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AP Literature Key Terms Flashcards

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5562980624allegorya prose or poetic narrative in which the characters, behavior, and even the setting demonstrates multiple levels of meaning and significance (a narrative that has many levels of meaning)0
5562993110allegory exampleanimal farm is a political allegory for events that occurred in Russia like the communist revolution, each animal actually represents a person (Napoleon=Stalin)1
5563020939alliterationthe sequential repetition of a similar initial sound, usually applied to consonants, usually heard in closely proximate stress syllables (sequential repetition of a similar initial sound in closely proximate stress syllables)2
5563028671alliteration exampleClosed my lids, and kept them close, And the *balls* like pulses *beat*; For the *sky* and the *sea*, and the *sea* and the *sky* *Lay* like a *load* on my weary eye, And the dead were at my feet. - The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge3
5563045808allusiona reference to a literary or historical event, person, or place4
5565787698allusion exampleThe Rime of the Ancient Mariner themes in Frankenstein: Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" tells the story of an ancient mariner who kills an albatross and brings upon himself and his ship's crew a curse. The ancient mariner travels the world, unburdening his soul, telling his story to whomever needs to hear it. Shelley alludes to the poem several times. Robert Walton in Frankenstein is similar to the Wedding Guest from "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," with Victor Frankenstein playing the role of the mariner. As the mariner feels compelled to share his story to one who needs to hear it, so does Victor. The explicit theme in "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," that love conquers all, is a clue as to how the tragedy that occurs in Frankenstein's life could have been avoided.5
5565810422anaphorathe regular repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases or clauses6
5565815772anaphora example"A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens starts with following lines: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair."7
5565831523anecdotea brief story or tale told by a character in a piece of literature8
5565834879anecdote examplewhen Raskolnikov's mother relays the story of Dounia's misfortune in town with Svidrigailov in her letter in crime and punishment9
5566075746antagonistany force that is in opposition to the main character, or protagonist10
5566079394antagonist exampleIn the Harry Potter series, Voldemort is the main antagonist (you know why)11
5566098290antithesisthe juxtaposition of sharply contrasting ideas in balanced or parallel words, phrases, grammatical structure, or ideas12
5566106546antithesis exampleit was the best of times, it was the worst of times - Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens HAMLET: To be, or not to be, that is the question— Whether 'tis Nobler in the mind to suffer The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Fortune, Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles, And by opposing, end them? (Hamlet by William Shakespeare)13
5566141548apostrophean address or invocation to something that is inanimate14
5566145853apostrophe exampleNow, *time*, I roll you up, I deposit you in my bait box and I am off to fish with your long line the fishes of the dawn! (Ode to Age by Pablo Neruda)15
5566166056archetyperecurrent designs, patterns of action, character types, themes or image which are identifiable in a wide range of literature16
5566176555archetype exampleGlinda the Good Witch from the Wizard of Oz the theme of love (pretty universal)17
5566179117assonancea repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds, usually those found in stressed syllables of close proximity18
5566190081assonance example"H*e*ar the m*e*llow w*e*dding b*e*lls" -The Bells by Edgar Allan Poe19
5714636187attitudethe sense expressed by the tone of voice of a piece of writing; the feelings the author holds towards his subject, the people in his narrative, the events, the setting or even the theme. It might even be the feeling he holds for the reader.20
5714636188attitude example21
5714636189ballada narrative poem that is, or originally was, meant to be sung. Repetition and refrain (recurring phrases or phrases) characterize the ballad.22
5714639492ballad exampleIt is an ancient Mariner, And he stoppeth one of three. 'By thy long grey beard and glittering eye, Now wherefore stopp'st thou me? ("The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge) "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is a famous epic poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and is an excellent ballad example. The above excerpt is the first stanza of the long poem, and features some key aspects of ballads, such as the four-line quatrain and the rhyme scheme of ABCB. The poem tells the story of an old sailor who has returned from his voyaging and wants to share the terrible things he has encountered on the high seas. Bobby burns23
5714639493blank versethe verse form that most resembles common speech, blank verse consists of unrhymed lines in iambic pentameter24
5714782248blank verse exampleSomething there is that doesn't love a wall. That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it, And spills the upper boulders in the sun; (Mending Walls by Robert Frost) This poem has no proper rhyme scheme. However, there is consistent meter in 10 syllables of each line. It is following iambic pentameter pattern with five feet in each line. Only the first line is written in trochee pattern.25
5714936318caricaturea depiction in which a character's characteristics or features are so deliberately exaggerated as to render them absurd26
5714959529caricature exampleTwelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which. (Animal Farm by George Orwell) The above quote from George Orwell's satire Animal Farm comprises the last few lines of the novel. Orwell wrote Animal Farm to criticize the Russian political leaders who promised one thing—communism and equality for all—and delivered a very different thing—a very segregated society in which there was too much work and not enough food. The final few lines show how Orwell used caricature examples brilliantly to equate humans and pigs. In the logic of the novel, the humans are the bad guys and the pigs becoming like them shows their corruption. Yet, in the way Orwell writes it the caricature clearly shows how the real Russian leaders were themselves greedy pigs.27
5714959530connotationwhat is suggested by a word, apart from what it explicitly describes, often referred to as the implied meaning of a word28
5715012121connotation exampleGeorge Orwell's allegorical novel "Animal Farm" is packed with examples of connotation. The actions of the animals on the farm illustrate the greed and corruption that arose after the Communist Revolution of Russia. The pigs in the novel connote wicked and powerful people who can change the ideology of a society. In addition, Mr. Jones (the owner of the farm), represents the overthrown Tsar Nicholas II; and Boxer, the horse, represents the laborer class etc.29
5715012122consonancethe repetition of a sequence of two or more consonants, but with a change in the intervening vowels, such as pitter-patter, pish-posh30
5715025591consonance example31
5715051555couplettwo rhyming lines of iambic pentameter that together present a single idea or connection32
5715057358couplet exampleliterally the end of any sonnet33
5715060233denotationa direct and specific meaning, often referred to as the dictionary meaning of a word34
5715067508denotation exampleI hope she'll be a fool—that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool. (The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald) This famous quote is spoken by Daisy, who is talking about her daughter. It is a quote that is often misunderstood because readers only look at the denotation of the word "fool." Many readers assume that Daisy wishes her daughter to be foolish because that's all that women can hope to achieve. Instead, Daisy is speaking from her own painful experience of not being a fool and being aware of the vast injustices of women's lot in life. Only by being a fool would a woman remain ignorant of her substandard rights.35
5715067509dialectthe language and speech idiosyncrasies of a specific area, region, or group of people36
5715075306dialect exampleWalter: Reckon I have. Almost died first year I come to school and et them pecans — folks say he pizened 'em and put 'em over on the school side of the fence. (To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee) also seen in Huck Finn37
5715078850dramatic monologuea monologue set in a specific situation and spoken to an imaginary audience, AKA soliloquy38
5715580278dramatic monologue exampleBut soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east and Juliet is the sun! Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief... O that I were a glove upon that hand, That I might touch that cheek! (Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare) This is a famous balcony scene when Romeo hides in the garden of Capulet, and waits for the glimpse of his beloved Juliet, who comes out on the balcony, and then Romeo uses monologue by sharing his thoughts with the audience.39

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