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AP Literature Literary Devices Flashcards

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6549030929allegorystory or poem that can be used to reveal a hidden meaning0
6549030930alliterationbeginning of same letter or sound in closely connected words1
6549030931allusionindirect of passing reference2
6549030932anaphorarepetition in first part of a sentence , to have an artistic meaning3
6549030933antagonista hostile person who is opposed to another character4
6549030934apostrophefigure of speech used to adresss an imaginary character5
6549030935approximate rhymewords in rhyming pattern that sound alike6
6549030936asidewhen a character's dialogue is spoken but not heard by other actors on the stage7
6549030937assonancerepetition of vowel sounds8
6549030938blank versepoetry written in meter without an ending rhyme9
6549030939cacophonyblend of unharmonious sounds10
6549030940caesurapause in the middle of a line11
6549030941catharsisthe release of emotions through art (emotional cleanse)12
6549030942flat characterstory character who have no depth, usually has one personality or characteristic13
6549030943round charactercharacter who has complex personality: contradicted person14
6549030944dynamic characterchanges throughout the story, through major conflict15
6549030945static characterperson who doesn't change throughout story keeps same personality16
6549030946characterizationprocess of revealing characters personality17
6549030947climaxpoint where conflict hits its highest point18
6549030948comedydrama that is amusing or funny19
6549030949conflictstruggle between opposing forces20
6549030950connotationsecondary meaning to a word21
6549030951consonancerepetition of same consonant in words close together22
6549030952couplettwo rhyming lines in a verse23
6549030953denotationthe literal meaning of a word24
6549030954denouementfinal outcome of the story25
6549030955deus ex machinaresolution of a plot by chance or coincidence26
6549030956didactic writingwriting with a primary purpose to teach or preach27
6549030957direct presentation of characterauthor telling the reader how a character is and what actions it will do further in the story28
6549030958double rhymerhyme where the repeated vowel is in the second last syllable of words involved (ex; born scorn)29
6549030959dramatic expositionprose commentaries, to provide background information about the characters and their world30
6549030960end rhymerhymes occurring at the end of line31
6549030961end stopped lineline ending in regular punctuation32
6549030962English sonneta sonnet rhyming ababcdcdededgg33
6549030963epiphanywhen a character receives a spiritual insight into they life34
6549030964euphonysmooth choice and arrangement of sounds35
6549030965extended figureA figure of speech sustained or developed through a considerable number of lines or through a whole poem.36
6549030966falling actionEvents after the climax, leading to the resolution37
6549030967feminine rhymelines rhymed by their final two syllables38
6549030968figurative languageLanguage that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.39
6549030969figure of speecha way of saying something other than the ordinary way40
6549030970footbasic unit in the scansion or measurement of verse , stressed and un stressed syllables41
6549030971formexternal pattern or shape of a poem42
6549030972free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme43
6549030973hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall44
6549030974imageryDescription that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)45
6549030975indirect presentation of characterthe personality of a character is revealed by what he or she does or says46
6549030976internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line47
6549030977ironyA contrast between expectation and reality48
6549030978verbal ironyA figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant49
6549030979dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.50
6549030980irony of situationrefers to an occurrence that is contrary to what is expected or intended51
6549030981italian sonnetA sonnet consisting of an octave with the rhyme pattern abbaabba, followed by a sestet with the rhyme pattern cdecde or cdcdcd52
6549030982masculine rhymeA rhyme ending on the final stressed syllable53
6549030983melodramaa play based upon a dramatic plot and developed sensationally54
6549030984metaphorA comparison without using like or as55
6549030985meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry56
6549030986metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it57
6549030987motivationA need or desire that energizes and directs behavior58
6549030988narratorPerson telling the story59
6549030989octave8 line stanza60
6549030990onomatopoeiaA word that imitates the sound it represents.61
6549030991hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor62
6549030992oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.63
6549030993paradoxA contradiction or dilemma64
6549030994paraphraseA restatement of a text or passage in your own words.65
6549030995personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes66
6549030996plotSequence of events in a story67
6549030997point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told68
6549030998omniscient point of viewThe point of view where the narrator knows everything about the characters and their problems - told in the 3rd person.69
6549030999third person limited point of viewnarrator tells the story from only one character's pov70
6549031000first person point of viewa character in the story is actually telling the story himself/herself71
6549031001objective point of viewa narrator who is totally impersonal and objective tells the story, with no comment on any characters or events.72
6549031002protagonistMain character73
6549031003quatrainA four line stanza74
6549031004rhythmA regularly recurring sequence of events or actions.75
6549031005rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem76
6549031006rising actionEvents leading up to the climax77
6549031007sarcasmthe use of irony to mock or convey contempt78
6549031008satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.79
6549031009scansionAnalysis of verse into metrical patterns80
6549031010sestet6 line stanza81
6549031011settingThe context in time and place in which the action of a story occurs.82
6549031012simileA comparison using "like" or "as"83
6549031013soliloquyA long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage84
6549031014sonnet14 line poem85
6549031015stanzaA group of lines in a poem86
6549031016stream of consciousnessprivate thoughts of a character without commentary87
6549031017syllabic verseVerse measured by the number of syllables rather than the number of feet per line.88
6549031018symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else89
6549031019synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa90
6549031020synesthesiadescribing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("a loud color", "a sweet sound")91
6549031021tercet3 line stanza92
6549031022terza rimaa verse form with a rhyme scheme: aba bcb cdc, etc.93
6549031023themeCentral idea of a work of literature94
6549031024toneAttitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character95
6549031025tragedyA serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character96
6549031026truncationUtilizing a melody with part of the end omitted.97
6549031027understandmentthe deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; a deliberate under-emphasis98
6549031028verseA single line of poetry writing arranged with a metrical rhythm, typically having a rhyme99
6549031029vilanellea 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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