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AP Literature - Literary Terms Flashcards

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5660073430allegoryA story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.0
5660073431alliterationIt is a stylistic device in which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series.1
5660073432allusionA brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.2
5660073433anagrama word or phrase spelled by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase3
5660073434antecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.4
5660073435antagonistA character or force in conflict with the main character5
5660073436anaphoraA 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
5660073437anastropheInversion of the natural or usual word order7
5660073438antithesisA balancing of two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses.8
5660073439aphorismA brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.9
5660073440apostropheA figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.10
5660073441assonanceRepetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity11
5660073442asyndetonA 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
5660073443blank versePoetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter13
5660073444caesuraA natural pause or break in a line of poetry, usually near the middle of the line.14
5660073445cacophonyHarsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of sounds15
5660073446cadenceRhythmic rise and fall16
5660073447conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects.17
5660073448connotationAll the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests18
5660073449consonanceRepetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity.19
5660073450coupletA pair of rhymed lines that may or may not constitute a separate stanza in a poem.20
5660073451dactylA stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables21
5660073452denotationDictionary definition of a word22
5660073453denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot23
5660073454dictionThe choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing24
5660073455didacticIntended to instruct; teaching, or teaching a moral lesson25
5660073456dirgea funeral hymn or mournful speech26
5660073457euphemismAn indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant27
5660073458end-stopped lineA line that ends with a natural speech pause, usually marked by punctuation28
5660073459enjambmentA run-on line of poetry in which logical and grammatical sense carries over from one line into the next.29
5660073460epitaphA brief statement written on a tomb or gravestone30
5660073461epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society31
5660073462epistolaryA piece of literature contained in or carried on by letters32
5660073463flashbackA method of narration in which present action is temporarily interrupted so that the reader can witness past events33
5660073464foreshadowingA narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.34
5660073465footA metrical unit composed of stressed and unstressed syllables.35
5660073466frame storyA secondary story or stories embedded in the main story36
5660073467free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme37
5660073468genreA category or type of literature (or of art, music, etc.) characterized by a particular form, style, or content.38
5660073469hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall39
5660073470heroic coupletA pair of rhymed, iambic pentameter lines.40
5660073471hexameterA line of poetry that has six metrical feet.41
5660073472hubrisExcessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy42
5660073473hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor43
5660073474iambA 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
5660073475imageryDescriptive or figurative language in a literary work; the use of language to create sensory impressions.45
5660073476ironyA 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
5660073477verbal ironyIn this type of irony, the words literally state the opposite of the writer's true meaning47
5660073478situational ironyOccurs when the outcome of a work is unexpected, or events turn out to be the opposite from what one had expected48
5660073479dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.49
5660073480jargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand50
5660073481juxtapositionPlacement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts51
5660073482kenningA device employed in Anglo-Saxon poetry in which the name of a thing is replaced by one of its functions or qualities.52
5660073483metaphorA comparison that establishes a figurative identity between objects being compared.53
5660073484meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry54
5660073485metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it55
5660073486moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader56
5660073487motif(n.) a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design57
5660073488motivationA psychological factor that provides a directional force or reason for behavior.58
5660073489narrationThe purpose of this type of rhetorical mode is to tell the story or narrate an event or series of events.59
5660073490novelA long fictional narrative written in prose, usually having many characters and a strong plot.60
5660073491novellaA short novel usually under 100 pages.61
5660073492noveletteWhen a novel is short and has chapters reffered to as vignettes62
5660073493octavea verse form consisting of eight lines of iambic pentameter63
5660073494odeA lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exalted feelings toward the subject.64
5660073495onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.65
5660073496oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.66
5660073497paeansong of joy or triumph; a fervent expression of joy67
5660073498parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson68
5660073499paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.69
5660073500parallelismPhrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other70
5660073501parodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.71
5660073502pedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.72
5660073503pentametera rhythm in poetry that has five stressed syllables in each line (five metrical feet)73
5660073504personaA pattern of relatively permanent traits, dispositions, or characteristics that give some consistency to people's behavior.74
5660073505personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes75
5660073506plotSequence of events in a story76
5660073507point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told77
5660073508polysyndetonDeliberate 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
5660073509prosodyAppropriate expression when reading. Includes pitch (intonation), loudness, stressing phrases, etc.79
5660073510protagonistChief character in a dramatic or narrative work, usually trying to accomplish some objective or working toward some goal.80
5660073511punA joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings.81
5660073512quatrain4 line stanza82
5660073513refrainA line or set of lines repeated several times over the course of a poem.83
5660073514rhetorical questionA question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer84
5660073515end rhymeA word at the end of one line rhymes with a word at the end of another line85
5660073516eye rhymerhyme that appears correct from spelling but does not rhyme because of pronunciation86
5660073517forced 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
5660073518internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line88
5660073519slant 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
5660073520rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem90
5660073521satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.91
5660073522sesteta rhythmic group of six lines of verse92
5660073523shifts/turnsChanges in the speaker's attitude. Look for key words such as but, yet, however, and although, punctuation, and stanza division.93
5660073524sonnet14-line lyric poem focused on a single theme; usually written in iambic pentameter94
5660073525symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.95
5660073526synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa96
5660073527syntaxArrangement of words in phrases and sentences97
5660073528themeA topic of discussion or writing; a major idea broad enough to cover the entire scope of a literary work.98
5660073529toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.99
5660073530understatementthe presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.100
5660073531villanelleA 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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