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AP Literature Literary Terms Flashcards

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6688185292malapropismthe mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with an unintentionally amusing effect0
6688185293palindromea word, phrase, or sentence that is read the same forwards and backwards1
6688185294epigrapha short quotation at the beginning of a text that suggests the theme or mood of what's to come.2
6688185295deus ex machina"god of the machine"; a god introduced into a play to resolve the entanglements of the plot3
6688185296understatementthe presentation of something as smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is4
6688185297magical realisma genre in which realistic narrative and naturalistic technique are combined with surreal elements of dream or fantasy5
6688185298imagerythe use of language to describe objects, actions, and ideas in such a way that it appeals to our physical senses6
6688185299enjambmentthe continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, stanza, or couplet7
6688185300sibilancestrongly stressed consonants, typically "s", created deliberately by producing air from vocal tracts through the use of lips and tongue8
6688185301ironythe expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous effect9
6688185302allegorya work of art in which the characters, images, or events act as symbols of deeper meanings, a moral or spiritual truth, or political or historical situation10
6688185303paradoxa seemingly contradictory statement that when investigated may prove to be well founded or true11
6688185304heroic coupletrhyming pairs of verse in iambic pentameter12
6688185305epica long, narrative poem that is usually used to tell a story about a very courageous and brave person13
6688185306anastrophethe inversion of the usual order of words or clauses14
6688185307idylla simple descriptive episode or scene often found in poetry or prose compositions suggesting a mood of peace and happiness, typically picturesque, idealized, and unsustainable15
6688185308archetypea typical character, an action or a situation that represents universal significant patterns of human nature (collective unconscious)16
6688185309conceitextended metaphors to compare two very different things often presenting striking juxtapositions and comparison17
6688185310metonymythe replacement of the name of a thing with the name of something else that is closely associated18
6688185311synecdocheuse of a part to represent the whole or vice verse; ex. all hands on deck19
6688185312litotesintentional use of an understatement that renders an ironical effect20
6688185313euphemismthe substitution of an inexplicit expression for a phrase considered to be too blunt, especially concerning something unpleasant or humiliating21
6688185314chiasmusa rhetorical or literary figure in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order, in the same or modified form22
6688185315apostrophewhen the speaker addresses an absent person, abstract idea, or object23
6688185316slant/off/half rhymewords that almost rhyme or appear to the eye to do so24
6688185317absurdismthe philosophical school of thought that holds that the human quest to find meaning in life will inevitably fail because of the abundance of information and lack of certainty; however, this should not discourage people from searching for meaning25
6688185318theatre of the absurddifferent from traditional theatre bc it demonstrates the randomness of human nature and often confuses people; expect the unexpected26
6688185319metatheatre"breaking the 4th wall" comments on its own drama or acting in general; addressing the audience27
6688185320mise en scéneexpression that describes the design aspects of a production through direction to help convey the deeper theme of the work28
6688185321in medias resa narrative that begins somewhere in the middle of the story, usually at some crucial point in the action29
6688185322syllogismthe start of an argument with a reference to something general that then uses this to draw conclusions about something more specific30
6688185323existentialismtheory that people are free agents who have control over their choices and actions31
6688185324tragicomedygenre that blends elements of both comedy and tragedy; usually found in dramatic literature describing either a tragic play which contains comic elements that lighten the overall mood or a serious play with a series of unfortunate events but ends happily32
6688185325farcea comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay; typically includes crude characterization and ludicrously improbable situations33
6688185326non sequitura response or statement that has no apparent or logical relationship to what came before it and often sounds absurd34

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