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AP Literature Flashcards

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6667790342allegorystory or poem that can be used to reveal a hidden meaning0
6667790343alliterationbeginning of same letter or sound in closely connected words1
6667790344allusionindirect of passing reference2
6667790345anaphorarepetition in first part of a sentence , to have an artistic meaning3
6667790346antagonista hostile person who is opposed to another character4
6667790347apostrophefigure of speech used to adresss an imaginary character5
6667790349asidewhen a character's dialogue is spoken but not heard by other actors on the stage6
6667790350assonancerepetition of vowel sounds7
6667790351blank versepoetry written in meter without an ending rhyme8
6667790352cacophonyblend of unharmonious sounds9
6667790354catharsisthe release of emotions through art (emotional cleanse)10
6667790355flat characterstory character who have no depth, usually has one personality or characteristic11
6667790356round charactercharacter who has complex personality: contradicted person12
6667790357dynamic characterchanges throughout the story, through major conflict13
6667790358static characterperson who doesn't change throughout story keeps same personality14
6667790359characterizationprocess of revealing characters personality15
6667790360climaxpoint where conflict hits its highest point16
6667790361comedydrama that is amusing or funny17
6667790362conflictstruggle between opposing forces18
6667790363connotationsecondary meaning to a word19
6667790364consonancerepetition of same consonant in words close together20
6667790365couplettwo rhyming lines in a verse21
6667790366denotationthe literal meaning of a word22
6667790367denouementfinal outcome of the story23
6667790368deus ex machinaresolution of a plot by chance or coincidence24
6667790369didactic writingwriting with a primary purpose to teach or preach25
6667790372dramatic expositionprose commentaries, to provide background information about the characters and their world26
6667790373end rhymerhymes occurring at the end of line27
6667790375English sonneta sonnet rhyming ababcdcdededgg28
6667790376epiphanywhen a character receives a spiritual insight into they life29
6667790377euphonysmooth choice and arrangement of sounds30
6667790379falling actionEvents after the climax, leading to the resolution31
6667790381figurative languageLanguage that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.32
6667790382figure of speecha way of saying something other than the ordinary way33
6667790383footbasic unit in the scansion or measurement of verse , stressed and un stressed syllables34
6667790385free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme35
6667790386hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall36
6667790387imageryDescription that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)37
6667790390ironyA contrast between expectation and reality38
6667790391verbal ironyA figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant39
6667790392dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.40
6667790393irony of situationrefers to an occurrence that is contrary to what is expected or intended41
6667790397metaphorA comparison without using like or as42
6667790398meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry43
6667790399metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it44
6667790400motivationA need or desire that energizes and directs behavior45
6667790401narratorPerson telling the story46
6667790402octave8 line stanza47
6667790403onomatopoeiaA word that imitates the sound it represents.48
6667790404hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor49
6667790405oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.50
6667790406paradoxA contradiction or dilemma51
6667790407paraphraseA restatement of a text or passage in your own words.52
6667790408personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes53
6667790409plotSequence of events in a story54
6667790410point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told55
6667790411omniscient point of viewThe point of view where the narrator knows everything about the characters and their problems - told in the 3rd person.56
6667790412third person limited point of viewnarrator tells the story from only one character's pov57
6667790413first person point of viewa character in the story is actually telling the story himself/herself58
6667790414objective point of viewa narrator who is totally impersonal and objective tells the story, with no comment on any characters or events.59
6667790415protagonistMain character60
6667790416quatrainA four line stanza61
6667790417rhythmA regularly recurring sequence of events or actions.62
6667790418rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem63
6667790419rising actionEvents leading up to the climax64
6667790420sarcasmthe use of irony to mock or convey contempt65
6667790421satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.66
6667790422scansionAnalysis of verse into metrical patterns67
6667790423sestet6 line stanza68
6667790424settingThe context in time and place in which the action of a story occurs.69
6667790425simileA comparison using "like" or "as"70
6667790426soliloquyA long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage71
6667790427sonnet14 line poem72
6667790428stanzaA group of lines in a poem73
6667790429stream of consciousnessprivate thoughts of a character without commentary74
6667790431symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else75
6667790432synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa76
6667790433synesthesiadescribing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("a loud color", "a sweet sound")77
6667790434tercet3 line stanza78
6667790435terza rimaa verse form with a rhyme scheme: aba bcb cdc, etc.79
6667790436themeCentral idea of a work of literature80
6667790437toneAttitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character81
6667790438tragedyA serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character82
6667790440understatementthe deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; a deliberate under-emphasis83
6667790441verseA single line of poetry writing arranged with a metrical rhythm, typically having a rhyme84
6667790442vilanellea 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.85

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