AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

AP Literature Literary Devices Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
9878837256allegorystory or poem that can be used to reveal a hidden meaning0
9878837257alliterationbeginning of same letter or sound in closely connected words1
9878837258allusionindirect of passing reference2
9878837259anaphorarepetition in first part of a sentence , to have an artistic meaning3
9878837260antagonista hostile person who is opposed to another character4
9878837261apostrophefigure of speech used to adresss an imaginary character5
9878837262approximate rhymewords in rhyming pattern that sound alike6
9878837263asidewhen a character's dialogue is spoken but not heard by other actors on the stage7
9878837264assonancerepetition of vowel sounds8
9878837265blank versepoetry written in meter without an ending rhyme9
9878837266cacophonyblend of unharmonious sounds10
9878837267caesurapause in the middle of a line11
9878837268catharsisthe release of emotions through art (emotional cleanse)12
9878837269flat characterstory character who have no depth, usually has one personality or characteristic13
9878837270round charactercharacter who has complex personality: contradicted person14
9878837271dynamic characterchanges throughout the story, through major conflict15
9878837272static characterperson who doesn't change throughout story keeps same personality16
9878837273characterizationprocess of revealing characters personality17
9878837274climaxpoint where conflict hits its highest point18
9878837275comedydrama that is amusing or funny19
9878837276conflictstruggle between opposing forces20
9878837277connotationsecondary meaning to a word21
9878837278consonancerepetition of same consonant in words close together22
9878837279couplettwo rhyming lines in a verse23
9878837280denotationthe literal meaning of a word24
9878837281denouementfinal outcome of the story25
9878837282deus ex machinaresolution of a plot by chance or coincidence26
9878837283didactic writingwriting with a primary purpose to teach or preach27
9878837284direct presentation of characterauthor telling the reader how a character is and what actions it will do further in the story28
9878837285double rhymerhyme where the repeated vowel is in the second last syllable of words involved (ex; born scorn)29
9878837286dramatic expositionprose commentaries, to provide background information about the characters and their world30
9878837287end rhymerhymes occurring at the end of line31
9878837288end stopped lineline ending in regular punctuation32
9878837289English sonneta sonnet rhyming ababcdcdededgg33
9878837290epiphanywhen a character receives a spiritual insight into they life34
9878837291euphonysmooth choice and arrangement of sounds35
9878837292extended figureA figure of speech sustained or developed through a considerable number of lines or through a whole poem.36
9878837293falling actionEvents after the climax, leading to the resolution37
9878837294feminine rhymelines rhymed by their final two syllables38
9878837295figurative languageLanguage that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.39
9878837296figure of speecha way of saying something other than the ordinary way40
9878837297footbasic unit in the scansion or measurement of verse , stressed and un stressed syllables41
9878837298formexternal pattern or shape of a poem42
9878837299free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme43
9878837300hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall44
9878837301imageryDescription that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)45
9878837302indirect presentation of characterthe personality of a character is revealed by what he or she does or says46
9878837303internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line47
9878837304ironyA contrast between expectation and reality48
9878837305verbal ironyA figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant49
9878837306dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.50
9878837307irony of situationrefers to an occurrence that is contrary to what is expected or intended51
9878837308italian sonnetA sonnet consisting of an octave with the rhyme pattern abbaabba, followed by a sestet with the rhyme pattern cdecde or cdcdcd52
9878837309masculine rhymeA rhyme ending on the final stressed syllable53
9878837310melodramaa play based upon a dramatic plot and developed sensationally54
9878837311metaphorA comparison without using like or as55
9878837312meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry56
9878837313metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it57
9878837314motivationA need or desire that energizes and directs behavior58
9878837315narratorPerson telling the story59
9878837316octave8 line stanza60
9878837317onomatopoeiaA word that imitates the sound it represents.61
9878837318hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor62
9878837319oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.63
9878837320paradoxA contradiction or dilemma64
9878837321paraphraseA restatement of a text or passage in your own words.65
9878837322personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes66
9878837323plotSequence of events in a story67
9878837324point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told68
9878837325omniscient point of viewThe point of view where the narrator knows everything about the characters and their problems - told in the 3rd person.69
9878837326third person limited point of viewnarrator tells the story from only one character's pov70
9878837327first person point of viewa character in the story is actually telling the story himself/herself71
9878837328objective point of viewa narrator who is totally impersonal and objective tells the story, with no comment on any characters or events.72
9878837329protagonistMain character73
9878837330quatrainA four line stanza74
9878837331rhythmA regularly recurring sequence of events or actions.75
9878837332rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem76
9878837333rising actionEvents leading up to the climax77
9878837334sarcasmthe use of irony to mock or convey contempt78
9878837335satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.79
9878837336scansionAnalysis of verse into metrical patterns80
9878837337sestet6 line stanza81
9878837338settingThe context in time and place in which the action of a story occurs.82
9878837339simileA comparison using "like" or "as"83
9878837340soliloquyA long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage84
9878837341sonnet14 line poem85
9878837342stanzaA group of lines in a poem86
9878837343stream of consciousnessprivate thoughts of a character without commentary87
9878837344syllabic verseVerse measured by the number of syllables rather than the number of feet per line.88
9878837345symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else89
9878837346synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa90
9878837347synesthesiadescribing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("a loud color", "a sweet sound")91
9878837348tercet3 line stanza92
9878837349terza rimaa verse form with a rhyme scheme: aba bcb cdc, etc.93
9878837350themeCentral idea of a work of literature94
9878837351toneAttitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character95
9878837352tragedyA serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character96
9878837353truncationUtilizing a melody with part of the end omitted.97
9878837354understandmentthe deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; a deliberate under-emphasis98
9878837355verseA single line of poetry writing arranged with a metrical rhythm, typically having a rhyme99
9878837356vilanellea 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

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!