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AP Literature - Lit Rally Terms Flashcards

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6074285280allegoryA story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.0
6074285281alliterationIt is a stylistic device in which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series.1
6074285282allusionA brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.2
6074285283anagrama word or phrase spelled by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase3
6074285284antecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.4
6074285285antagonistA character or force in conflict with the main character5
6074285286anaphoraA rhetorical figure of repetition in which the same word or phrase is repeated in (and usually at the beginning of) successive lines, clauses, or sentences.6
6074285287anastropheInversion of the natural or usual word order7
6074285288antithesisA balancing of two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses.8
6074285289aphorismA brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.9
6074285290apostropheA figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.10
6074285291assonanceRepetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity11
6074285292asyndetonA series of words separated by commas (with no conjunction), e.g. "I came, I saw, I conquered." The parts of the sentence are emphasized equally; in addition, the use of commas with no intervening conjunction speeds up the flow of the sentence.12
6074285293blank versePoetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter13
6074285294caesuraA natural pause or break in a line of poetry, usually near the middle of the line.14
6074285295cacophonyHarsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of sounds15
6074285296cadenceRhythmic rise and fall16
6074285297conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects.17
6074285298connotationAll the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests18
6074285299consonanceRepetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity.19
6074285300coupletA pair of rhymed lines that may or may not constitute a separate stanza in a poem.20
6074285301dactylA stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables21
6074285302denotationDictionary definition of a word22
6074285303denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot23
6074285304dictionThe choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing24
6074285305didacticIntended to instruct; teaching, or teaching a moral lesson25
6074285306dirgea funeral hymn or mournful speech26
6074285307euphemismAn indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant27
6074285308end-stopped lineA line that ends with a natural speech pause, usually marked by punctuation28
6074285309enjambmentA run-on line of poetry in which logical and grammatical sense carries over from one line into the next.29
6074285310epitaphA brief statement written on a tomb or gravestone30
6074285311epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society31
6074285312epistolaryA piece of literature contained in or carried on by letters32
6074285313flashbackA method of narration in which present action is temporarily interrupted so that the reader can witness past events33
6074285314foreshadowingA narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.34
6074285315footA metrical unit composed of stressed and unstressed syllables.35
6074285316frame storyA secondary story or stories embedded in the main story36
6074285317free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme37
6074285318genreA category or type of literature (or of art, music, etc.) characterized by a particular form, style, or content.38
6074285319hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall39
6074285320heroic coupletA pair of rhymed, iambic pentameter lines.40
6074285321hexameterA line of poetry that has six metrical feet.41
6074285322hubrisExcessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy42
6074285323hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor43
6074285324iambA common meter in poetry consisting of an unrhymed line with five feet or accents, each foot containing an unaccented syllable and an accented syllable.44
6074285325imageryDescriptive or figurative language in a literary work; the use of language to create sensory impressions.45
6074285326ironyA contrast or discrepancy between what is stated and what is really meant, or between what is expected to happen and what actually does happen.46
6074285327verbal ironyIn this type of irony, the words literally state the opposite of the writer's true meaning47
6074285328situational ironyOccurs when the outcome of a work is unexpected, or events turn out to be the opposite from what one had expected48
6074285329dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.49
6074285330jargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand50
6074285331juxtapositionPlacement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts51
6074285332kenningA device employed in Anglo-Saxon poetry in which the name of a thing is replaced by one of its functions or qualities.52
6074285333metaphorA comparison that establishes a figurative identity between objects being compared.53
6074285334meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry54
6074285335metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it55
6074285336moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader56
6074285337motif(n.) a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design57
6074285338motivationA psychological factor that provides a directional force or reason for behavior.58
6074285339narrationThe purpose of this type of rhetorical mode is to tell the story or narrate an event or series of events.59
6074285340novelA long fictional narrative written in prose, usually having many characters and a strong plot.60
6074285341novellaA short novel usually under 100 pages.61
6074285342noveletteWhen a novel is short and has chapters reffered to as vignettes62
6074285343octavea verse form consisting of eight lines of iambic pentameter63
6074285344odeA lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exalted feelings toward the subject.64
6074285345onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.65
6074285346oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.66
6074285347paeansong of joy or triumph; a fervent expression of joy67
6074285348parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson68
6074285349paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.69
6074285350parallelismPhrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other70
6074285351parodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.71
6074285352pedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.72
6074285353pentametera rhythm in poetry that has five stressed syllables in each line (five metrical feet)73
6074285354personaA pattern of relatively permanent traits, dispositions, or characteristics that give some consistency to people's behavior.74
6074285355personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes75
6074285356plotSequence of events in a story76
6074285357point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told77
6074285358polysyndetonDeliberate use of many conjunctions in close succession, especially where some might be omitted. Hemingway and the Bible both use extensively. Ex. "he ran and jumped and laughed for joy"78
6074285359prosodyAppropriate expression when reading. Includes pitch (intonation), loudness, stressing phrases, etc.79
6074285360protagonistChief character in a dramatic or narrative work, usually trying to accomplish some objective or working toward some goal.80
6074285361punA joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings.81
6074285362quatrain4 line stanza82
6074285363refrainA line or set of lines repeated several times over the course of a poem.83
6074285364rhetorical questionA question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer84
6074285365end rhymeA word at the end of one line rhymes with a word at the end of another line85
6074285366eye rhymerhyme that appears correct from spelling but does not rhyme because of pronunciation86
6074285367forced rhymewhen two words don't really rhyme together, but an author uses similar spelled, or sounding words to try to create a rhyme; Ex: stone, one87
6074285368internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line88
6074285369slant rhymerhyme in which the vowel sounds are nearly, but not exactly the same (i.e. the words "stress" and "kiss"); sometimes called half-rhyme, near rhyme, or partial rhyme89
6074285370rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem90
6074285371satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.91
6074285372sesteta rhythmic group of six lines of verse92
6074285373shifts/turnsChanges in the speaker's attitude. Look for key words such as but, yet, however, and although, punctuation, and stanza division.93
6074285374sonnet14-line lyric poem focused on a single theme; usually written in iambic pentameter94
6074285375symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.95
6074285376synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa96
6074285377syntaxArrangement of words in phrases and sentences97
6074285378themeA topic of discussion or writing; a major idea broad enough to cover the entire scope of a literary work.98
6074285379toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.99
6074285380understatementthe presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.100
6074285381villanelleA French verse form calculated to appear simple and spontaneous but consisting of nineteen lines and a prescribed pattern of rhymes.101

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