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AP Literature & Composition Terms Flashcards

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9911829861allegorystory or poem that can be used to reveal a hidden meaning0
9911829862alliterationbeginning of same letter or sound in closely connected words1
9911829863allusionindirect of passing reference2
9911829864anaphorarepetition in first part of a sentence , to have an artistic meaning3
9911829865antagonista hostile person who is opposed to another character4
9911829866apostrophefigure of speech used to adresss an imaginary character5
9911829867approximate rhymewords in rhyming pattern that sound alike6
9911829868asidewhen a character's dialogue is spoken but not heard by other actors on the stage7
9911829869assonancerepetition of vowel sounds8
9911829870blank versepoetry written in meter without an ending rhyme9
9911829871cacophonyblend of unharmonious sounds10
9911829872caesurapause in the middle of a line11
9911829873catharsisthe release of emotions through art (emotional cleanse)12
9911829874flat characterstory character who have no depth, usually has one personality or characteristic13
9911829875round charactercharacter who has complex personality: contradicted person14
9911829876dynamic characterchanges throughout the story, through major conflict15
9911829877static characterperson who doesn't change throughout story keeps same personality16
9911829878characterizationprocess of revealing characters personality17
9911829879climaxpoint where conflict hits its highest point18
9911829880comedydrama that is amusing or funny19
9911829881conflictstruggle between opposing forces20
9911829882connotationsecondary meaning to a word21
9911829883consonancerepetition of same consonant in words close together22
9911829884couplettwo rhyming lines in a verse23
9911829885denotationthe literal meaning of a word24
9911829886denouementfinal outcome of the story25
9911829887deus ex machinaresolution of a plot by chance or coincidence26
9911829888didactic writingwriting with a primary purpose to teach or preach27
9911829889direct presentation of characterauthor telling the reader how a character is and what actions it will do further in the story28
9911829890double rhymerhyme where the repeated vowel is in the second last syllable of words involved (ex; born scorn)29
9911829891dramatic expositionprose commentaries, to provide background information about the characters and their world30
9911829892end rhymerhymes occurring at the end of line31
9911829893end stopped lineline ending in regular punctuation32
9911829894English sonneta sonnet rhyming ababcdcdededgg33
9911829895epiphanywhen a character receives a spiritual insight into they life34
9911829896euphonysmooth choice and arrangement of sounds35
9911829897extended figureA figure of speech sustained or developed through a considerable number of lines or through a whole poem.36
9911829898falling actionEvents after the climax, leading to the resolution37
9911829899feminine rhymelines rhymed by their final two syllables38
9911829900figurative languageLanguage that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.39
9911829901figure of speecha way of saying something other than the ordinary way40
9911829902footbasic unit in the scansion or measurement of verse , stressed and un stressed syllables41
9911829903formexternal pattern or shape of a poem42
9911829904free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme43
9911829905hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall44
9911829906imageryDescription that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)45
9911829907indirect presentation of characterthe personality of a character is revealed by what he or she does or says46
9911829908internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line47
9911829909ironyA contrast between expectation and reality48
9911829910verbal ironyA figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant49
9911829911dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.50
9911829912irony of situationrefers to an occurrence that is contrary to what is expected or intended51
9911829913italian sonnetA sonnet consisting of an octave with the rhyme pattern abbaabba, followed by a sestet with the rhyme pattern cdecde or cdcdcd52
9911829914masculine rhymeA rhyme ending on the final stressed syllable53
9911829915melodramaa play based upon a dramatic plot and developed sensationally54
9911829916metaphorA comparison without using like or as55
9911829917meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry56
9911829918metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it57
9911829919motivationA need or desire that energizes and directs behavior58
9911829920narratorPerson telling the story59
9911829921octave8 line stanza60
9911829922onomatopoeiaA word that imitates the sound it represents.61
9911829923hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor62
9911829924oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.63
9911829925paradoxA contradiction or dilemma64
9911829926paraphraseA restatement of a text or passage in your own words.65
9911829927personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes66
9911829928plotSequence of events in a story67
9911829929point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told68
9911829930omniscient point of viewThe point of view where the narrator knows everything about the characters and their problems - told in the 3rd person.69
9911829931third person limited point of viewnarrator tells the story from only one character's pov70
9911829932first person point of viewa character in the story is actually telling the story himself/herself71
9911829933objective point of viewa narrator who is totally impersonal and objective tells the story, with no comment on any characters or events.72
9911829934protagonistMain character73
9911829935quatrainA four line stanza74
9911829936rhythmA regularly recurring sequence of events or actions.75
9911829937rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem76
9911829938rising actionEvents leading up to the climax77
9911829939sarcasmthe use of irony to mock or convey contempt78
9911829940satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.79
9911829941scansionAnalysis of verse into metrical patterns80
9911829942sestet6 line stanza81
9911829943settingThe context in time and place in which the action of a story occurs.82
9911829944simileA comparison using "like" or "as"83
9911829945soliloquyA long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage84
9911829946sonnet14 line poem85
9911829947stanzaA group of lines in a poem86
9911829948stream of consciousnessprivate thoughts of a character without commentary87
9911829949syllabic verseVerse measured by the number of syllables rather than the number of feet per line.88
9911829950symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else89
9911829951synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa90
9911829952synesthesiadescribing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("a loud color", "a sweet sound")91
9911829953tercet3 line stanza92
9911829954terza rimaa verse form with a rhyme scheme: aba bcb cdc, etc.93
9911829955themeCentral idea of a work of literature94
9911829956toneAttitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character95
9911829957tragedyA serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character96
9911829958truncationUtilizing a melody with part of the end omitted.97
9911829959understandmentthe deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; a deliberate under-emphasis98
9911829960verseA single line of poetry writing arranged with a metrical rhythm, typically having a rhyme99
9911829961vilanellea nineteen-line poem with two rhymes throughout, consisting of five tercets and a quatrain, with the first and third lines of the opening tercet recurring alternately at the end of the other tercets and with both repeated at the close of the concluding quatrain.100

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