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AP Literature Flashcards

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11850617962AllegoryA narrative or description having a second or symbolic meaning beneath the surface one.0
11850664543AllusionA reference, explicit or implicit, to something in previous literature or history.1
11850691751AnecdoteA short account of an interesting or humorous incident.2
11850709620Artistic UnityThat condition of a successful literary work whereby all its elements work together for the achievement of its central purpose.3
11850795012CacophonyA harsh, discordant, unpleasant-sounding choice and arrangement of sounds.4
11850807714EuphonyA smooth, pleasant-sounding choice and arrangement of sounds.5
11854269623GenreA type or class, as poetry, drama, etc.6
11854282936ImageryThe representation through language of a sensory experience.7
11854293189MoodThe pervading impression of a work.8
11854300093MoralA rule of conduct or maxim for living expressed or implied as the "point" of a literary work. Compare Theme.9
11854311498ProseNon-metrical language; the opposite of verse.10
11854314039ThemeThe main idea, or message, of a literary work. Themes often explore timeless and universal ideas and may be implied rather than stated explicitly.11
11854330206ToneThe writer's or speaker's attitude toward the subject, the audience, or herself or himself; the emotional coloring, or emotional meaning, of a work.12
11854362571TopicThe subject matter or area of a literary work. Not to be confused with theme.13
11854368439SettingThe context in time and place in which the action of a story occurs.14
11854378049Symbol (Literary)Something that means more than what it is; an object, person, situation, or action that in addition to its literal meaning suggests other meanings as well, a figure of speech which may be read both literally and figuratively.15
11854389933VerseMetrical language; the opposite of prose.16
11854394585VoiceThe distinctive style or manner of expression of an author or a character in a book.17
11854418194AntagonistCharacter in a story or poem who opposes the main character (protagonist). Sometimes the antagonist is an animal, an idea, or a thing.18
11854439138Character(1) Any of the persons involved in a story or play [sense 1] (2) The distinguishing moral qualities and personal traits of a character [sense 2].19
11854464404CharacterizationThe process of conveying information about characters.20
11854476904DeuteragonistThe second most important character, after the protagonist, often a foil or eventual antagonist.21
11854488025Direct Presentation of CharacterA method of characterization in which the author, by exposition or analysis, tells us directly what a character is like, or has someone else in the story do so.22
11854496908Dynamic CharacterA character (sense 1) who during the course of a story undergoes a permanent change in some aspect of character (sense 2) or outlook.23
11854613352Flat CharacterA character (sense 1) whose character (sense 2) is summed up in one or two traits.24
11854623324FoilA character who contrasts with another character (usually the protagonist) in order to highlight particular qualities of the other character's personality, throwing these characteristics into sharper focus.25
11854648524HeroA man (OR WOMAN) who is endowed with great courage and strength, celebrated for bold exploits, and favored by the gods26
11854660389HubrisOverbearing and excessive pride.27
11854670860Indirect Presentation of CharacterThat method of characterization in which the author shows us a character in action, compelling us to infer what the character is like from what is said or done by the character.28
11854678927ProtagonistThe main character of a novel, play, or film.29

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