero travels in quest of a goal13
4224784965blank versepoetry written in iambic pentameter, the primary meter used in English poetry and the works of Shakespeare and Milton. its lines generally do not rhyme14
4224784966bombastinflated, pretentious language used for trivial subjects15
4224784967burlesquea work of literature meant to ridicule a subject; a grotesque imitation; a broad parody and exaggerates it into ridiculousness16
4224784968cacophonygrating, inharmonious sounds17
4224784969caesuraa pause somewhere in the middle of a verse, often (but not always marked by punctuation)18
4224784970canonthe works considered most important in national literature or period; works widely read and studied19
4224784971caricaturea grotesque likeness of striking qualities in persons and things; a portrait that exaggerates a facet of personality20
4224784972carpe diem"seize the day"21
4224784973catharsisa cleansing of the spirit brought about by the pity and terror of a dramatic tragedy22
4224784974classica highly regarded work of literature or other art form that has withstood the test of time, similar to canon23
4224784975classicismderiving from the orderly qualities of ancient Greek and Roman culture; implies formality, objectivity, simplicity and restraint24
4224784976climaxthe high point, or turning point, of a story/play25
4224784977novela 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 Man26
4224784978conceita 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 lines27
4224784979anticlimaxthis occurs when an action produces far smaller results than one had been led to expect, it is frequently comic in effect28
4224784980antiheroa protagonist who is markedly unheroic: morally weak, cowardly, dishonest, or any number of other unsavory qualities29
4224784981asidea speech (usually just a short comment) made by an actor to the audience, as though momentarily stepping outside of the action on stage30
4224784982aspecta trait of characteristic, as in "an aspect of the dew drop"31
4224784983atmospherethe emotional tone or background that surrounds a scene32
4224784984black 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 weight33
4224784985cadencethe beat or rhythm of poetry in a general sense34
4224784986cantois a divider in long poems, much like chapters in a novel35
4224784987coinagea.k.a. neologism, inventing a word36
4224784988colloquialismthis is a word or phrase used in everyday conversational English that isn't a part of accepted "schoolbook" English37
4224784989controlling imagewhen an image dominates and shapes the entire work38
4224784990metaphysical conceita type of conceit that occurs only in metaphysical poetry39
4224784991connotationthe suggest or implied meaning of a word/phrase40
4224784992consonancethe repetition of two or more consonant sounds within a group of words or a line of poetry41
4224784993coupleta pair of lines that end in rhyme42
4224784994heroic couplettwo rhyming lines in iambic pentameter are called this43
4224784995denotationthe literal, dictionary definition of a word44
4224784996denouementthe resolution that occurs at the end of a play or work or fiction45
4224784997deus ex machinain literature, the use of an artificial device or gimmick to solve a problem46
4224784998Dionysianas distinguished from Apollonian, the word refers to sensual, pleasure seeking impulses47
4224784999dictionthe choice of words in oral and written discourse48
4224785000syntaxthe ordering and structuring of the words in a sentence49
4224785001dirgea song for the dead, its tone is typically slow, heavy, and melancholy50
4224785002dissonancethe grating of incompatible sounds51
4224785003doggerelcrude, simplistic verse, often in sing-song rhyme52
4224785004dramatic ironywhen the audience knows something that the characters in the drama do not53
4224785005dramatic monologuewhen a single speaker in literature says something to a silent audience54
4224785006elegya poem or prose selection that laments or meditates on the passing/death of something/someone of value55
4224785007elementsthe 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.56
4224785008ellipsisthree periods (...) indicating the omission of words in a thought or quotation57
4224785009empathya feeling of association or identification with an object/person58
4224785010end stoppeda term that describes a line of poetry that ends with a natural pause often indicated by a mark of punctuation59
4224785011enjambmentthe continuation of a syntactic unit from one line or couplet of a poem to the next with no pause60
4224785012epican 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 figure61
4224785013mock epica parody form that deals with mundane events and ironically treats them as worthy of epic poetry62
4224785014epitaphlines that commemorate the dead at their burial place. usually a line or handful of lines, often serious or religious, but sometimes witty and even irreverent63
4224785015epigrama concise but ingenious, witty and thoughtful statement64
4224785016euphonywhen sounds blend harmoniously; pleasing, harmonious sounds65
4224785017epithetan adjective or phrase that expresses a striking quality of a person or thing66
4224785018eponymousa term for the title character of a work of literature67
4224785019euphemisma mild or less negative usage for a harsh or blunt term68
4224785020exegesisa detailed analysis or interpretation of a work of literature69
4224785021exposea piece of writing that reveals weaknesses, faults, frailties, or other short comings70
4224785022explicitto say or write something directly and clearly71
4224785023explicationthe interpretation/analysis of a text72
4224785024extended metaphora series of comparisons between two unlike objects that occur over a number of lines73
4224785025fablea 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"74
4224785026falling 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 conflict75
4224785027fantasya story containing unreal, imaginary features76
4224785028farcea comedy that contains an extravagant and nonsensical disregard of seriousness, although it may have a serious, scornful purpose77
4224785029figurative languagein contrast to literal language, this implies meanings. It includes devices such as metaphors, similes, and personification, etc.78
4224785030foila secondary character whose purpose is to highlight the characteristics of a main character, usually by contrast79
4224785031first person narrativea narrative told by a character involved in the story, using first-person pronouns such as "I" and "we"80
4224785032flashbacka return to an earlier time in a story or play in order to clarify present actions or circumstances i.e. Invisible Man81
4224785033foreshadowingan event or statement in a narrative that suggests, in miniature, a larger event that comes later82
4224785034footthe basic rhythmic unit of a line in poetry. it is formed by a combination of two or three syllables, either stressed or unstressed83
4224785035framea structure that provides premise or setting for a narrative84
4224785036free versea kind of poetry without rhymed lines, rhythm or fixed metrical feet85
4224785037genrea term used to describe literary forms, such as novel, play, and essay86
4224785038Gothic novela novel in which supernatural horrors and an atmosphere of unknown terror pervades the action. i.e. "Frankenstein"87
4224785039haranguea forceful sermon, lecture, or tirade88
4224785040hubristhe excessive pride/ambition that leads to the main character's downfall89
4224785041hyperboleexaggeration/deliberate overstatement90
4224785042humanisma belief that emphasizes faith and optimism in human potential and creativity91
4224785043implicitto say or write something that suggests and implies but never says it directly or clearly92
4224785044in medias resLatin for "in the midst of things"; a narrative that starts not at the beginning of events but at some other critical point93
4224785045idylla lyric poem or passage that describes a kind of ideal life or place94
4224785046imagea word or phrase representing that which can be seen, touched, tasted, smelled or felt95
4224785047inversionswitching 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 syntax96
4224785048ironya mode of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is stated, often implying ridicule or light sarcasm97
4224785049invectivea direct verbal assault; a denunciation. i.e. Candide98
4224785050kenninga 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 ocean99
4224785051lamenta poem of sadness or grief over the death of a loved one or over some other intense loss100
4224785052lampoona satire101
4224785053light versea variety of poetry meant to entertain or amuse, butt sometimes with a satirical thrust102
4224785054loose sentencea sentence that is complete before its end. follows customary word order of English sentences i.e. subject-verb-object103
4224785055periodic 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 end104
4224785056lyricpersonal, 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 melodiousness105
4224785057melodramaa form of cheesy theater in which the hero is very, very good, the villain mean and rotten, and the heroine oh-so-pure.106
4224785058litotesa form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity107
4224785059maxima saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth108
4224785060metaphora figure of speech that compares unlike objects109
4224785061metaphysical poetrythe work of poets, particularly those of 17th c., that uses elaborate conceits, is highly intellectual, and expresses the complexities of love and life110
4224785062meterthe pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables found in poetry111
4224785063metonymya 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..."112
4224785064modethe general form, pattern, and manner of expression of a work of literature113
4224785065montagea quick succession of images/impressions used to express an idea114
4224785066moodthe emotional tone in a work of literature115
4224785067nemesisthe protagonist's archenemy or supreme and persistent difficulty116
4224785068objectivitythis treatment of a subject matter is an impersonal/outside view of events117
4224785069subjectivitythis treatment of a subject matter uses the interior/personal view of a single observer and is typically colored with that observer's emotional responses118
4224785070onomatopoeiawords that sound like what they mean119
4224785071morala brief and often simplistic lesson that a reader may infer from a work of literature120
4224785072motifa phrase, idea, event that through repetition serves to unify or convey a theme in a work of literature.121
4224785073museone of the ancient Greek goddesses presiding over the arts. the imaginary source of inspiration for an artist or writer122
4224785074mythan imaginary story that has become accepted part of the cultural or religious tradition of a group/society. often used to explain natural phenomena.123
4224785075narrativea form of verse or prose that tells a story124
4224785076naturalisma term often used as a synonym for "realism"; also a view of experiences that is generally characterized as bleak and pessimistic125
4224785077non sequitura statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before126
4224785078novel of mannersa novel focusing on and describing the social customs and habits of a particular social group127
4224785079odea lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful and exalted feelings toward the subject.128
4224785080omniscient narratora narrator with unlimited awareness, understanding, and insight of characters, setting, background, and all other elements of the story129
4224785081oxymorona phrase composed of opposites; a contradiction. juxtaposition of contradictory element to create a paradoxical effect130
4224785082oppositionone of the most useful concepts in analyzing literature. it means that you have a pair of elements that contrast sharply.131
4224785083ottava rimaan eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem132
4224785084parablelike 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 derived133
4224785085paradoxa statement that seems self-contradictory yet true134
4224785086parallelismrepeated syntactical similarities used for effect135
4224785087parodyan imitation of a work meant to ridicule its style and subject136
4224785088paraphrasea version of a text put into simpler, everyday, words137
4224785089pastorala work of literature dealing with rural life138
4224785090pathetic fallacyfaulty reasoning that inappropriately ascribes human feelings to nature or nonhuman objects139
4224785091pathosthat element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow140
4224785092pentametera verse with five poetic feet per line141
4224785093personathe role/facade that a character assumes or depicts to a reader, viewer, or the world at large; the narrator in a non-first-person novel142
4224785094personificationgiving an inanimate object human like qualities or form143
4224785095plotthe interrelationship among the events in a story, including exposition, rising action, climax, falling action and resolution144
4224785096picaresque novelan episodic novel about a roguelike wanderer who lives off his wits. e.g. "Don Quixote", "Moll Flanders"145
4224785097plainta poem or speech expressing sorrow146
4224785098point of viewthe perspective from which the action of a novel in presented.147
4224785099omniscient narrator3rd person narrator who sees like God into each character's mind and understands all the action going on.148
4224785100limited 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.149
4224785101objective 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.150
4224785102first 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"151
4224785103prosodythe grammar of meter and rhythm in poetry152
4224785104protagonistthe main character in a work of literature153
4224785105preludean introductory poem to a longer work of verse154
4224785106punthe usually humorous use of a word in such a way to suggest two or more meanings155
4224785107pseudonymalso 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)156
4224785108quatriana four-line poem or a four-line unit of a longer poem157
4224785109refraina line or set of lines repeated several times over the course of a poem158
4224785110requiema song of prayer for the dead159
4224785111realismthe depiction of people, things, and events as they really are without idealization or exaggeration for effect160
4224785112rhetoricthe language of a work and its style; words, often highly emotional, used to convince or sway an audience161
4224785113rhetorical 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 themselves162
4224785114rhapsodyan intensely passionate verse or section of verse, usually of love or praise163
4224785115rhymethe repetition of similar sounds at regular intervals, used mostly in poetry164
4224785116rhyme schemethe patterns of rhymes within a given poem i.e. abba165
4224785117rhythmthe pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that make up a line of poetry. similar to meter166
4224785118romancean extended narrative about improbable events and extraordinary people in exotic places167
4224785119sarcasma sharp, caustic expression or remark; a bitter jibe or taunt168
4224785120satirea 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 society169
4224785121similefigurative comparison using the words "like" or "as"170
4224785122settingthe total environment for the action in a novel/play. it includes time, place, historical milieu, and social, political and even spiritual circumstances171
4224785123sentimentala term that describes characters' excessive emotional response to experience; also nauseatingly nostalgic and mawkish172
4224785124sentimenta synonym for "view" or "feeling"; also refined and tender emotion in literature173
4224785125scansionthe act of determining the meter of a poetic line.174
4224785126sonneta popular form of verse consisting of fourteen lines and a prescribed rhyme scheme. two types: Shakespearean and Petrarchan175
4224785127soliloquya 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 presence176
4224785128stanzaa 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 plan177
4224785129stream of consciousnessa style of writing in which the author tries to reproduce the random flow of thoughts in the human mind, e.g. Ernest Hemingway178
4224785130stock charactersstandard or cliched character types: the drunk, the miser, the foolish girl, etc.179
4224785131suggestto imply, infer indicate. goes along with the concept of implicit180
4224785132stylethe manner in which an author uses and arranges words, shapes ideas, forms sentences and creates a structure to convey ideas181
4224785133subplota subordinate or minor collection of events in a novel or play, usually connected to the main plot182
4224785134subtextthe implied meaning that underlies the main meaning of a work of literature183
4224785135summarya simple retelling of what you've just read. what you DON'T want to do in the Open Essay section :)184
4224785136symbolisma device in literature where an object represents an idea185
4224785137synecdochea figure of speech in which a part signifies the whole or the whole signifies the part186
4224785138themethe main idea or meaning, often an abstract idea upon which a work of literature is built187
4224785139thesisthe main position of an argument. the central contention that will be supported188
4224785140tonethe author's attitude toward the subject being written about. it's the characteristic emotion that pervades a work or part of a work189
4224785141tragic flawin a tragedy, this is the weakness of a character in an otherwise good individual that ultimately leads to his demise190
4224785142tragedya 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 death191
4224785143travestya grotesque parody192
4224785144truisma way-too-obvious truth193
4224785145utopiaan idealized place. imaginary communities in which people are able to live in happiness, prosperity and peace. Sir Thomas More came up with this idea.194
4224785146verbal ironya discrepancy between the true meaning of a situation and the literal meaning of the written or spoken words195
4224785147versea synonym for poetry. also a group of lines in a song or poem; also a single line of poetry196
4224785148verisimilitudesimilar to the truth; the quality of realism in a work that persuades readers that they are getting a vision of life as it is197
4224785149versificationthe 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.198
4224785150villanellea French verse form calculated to appear simple and spontaneous but consisting of 19 lines and a prescribed pattern of rhymes199
4224785151voicethe 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.200
4224785152witthe 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 scene201
4224785153zeugmathe 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."202
4224785154anastropheinversion of the natural or usual word order203
4224785155parenthesisinsertion of some verbal unit in a position that interrupts the normal syntactical flow of the sentence204
4224785156appositionplacing 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."205
4224785157ellipsisdeliberate omission of a word or words which are readily implied by context206
4224785158asyndetondeliberate omission of conjunctions between a series of related clauses. used to produce a hurried rhythm in the sentence.207
4224785159polysyndetonthe deliberate use of many conjunctions. its effect is to slow down the rhythm of the sentence208
4224785160anaphorarepetition of the same words or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses. e.g. "I have a dream..."209
4224785161epistropherepetition 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."210
4224785162epanalepsisrepetition 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"211
4224785163anadiplosisrepetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause. "The crime was common, common be the pain."212
4224785164climaxthe arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in an order of importance213
4224785165antimetabolerepetition 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."214
4224785166chiasmusreversal of grammatical structures in successive phrases or clauses. "Exalts his enemies, his friends destroys."215
4224785167polyptotonrepetition of words derived from the same root. "But in this desert country they may see the land being rendered USELESS by OVERUSE."216
4224785168antanaclasisrepetition of a word in two different senses. "Your argument is sound, nothing but sound."217
4224785169paronomasiause of words alike in sound but different in meaning. "ask for me tomorrow and you will find me a GRAVE man."218
4224785170syllepsisthe 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."219
4224785171anthimeriathe substitution of one part of speech for another "I'll UNHAIR they head."220
4224785172periphrasissubstitution 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."221
4224785173autobiographyan account of a person's own life222
4224785174dialecta way of speaking that is characteristic of a particular region/group of people223
4224785175epiphanyin a literary work, a moment of sudden insight/revelation that a character experiences224
4224785176essaya short piece of non-fiction prose that examines a single subject from a limited POV225
4224785177suspensethe uncertainty/anxiety we feel about what is going to happen next in a story226

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