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AP Literature - Literary Terms Flashcards

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5899812069allegoryA story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.0
5899812070alliterationIt is a stylistic device in which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series.1
5899812071allusionA brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.2
5899812072anagrama word or phrase spelled by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase3
5899812073antecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.4
5899812074antagonistA character or force in conflict with the main character5
5899812075anaphoraA 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
5899812076anastropheInversion of the natural or usual word order7
5899812077antithesisA balancing of two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses.8
5899812078aphorismA brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.9
5899812079apostropheA figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.10
5899812080assonanceRepetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity11
5899812081asyndetonA 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
5899812082blank versePoetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter13
5899812083caesuraA natural pause or break in a line of poetry, usually near the middle of the line.14
5899812084cacophonyHarsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of sounds15
5899812085cadenceRhythmic rise and fall16
5899812086conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects.17
5899812087connotationAll the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests18
5899812088consonanceRepetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity.19
5899812089coupletA pair of rhymed lines that may or may not constitute a separate stanza in a poem.20
5899812090dactylA stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables21
5899812091denotationDictionary definition of a word22
5899812092denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot23
5899812093dictionThe choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing24
5899812094didacticIntended to instruct; teaching, or teaching a moral lesson25
5899812095dirgea funeral hymn or mournful speech26
5899812096euphemismAn indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant27
5899812097end-stopped lineA line that ends with a natural speech pause, usually marked by punctuation28
5899812098enjambmentA run-on line of poetry in which logical and grammatical sense carries over from one line into the next.29
5899812099epitaphA brief statement written on a tomb or gravestone30
5899812100epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society31
5899812101epistolaryA piece of literature contained in or carried on by letters32
5899812102flashbackA method of narration in which present action is temporarily interrupted so that the reader can witness past events33
5899812103foreshadowingA narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.34
5899812104footA metrical unit composed of stressed and unstressed syllables.35
5899812105frame storyA secondary story or stories embedded in the main story36
5899812106free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme37
5899812107genreA category or type of literature (or of art, music, etc.) characterized by a particular form, style, or content.38
5899812108hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall39
5899812109heroic coupletA pair of rhymed, iambic pentameter lines.40
5899812110hexameterA line of poetry that has six metrical feet.41
5899812111hubrisExcessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy42
5899812112hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor43
5899812113iambA 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
5899812114imageryDescriptive or figurative language in a literary work; the use of language to create sensory impressions.45
5899812115ironyA 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
5899812116verbal ironyIn this type of irony, the words literally state the opposite of the writer's true meaning47
5899812117situational ironyOccurs when the outcome of a work is unexpected, or events turn out to be the opposite from what one had expected48
5899812118dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.49
5899812119jargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand50
5899812120juxtapositionPlacement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts51
5899812121kenningA device employed in Anglo-Saxon poetry in which the name of a thing is replaced by one of its functions or qualities.52
5899812122metaphorA comparison that establishes a figurative identity between objects being compared.53
5899812123meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry54
5899812124metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it55
5899812125moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader56
5899812126motif(n.) a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design57
5899812127motivationA psychological factor that provides a directional force or reason for behavior.58
5899812128narrationThe purpose of this type of rhetorical mode is to tell the story or narrate an event or series of events.59
5899812129novelA long fictional narrative written in prose, usually having many characters and a strong plot.60
5899812130novellaA short novel usually under 100 pages.61
5899812131noveletteWhen a novel is short and has chapters reffered to as vignettes62
5899812132octavea verse form consisting of eight lines of iambic pentameter63
5899812133odeA lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exalted feelings toward the subject.64
5899812134onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.65
5899812135oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.66
5899812136paeansong of joy or triumph; a fervent expression of joy67
5899812137parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson68
5899812138paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.69
5899812139parallelismPhrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other70
5899812140parodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.71
5899812141pedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.72
5899812142pentametera rhythm in poetry that has five stressed syllables in each line (five metrical feet)73
5899812143personaA pattern of relatively permanent traits, dispositions, or characteristics that give some consistency to people's behavior.74
5899812144personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes75
5899812145plotSequence of events in a story76
5899812146point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told77
5899812147polysyndetonDeliberate 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
5899812148prosodyAppropriate expression when reading. Includes pitch (intonation), loudness, stressing phrases, etc.79
5899812149protagonistChief character in a dramatic or narrative work, usually trying to accomplish some objective or working toward some goal.80
5899812150punA joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings.81
5899812151quatrain4 line stanza82
5899812152refrainA line or set of lines repeated several times over the course of a poem.83
5899812153rhetorical questionA question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer84
5899812154end rhymeA word at the end of one line rhymes with a word at the end of another line85
5899812155eye rhymerhyme that appears correct from spelling but does not rhyme because of pronunciation86
5899812156forced 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
5899812157internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line88
5899812158slant 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
5899812159rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem90
5899812160satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.91
5899812161sesteta rhythmic group of six lines of verse92
5899812162shifts/turnsChanges in the speaker's attitude. Look for key words such as but, yet, however, and although, punctuation, and stanza division.93
5899812163sonnet14-line lyric poem focused on a single theme; usually written in iambic pentameter94
5899812164symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.95
5899812165synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa96
5899812166syntaxArrangement of words in phrases and sentences97
5899812167themeA topic of discussion or writing; a major idea broad enough to cover the entire scope of a literary work.98
5899812168toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.99
5899812169understatementthe presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.100
5899812170villanelleA 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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