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AP Literature Devices: Flashcards

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7076893383allegorystory or poem that can be used to reveal a hidden meaning0
7076893384alliterationbeginning of same letter or sound in closely connected words1
7076893385allusionindirect of passing reference2
7076893386anaphorarepetition in first part of a sentence , to have an artistic meaning3
7076893387antagonista hostile person who is opposed to another character4
7076893388apostrophefigure of speech used to adresss an imaginary character5
7076893389approximate rhymewords in rhyming pattern that sound alike6
7076893390asidewhen a character's dialogue is spoken but not heard by other actors on the stage7
7076893391assonancerepetition of vowel sounds8
7076893392blank versepoetry written in meter without an ending rhyme9
7076893393cacophonyblend of unharmonious sounds10
7076893394caesurapause in the middle of a line11
7076893395catharsisthe release of emotions through art (emotional cleanse)12
7076893396flat characterstory character who have no depth, usually has one personality or characteristic13
7076893397round charactercharacter who has complex personality: contradicted person14
7076893398dynamic characterchanges throughout the story, through major conflict15
7076893399static characterperson who doesn't change throughout story keeps same personality16
7076893400characterizationprocess of revealing characters personality17
7076893401climaxpoint where conflict hits its highest point18
7076893402comedydrama that is amusing or funny19
7076893403conflictstruggle between opposing forces20
7076893404connotationsecondary meaning to a word21
7076893405consonancerepetition of same consonant in words close together22
7076893406couplettwo rhyming lines in a verse23
7076893407denotationthe literal meaning of a word24
7076893408denouementfinal outcome of the story25
7076893409deus ex machinaresolution of a plot by chance or coincidence26
7076893410didactic writingwriting with a primary purpose to teach or preach27
7076893411direct presentation of characterauthor telling the reader how a character is and what actions it will do further in the story28
7076893412double rhymerhyme where the repeated vowel is in the second last syllable of words involved (ex; born scorn)29
7076893413dramatic expositionprose commentaries, to provide background information about the characters and their world30
7076893414end rhymerhymes occurring at the end of line31
7076893415end stopped lineline ending in regular punctuation32
7076893416English sonneta sonnet rhyming ababcdcdededgg33
7076893417epiphanywhen a character receives a spiritual insight into they life34
7076893418euphonysmooth choice and arrangement of sounds35
7076893419extended figureA figure of speech sustained or developed through a considerable number of lines or through a whole poem.36
7076893420falling actionEvents after the climax, leading to the resolution37
7076893421feminine rhymelines rhymed by their final two syllables38
7076893422figurative languageLanguage that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.39
7076893423figure of speecha way of saying something other than the ordinary way40
7076893424footbasic unit in the scansion or measurement of verse , stressed and un stressed syllables41
7076893425formexternal pattern or shape of a poem42
7076893426free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme43
7076893427hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall44
7076893428imageryDescription that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)45
7076893429indirect presentation of characterthe personality of a character is revealed by what he or she does or says46
7076893430internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line47
7076893431ironyA contrast between expectation and reality48
7076893432verbal ironyA figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant49
7076893433dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.50
7076893434irony of situationrefers to an occurrence that is contrary to what is expected or intended51
7076893435italian sonnetA sonnet consisting of an octave with the rhyme pattern abbaabba, followed by a sestet with the rhyme pattern cdecde or cdcdcd52
7076893436masculine rhymeA rhyme ending on the final stressed syllable53
7076893437melodramaa play based upon a dramatic plot and developed sensationally54
7076893438metaphorA comparison without using like or as55
7076893439meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry56
7076893440metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it57
7076893441motivationA need or desire that energizes and directs behavior58
7076893442narratorPerson telling the story59
7076893443octave8 line stanza60
7076893444onomatopoeiaA word that imitates the sound it represents.61
7076893445hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor62
7076893446oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.63
7076893447paradoxA contradiction or dilemma64
7076893448paraphraseA restatement of a text or passage in your own words.65
7076893449personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes66
7076893450plotSequence of events in a story67
7076893451point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told68
7076893452omniscient point of viewThe point of view where the narrator knows everything about the characters and their problems - told in the 3rd person.69
7076893453third person limited point of viewnarrator tells the story from only one character's pov70
7076893454first person point of viewa character in the story is actually telling the story himself/herself71
7076893455objective point of viewa narrator who is totally impersonal and objective tells the story, with no comment on any characters or events.72
7076893456protagonistMain character73
7076893457quatrainA four line stanza74
7076893458rhythmA regularly recurring sequence of events or actions.75
7076893459rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem76
7076893460rising actionEvents leading up to the climax77
7076893461sarcasmthe use of irony to mock or convey contempt78
7076893462satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.79
7076893463scansionAnalysis of verse into metrical patterns80
7076893464sestet6 line stanza81
7076893465settingThe context in time and place in which the action of a story occurs.82
7076893466simileA comparison using "like" or "as"83
7076893467soliloquyA long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage84
7076893468sonnet14 line poem85
7076893469stanzaA group of lines in a poem86
7076893470stream of consciousnessprivate thoughts of a character without commentary87
7076893471syllabic verseVerse measured by the number of syllables rather than the number of feet per line.88
7076893472symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else89
7076893473synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa90
7076893474synesthesiadescribing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("a loud color", "a sweet sound")91
7076893475tercet3 line stanza92
7076893476terza rimaa verse form with a rhyme scheme: aba bcb cdc, etc.93
7076893477themeCentral idea of a work of literature94
7076893478toneAttitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character95
7076893479tragedyA serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character96
7076893480truncationUtilizing a melody with part of the end omitted.97
7076893481understandmentthe deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; a deliberate under-emphasis98
7076893482verseA single line of poetry writing arranged with a metrical rhythm, typically having a rhyme99
7076893483vilanellea 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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