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AP Literature Flashcards

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5498581215allegorystory or poem that can be used to reveal a hidden meaning0
5498581216alliterationbeginning of same letter or sound in closely connected words1
5498581217allusionindirect of passing reference2
5498581218anaphorarepetition in first part of a sentence , to have an artistic meaning3
5498581219antagonista hostile person who is opposed to another character4
5498581220apostrophefigure of speech used to adresss an imaginary character5
5498581221approximate rhymewords in rhyming pattern that sound alike6
5498581222asidewhen a character's dialogue is spoken but not heard by other actors on the stage7
5498581223assonancerepetition of vowel sounds8
5498581224blank versepoetry written in meter without an ending rhyme9
5498581225cacophonyblend of unharmonious sounds10
5498581226caesurapause in the middle of a line11
5498581227catharsisthe release of emotions through art (emotional cleanse)12
5498581228flat characterstory character who have no depth, usually has one personality or characteristic13
5498581229round charactercharacter who has complex personality: contradicted person14
5498581230dynamic characterchanges throughout the story, through major conflict15
5498581231static characterperson who doesn't change throughout story keeps same personality16
5498581232characterizationprocess of revealing characters personality17
5498581233climaxpoint where conflict hits its highest point18
5498581234comedydrama that is amusing or funny19
5498581235conflictstruggle between opposing forces20
5498581236connotationsecondary meaning to a word21
5498581237consonancerepetition of same consonant in words close together22
5498581238couplettwo rhyming lines in a verse23
5498581239denotationthe literal meaning of a word24
5498581240denouementfinal outcome of the story25
5498581241deus ex machinaresolution of a plot by chance or coincidence26
5498581242didactic writingwriting with a primary purpose to teach or preach27
5498581243direct presentation of characterauthor telling the reader how a character is and what actions it will do further in the story28
5498581244double rhymerhyme where the repeated vowel is in the second last syllable of words involved (ex; born scorn)29
5498581245dramatic expositionprose commentaries, to provide background information about the characters and their world30
5498581246end rhymerhymes occurring at the end of line31
5498581247end stopped lineline ending in regular punctuation32
5498581248English sonneta sonnet rhyming ababcdcdededgg33
5498581249epiphanywhen a character receives a spiritual insight into they life34
5498581250euphonysmooth choice and arrangement of sounds35
5498581251extended figureA figure of speech sustained or developed through a considerable number of lines or through a whole poem.36
5498581252falling actionEvents after the climax, leading to the resolution37
5498581253feminine rhymelines rhymed by their final two syllables38
5498581254figurative languageLanguage that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.39
5498581255figure of speecha way of saying something other than the ordinary way40
5498581256footbasic unit in the scansion or measurement of verse , stressed and un stressed syllables41
5498581257formexternal pattern or shape of a poem42
5498581258free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme43
5498581259hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall44
5498581260imageryDescription that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)45
5498581261indirect presentation of characterthe personality of a character is revealed by what he or she does or says46
5498581262internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line47
5498581263ironyA contrast between expectation and reality48
5498581264verbal ironyA figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant49
5498581265dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.50
5498581266irony of situationrefers to an occurrence that is contrary to what is expected or intended51
5498581267italian sonnetA sonnet consisting of an octave with the rhyme pattern abbaabba, followed by a sestet with the rhyme pattern cdecde or cdcdcd52
5498581268masculine rhymeA rhyme ending on the final stressed syllable53
5498581269melodramaa play based upon a dramatic plot and developed sensationally54
5498581270metaphorA comparison without using like or as55
5498581271meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry56
5498581272metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it57
5498581273motivationA need or desire that energizes and directs behavior58
5498581274narratorPerson telling the story59
5498581275octave8 line stanza60
5498581276onomatopoeiaA word that imitates the sound it represents.61
5498581277hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor62
5498581278oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.63
5498581279paradoxA contradiction or dilemma64
5498581280paraphraseA restatement of a text or passage in your own words.65
5498581281personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes66
5498581282plotSequence of events in a story67
5498581283point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told68
5498581284omniscient point of viewThe point of view where the narrator knows everything about the characters and their problems - told in the 3rd person.69
5498581285third person limited point of viewnarrator tells the story from only one character's pov70
5498581286first person point of viewa character in the story is actually telling the story himself/herself71
5498581287objective point of viewa narrator who is totally impersonal and objective tells the story, with no comment on any characters or events.72
5498581288protagonistMain character73
5498581289quatrainA four line stanza74
5498581290rhythmA regularly recurring sequence of events or actions.75
5498581291rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem76
5498581292rising actionEvents leading up to the climax77
5498581293sarcasmthe use of irony to mock or convey contempt78
5498581294satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.79
5498581295scansionAnalysis of verse into metrical patterns80
5498581296sestet6 line stanza81
5498581297settingThe context in time and place in which the action of a story occurs.82
5498581298simileA comparison using "like" or "as"83
5498581299soliloquyA long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage84
5498581300sonnet14 line poem85
5498581301stanzaA group of lines in a poem86
5498581302stream of consciousnessprivate thoughts of a character without commentary87
5498581303syllabic verseVerse measured by the number of syllables rather than the number of feet per line.88
5498581304symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else89
5498581305synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa90
5498581306synesthesiadescribing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("a loud color", "a sweet sound")91
5498581307tercet3 line stanza92
5498581308terza rimaa verse form with a rhyme scheme: aba bcb cdc, etc.93
5498581309themeCentral idea of a work of literature94
5498581310toneAttitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character95
5498581311tragedyA serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character96
5498581312truncationUtilizing a melody with part of the end omitted.97
5498581313understandmentthe deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; a deliberate under-emphasis98
5498581314verseA single line of poetry writing arranged with a metrical rhythm, typically having a rhyme99
5498581315vilanellea 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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