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AP Literature & Composition (Prose) Flashcards

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13894819305AllegoryA narrative having a second meaning0
13894819306AllusionA reference to something in previous literature1
13894819307AnecdoteA short interesting or humorous incident2
13894819308Artistic UnityLiterary elements work together for the achievement of its central purpose3
13894819309CacophonyA unpleasant-sounding choice4
13894819310EuphonyA pleasant-sounding choice5
13894819311GenreA type of class6
13894819312Imageryrepresentation through language of a sensory experience7
13894819313MoodThe impression of a work8
13894819314MoralityA rule of a conduct9
13894819315ProseNon-metrical language10
13894819316ThemeThe main idea of a literary work.11
13894819317ToneThe writer's or speaker's attitude12
13894819318TopicThe subject matter of a literary work.13
13894819319SettingThe time and place in which the actions of the story occurs14
13894819320SymbolSomething that means more than what it is15
13894819321VerseMetrical language16
13894819322VoiceThe distinctive style of an author or character in a book.17
13894819323AntagonistCharacter in a story who opposes the main character18
13894819324CharacterAny of the persons involved in a story or play19
13894819325CharacterizationThe process of conveying information about characters20
13894819326Deuteragonista foil or eventual antagonist21
13894819327Direct Presentation of CharacterA method of characterization in which the author tells us directly what a character is like22
13894819328Dynamic CharacterA character who undergoes a permanent change23
13894819329Flat CharacterA character is summed up in one or two traits24
13894819330Foila character who contrasts with another character to highlight features of the other character's personality25
13894819331HeroA man who is endowed with great courage26
13894819332HubrisOverbearing and excessive pride27
13894819333Indirect Presentation of CharacterWhen the author shows us a character in action28
13894819334Protagonistmain character29
13894819335Round CharacterA character is complex and many sided.30
13894819336Static CharacterA character who is the same sort of person at the end of a story as at the beginning31
13894819337Stock CharacterA stereotyped character.32
13894819338Tragic FlawA flaw in the character of the protagonist33
13894819339AsideWhen the character turns from the person being addressed to speak directly to the audience34
13894819340ColloquialInformal, conversational language35
13894819341DialogueConversation between characters in a narrative.36
13894819342DialectA regional variety of a language distinguished by pronunciation37
13894819343DictionWord choice38
13894819344EuphemismSubstituting a mild term for an offensive one39
13894819345Figure of SpeechAny way of saying something other than the ordinary way40
13894819346HyperboleA figure of speech in which exaggeration is used41
13894819347InvectiveAbusive language.42
13894819348MonologueA dramatic soliloquy43
13894819349ProverbA short saying that expresses a basic truth44
13894819350PunA play on words45
13894819351SarcasmBitter or cutting speech46
13894819352Soliloquya device often used in drama where by a character relates his or her thoughts and feelings to him/herself47
13894819353SlangA kind of language that is very casual48
13894819354UnderstatementA figure of speech that consists of saying less than one means49
13894819355ExpositionThe part of literature that provides the information needed.50
13894819356ConflictA clash of actions or desires in the plot of a story51
13894819357Rising ActionThat development of plot in a story that precedes and leads up to the climax52
13894819358ClimaxThe turning point of a plot53
13894819359Falling ActionThe falling action immediately follows the climax and shows the aftereffects of the events in the climax54
13894819360DenouementResolution; Conflicts are resolved55
13894819361IronyA situation involving some kind of incongruity or discrepancy.56
13894819362Dramatic IronyAn incongruity of discrepancy between what a character says and what the reader knows to be true57
13894819363Irony of SituationA situation in which there is an incongruity between appearance and reality58
13894819364Verbal IronyWhen what is said is the opposite of what is meant59
13894819365Epistolary novela novel written as a series of documents.60
13894819366First Person Point of ViewThe story is told by one of its characters, using the first person61
13894819367FlashbackA literary device in which an earlier event is inserted into a narrative.62
13894819368FlashforwardA literary device in which an earlier event is inserted into a narrative.63
13894819369In Medias Res(into the middle of things) is a Latin phrase denoting the literary and artistic narrative technique where the story begins at the mid point or end.64
13894819370Limited Omniscient Point of ViewUsing the third person, the author tells us only what that one character thinks, feels, sees, or hears.65
13894819371Linear Structurea plot that is in chronological order66
13894819372Objective Point of ViewUsing the third person, the author is limited to reporting what the characters say or do67
13894819373Omniscient Point of ViewUsing third person, the author knows all and is free to tell us anything68
13894819374Narratorthe speaker of a written work.69
13894819375Nonlinear Structurewhen the plot is in any manner that is not chronological70
13894819376Point of ViewThe angle of vision from which a story is told.71
13894819377Stream of ConsciousnessNarrative which presents the private thoughts of a character without commentary by the author72
13894819378Unreliable Narratora narrator whose credibility has been seriously compromised73
13894819379AnticlimaxA sudden descent from the impressive or significant to the ludicrous74
13894819380CatastropheThe concluding action of a classical tragedy containing the resolution of the plot75
13894819381Comic ReliefA humorous incident introduced to relieve dramatic tension76
13894819382DilemmaA situation in which a character must choose between two undesirable courses of action77
13894819383Deus Ex Machina(god from the machine) The resolution of a plot by use of a highly improbable chance or coincidence78
13894819384Indeterminate EndingAn ending in which the conflict is left unresolved79
13894819385InversionA reversal in order, nature, or effect80
13894819386MotivationAn emotion that acts as an incitement to action81
13894819387MysteryAn unusual set of circumstances for which the reader craves an explanation82
13894819388ParadoxA statement or situation containing apparently contradictory elements83
13894819389PlotThe sequence of incidents or events of which a story is composed84
13894819390Plot ManipulationA situation in which an author gives the plot a twist85
13894819391Plot DeviceAn object, character, or event whose only reason for existing is to advance the story86
13894819392PrologueAn introduction or a preface87
13894819393Red Herringa literary tactic of diverting attention away from a person of significance88
13894819394SceneIn which the setting is fixed and the time continuous89
13894819395SuspenseThat quality in a story that makes the reader eager to discover what happens next90
13894819396Suspension of Disbeliefto suspend one's critical faculties and believe the unbelievable91
13894819397SubplotA plot subordinate to the main plot of a literary work92
13894819398SurpriseAn unexpected turn in the development of a plot93
13894819399ComedyA type of drama that emphasises human limitation rather than human greatness.94
13894819400Comedy of MannersComedy that ridicules the manners of a certain segment of society95
13894819401SatireA kind of literature that uses mockery to expose people's stupidity96
13894819402Scornful ComedyA type of comedy whose main purpose is to expose and ridicule human folly.97
13894819403Romantic ComedyA type of comedy whose likable and sensible main characters are placed in difficulties98
13894819404FarceA type of comedy that relies on unrealistic situations99
13894819405Escapist LiteratureLiterature written purely for entertainment.100
13894819406FableA short narrative making an edifying or cautionary point.101
13894819407FantasyA kind of fiction that goes beyond the boundaries of known reality102
13894819408Interpretive literatureLiterature that provides valid insights into the nature of human life103
13894819409Mythany story that attempts to explain how the world was created104
13894819410Novela book of long narrative in literary prose.105
13894819411NovellaA prose narrative longer than a novelette but shorter than a novel.106
13894819412ParableA simple story illustrating a moral lesson107
13894819413TragedyWhen the protagonist falls to ruin108

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