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AP Literature - Literary Terms Flashcards

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4792558922allegoryA story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.0
4792562362alliterationIt is a stylistic device in which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series.1
4792562363allusionA brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.2
4792562364anagrama word or phrase spelled by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase3
4792563495antecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.4
4792563496antagonistA character or force in conflict with the main character5
4792575246anaphoraA 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
4792576343anastropheInversion of the natural or usual word order7
4792576344antithesisA balancing of two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses.8
4792577273aphorismA brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.9
4792577274apostropheA figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.10
4792578477assonanceRepetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity11
4792603548asyndetonA 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
4792607585blank versePoetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter13
4792612933caesuraA natural pause or break in a line of poetry, usually near the middle of the line.14
4792616607cacophonyHarsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of sounds15
4792616608cadenceRhythmic rise and fall16
4792616609conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects.17
4792617470connotationAll the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests18
4792617471consonanceRepetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity.19
4792618720coupletA pair of rhymed lines that may or may not constitute a separate stanza in a poem.20
4792618721dactylA stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables21
4792618722denotationDictionary definition of a word22
4792620641denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot23
4792620642dictionThe choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing24
4792620643didacticIntended to instruct; teaching, or teaching a moral lesson25
4792648530dirgea funeral hymn or mournful speech26
4792648531euphemismAn indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant27
4792649783end-stopped lineA line that ends with a natural speech pause, usually marked by punctuation28
4792649784enjambmentA run-on line of poetry in which logical and grammatical sense carries over from one line into the next.29
4792649785epitaphA brief statement written on a tomb or gravestone30
4792650836epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society31
4792650837epistolaryA piece of literature contained in or carried on by letters32
4792652306flashbackA method of narration in which present action is temporarily interrupted so that the reader can witness past events33
4792652307foreshadowingA narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.34
4792653452footA metrical unit composed of stressed and unstressed syllables.35
4792653453frame storyA secondary story or stories embedded in the main story36
4792654632free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme37
4792654633genreA category or type of literature (or of art, music, etc.) characterized by a particular form, style, or content.38
4792654634hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall39
4792655640heroic coupletA pair of rhymed, iambic pentameter lines.40
4792655641hexameterA line of poetry that has six metrical feet.41
4792656360hubrisExcessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy42
4792656361hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor43
4792656362iambA 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
4792657713imageryDescriptive or figurative language in a literary work; the use of language to create sensory impressions.45
4792657714ironyA 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
4792657715verbal ironyIn this type of irony, the words literally state the opposite of the writer's true meaning47
4792659013situational ironyOccurs when the outcome of a work is unexpected, or events turn out to be the opposite from what one had expected48
4792659014dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.49
4792660210jargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand50
4792660211juxtapositionPlacement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts51
4792661651kenningA device employed in Anglo-Saxon poetry in which the name of a thing is replaced by one of its functions or qualities.52
4792729485metaphorA comparison that establishes a figurative identity between objects being compared.53
4792729486meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry54
4792730243metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it55
4792730244moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader56
4792730245motif(n.) a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design57
4792730803motivationA psychological factor that provides a directional force or reason for behavior.58
4792730804narrationThe purpose of this type of rhetorical mode is to tell the story or narrate an event or series of events.59
4792731772novelA long fictional narrative written in prose, usually having many characters and a strong plot.60
4792731773novellaA short novel usually under 100 pages.61
4792732727noveletteWhen a novel is short and has chapters reffered to as vignettes62
4792732728octavea verse form consisting of eight lines of iambic pentameter63
4792732729odeA lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exalted feelings toward the subject.64
4792733926onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.65
4792733927oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.66
4792734762paeansong of joy or triumph; a fervent expression of joy67
4792734763parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson68
4792735585paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.69
4792735586parallelismPhrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other70
4792737177parodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.71
4792737178pedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.72
4792737179pentametera rhythm in poetry that has five stressed syllables in each line (five metrical feet)73
4792738086personaA pattern of relatively permanent traits, dispositions, or characteristics that give some consistency to people's behavior.74
4792738087personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes75
4792738088plotSequence of events in a story76
4792739161point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told77
4792740103polysyndetonDeliberate 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
4792742361prosodyAppropriate expression when reading. Includes pitch (intonation), loudness, stressing phrases, etc.79
4792742362protagonistChief character in a dramatic or narrative work, usually trying to accomplish some objective or working toward some goal.80
4792743327punA joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings.81
4792925877quatrain4 line stanza82
4792925878refrainA line or set of lines repeated several times over the course of a poem.83
4792926708rhetorical questionA question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer84
4792926709end rhymeA word at the end of one line rhymes with a word at the end of another line85
4792926710eye rhymerhyme that appears correct from spelling but does not rhyme because of pronunciation86
4792927911forced 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
4792927912internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line88
4792927913slant 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
4792928884rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem90
4792929866satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.91
4792930685sesteta rhythmic group of six lines of verse92
4792930686shifts/turnsChanges in the speaker's attitude. Look for key words such as but, yet, however, and although, punctuation, and stanza division.93
4792931443sonnet14-line lyric poem focused on a single theme; usually written in iambic pentameter94
4792931444symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.95
4792932428synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa96
4792932429syntaxArrangement of words in phrases and sentences97
4792932430themeA topic of discussion or writing; a major idea broad enough to cover the entire scope of a literary work.98
4792933094toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.99
4792933095understatementthe presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.100
4792933096villanelleA 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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