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

AP Literature - Literary Terms Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
6560483747allegoryA story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.0
6560483748alliterationIt is a stylistic device in which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series.1
6560483749allusionA brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.2
6560483750anagrama word or phrase spelled by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase3
6560483751antecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.4
6560483752antagonistA character or force in conflict with the main character5
6560483753anaphoraA 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
6560483754anastropheInversion of the natural or usual word order7
6560483755antithesisA balancing of two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses.8
6560483756aphorismA brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.9
6560483757apostropheA figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.10
6560483758assonanceRepetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity11
6560483759asyndetonA 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
6560483760blank versePoetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter13
6560483761caesuraA natural pause or break in a line of poetry, usually near the middle of the line.14
6560483762cacophonyHarsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of sounds15
6560483763cadenceRhythmic rise and fall16
6560483764conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects.17
6560483765connotationAll the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests18
6560483766consonanceRepetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity.19
6560483767coupletA pair of rhymed lines that may or may not constitute a separate stanza in a poem.20
6560483768dactylA stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables21
6560483769denotationDictionary definition of a word22
6560483770denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot23
6560483771dictionThe choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing24
6560483772didacticIntended to instruct; teaching, or teaching a moral lesson25
6560483773dirgea funeral hymn or mournful speech26
6560483774euphemismAn indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant27
6560483775end-stopped lineA line that ends with a natural speech pause, usually marked by punctuation28
6560483776enjambmentA run-on line of poetry in which logical and grammatical sense carries over from one line into the next.29
6560483777epitaphA brief statement written on a tomb or gravestone30
6560483778epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society31
6560483779epistolaryA piece of literature contained in or carried on by letters32
6560483780flashbackA method of narration in which present action is temporarily interrupted so that the reader can witness past events33
6560483781foreshadowingA narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.34
6560483782footA metrical unit composed of stressed and unstressed syllables.35
6560483783frame storyA secondary story or stories embedded in the main story36
6560483784free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme37
6560483785genreA category or type of literature (or of art, music, etc.) characterized by a particular form, style, or content.38
6560483786hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall39
6560483787heroic coupletA pair of rhymed, iambic pentameter lines.40
6560483788hexameterA line of poetry that has six metrical feet.41
6560483789hubrisExcessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy42
6560483790hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor43
6560483791iambA 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
6560483792imageryDescriptive or figurative language in a literary work; the use of language to create sensory impressions.45
6560483793ironyA 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
6560483794verbal ironyIn this type of irony, the words literally state the opposite of the writer's true meaning47
6560483795situational ironyOccurs when the outcome of a work is unexpected, or events turn out to be the opposite from what one had expected48
6560483796dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.49
6560483797jargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand50
6560483798juxtapositionPlacement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts51
6560483799kenningA device employed in Anglo-Saxon poetry in which the name of a thing is replaced by one of its functions or qualities.52
6560483800metaphorA comparison that establishes a figurative identity between objects being compared.53
6560483801meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry54
6560483802metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it55
6560483803moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader56
6560483804motif(n.) a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design57
6560483805motivationA psychological factor that provides a directional force or reason for behavior.58
6560483806narrationThe purpose of this type of rhetorical mode is to tell the story or narrate an event or series of events.59
6560483807novelA long fictional narrative written in prose, usually having many characters and a strong plot.60
6560483808novellaA short novel usually under 100 pages.61
6560483809noveletteWhen a novel is short and has chapters reffered to as vignettes62
6560483810octavea verse form consisting of eight lines of iambic pentameter63
6560483811odeA lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exalted feelings toward the subject.64
6560483812onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.65
6560483813oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.66
6560483814paeansong of joy or triumph; a fervent expression of joy67
6560483815parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson68
6560483816paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.69
6560483817parallelismPhrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other70
6560483818parodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.71
6560483819pedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.72
6560483820pentametera rhythm in poetry that has five stressed syllables in each line (five metrical feet)73
6560483821personaA pattern of relatively permanent traits, dispositions, or characteristics that give some consistency to people's behavior.74
6560483822personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes75
6560483823plotSequence of events in a story76
6560483824point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told77
6560483825polysyndetonDeliberate 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
6560483826prosodyAppropriate expression when reading. Includes pitch (intonation), loudness, stressing phrases, etc.79
6560483827protagonistChief character in a dramatic or narrative work, usually trying to accomplish some objective or working toward some goal.80
6560483828punA joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings.81
6560483829quatrain4 line stanza82
6560483830refrainA line or set of lines repeated several times over the course of a poem.83
6560483831rhetorical questionA question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer84
6560483832end rhymeA word at the end of one line rhymes with a word at the end of another line85
6560483833eye rhymerhyme that appears correct from spelling but does not rhyme because of pronunciation86
6560483834forced 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
6560483835internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line88
6560483836slant 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
6560483837rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem90
6560483838satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.91
6560483839sesteta rhythmic group of six lines of verse92
6560483840shifts/turnsChanges in the speaker's attitude. Look for key words such as but, yet, however, and although, punctuation, and stanza division.93
6560483841sonnet14-line lyric poem focused on a single theme; usually written in iambic pentameter94
6560483842symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.95
6560483843synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa96
6560483844syntaxArrangement of words in phrases and sentences97
6560483845themeA topic of discussion or writing; a major idea broad enough to cover the entire scope of a literary work.98
6560483846toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.99
6560483847understatementthe presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.100
6560483848villanelleA French verse form calculated to appear simple and spontaneous but consisting of nineteen lines and a prescribed pattern of rhymes.101

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!