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AP Literature Exam Flashcards

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6752795692allegorystory or poem that can be used to reveal a hidden meaning0
6752795693alliterationbeginning of same letter or sound in closely connected words1
6752795694allusionindirect of passing reference2
6752795695anaphorarepetition in first part of a sentence , to have an artistic meaning3
6752795696antagonista hostile person who is opposed to another character4
6752795697apostrophefigure of speech used to adresss an someone who is not there5
6752795698approximate rhymewords in rhyming pattern that sound alike6
6752795699asidewhen a character's dialogue is spoken but not heard by other actors on the stage7
6752795700assonancerepetition of vowel sounds8
6752795701blank versepoetry written in meter without an ending rhyme9
6752795702cacophonyblend of unharmonious sounds10
6752795703caesurapause in the middle of a line11
6752795704catharsisthe release of emotions through art (emotional cleanse)12
6752795705flat characterstory character who have no depth, usually has one personality or characteristic13
6752795706round charactercharacter who has complex personality: contradicted person14
6752795707dynamic characterthis person changes throughout the story, through major conflict15
6752795708static characterperson who doesn't change throughout story keeps same personality16
6752795709characterizationprocess of revealing characters personality17
6752795710climaxpoint where conflict hits its highest point18
6752795711comedydrama that is amusing or funny19
6752795712conflictstruggle between opposing forces20
6752795713connotationsecondary meaning to a word21
6752795714consonancerepetition of same consonant in words close together22
6752795715couplettwo rhyming lines in a verse23
6752795716denotationthe literal meaning of a word24
6752795717denouementfinal outcome of the story25
6752795718deus ex machinaresolution of a plot by chance or coincidence26
6752795719didactic writingwriting with a primary purpose to teach or preach27
6752795720direct presentation of characterauthor telling the reader how a character is and what actions it will do further in the story28
6752795721double rhymerhyme where the repeated vowel is in the second last syllable of words involved (ex; born scorn)29
6752795722dramatic expositionprose commentaries, to provide background information about the characters and their world30
6752795723end rhymerhymes occurring at the end of line31
6752795724end stopped lineline ending in regular punctuation32
6752795725English sonneta sonnet rhyming ababcdcdededgg33
6752795726epiphanywhen a character receives a spiritual insight into their life34
6752795727euphonysmooth choice and arrangement of sounds35
6752795728extended figureA figure of speech sustained or developed through a considerable number of lines or through a whole poem.36
6752795729falling actionEvents after the climax, leading to the resolution37
6752795730feminine rhymelines rhymed by their final two syllables38
6752795731figurative languageLanguage that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.39
6752795732figure of speecha way of saying something other than the ordinary way40
6752795733footbasic unit in the scansion or measurement of verse , stressed and un stressed syllables41
6752795734formexternal pattern or shape of a poem42
6752795735free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme43
6752795736hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall44
6752795737imageryDescription that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)45
6752795738indirect presentation of characterthe personality of a character is revealed by what he or she does or says46
6752795739internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line47
6752795740ironyA contrast between expectation and reality48
6752795741verbal ironyA figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant49
6752795742dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.50
6752795743irony of situationrefers to an occurrence that is contrary to what is expected or intended51
6752795744italian sonnetA sonnet consisting of an octave with the rhyme pattern abbaabba, followed by a sestet with the rhyme pattern cdecde or cdcdcd52
6752795745masculine rhymeA rhyme ending on the final stressed syllable53
6752795746melodramaa play based upon a dramatic plot and developed sensationally54
6752795747metaphorA comparison without using like or as55
6752795748meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry56
6752795749metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it57
6752795750motivationA need or desire that energizes and directs behavior58
6752795751narratorPerson telling the story59
6752795752octave8 line stanza60
6752795753onomatopoeiaA word that imitates the sound it represents.61
6752795754hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor62
6752795755oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.63
6752795756paradoxA contradiction or dilemma64
6752795757paraphraseA restatement of a text or passage in your own words.65
6752795758personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes66
6752795759plotSequence of events in a story67
6752795760point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told68
6752795761omniscient point of viewThe point of view where the narrator knows everything about the characters and their problems - told in the 3rd person.69
6752795762third person limited point of viewnarrator tells the story from only one character's pov70
6752795763first person point of viewa character in the story is actually telling the story himself/herself71
6752795764objective point of viewa narrator who is totally impersonal and objective tells the story, with no comment on any characters or events.72
6752795765protagonistMain character73
6752795766quatrainA four line stanza74
6752795767rhythmA regularly recurring sequence of events or actions.75
6752795768rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem76
6752795769rising actionEvents leading up to the climax77
6752795770sarcasmthe use of irony to mock or convey contempt78
6752795771satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.79
6752795772scansionAnalysis of verse into metrical patterns80
6752795773sestet6 line stanza81
6752795774settingThe context in time and place in which the action of a story occurs.82
6752795775simileA comparison using "like" or "as"83
6752795776soliloquyA long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage84
6752795777sonnet14 line poem85
6752795778stanzaA group of lines in a poem86
6752795779stream of consciousnessprivate thoughts of a character without commentary87
6752795780syllabic verseVerse measured by the number of syllables rather than the number of feet per line.88
6752795781symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else89
6752795782synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa90
6752795783synesthesiadescribing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("a loud color", "a sweet sound")91
6752795784tercet3 line stanza92
6752795785terza rimaa verse form with a rhyme scheme: aba bcb cdc, etc.93
6752795786themeCentral idea of a work of literature94
6752795787toneAttitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character95
6752795788tragedyA serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character96
6752795789truncationUtilizing a melody with part of the end omitted.97
6752795790understandmentthe deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; a deliberate under-emphasis98
6752795791verseA single line of poetry writing arranged with a metrical rhythm, typically having a rhyme99
6752795792vilanellea 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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