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AP Literature Literary Terms Flashcards

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4813911074PlotDescribes the events that make up a story or main part of a story.0
4813915938CharacterA person or thing that undergoes an important inner change, as in a change of personality or attitude.1
4813920389ConflictAn element that involves a struggle between 2 opposing forces; usually a protagonist and antagonist.2
4813925746SettingThe time and place in which the story takes place.3
4813928343ThemeA main idea or underlying meaning of a literary work; may be indirect or direct.4
4813931729MoralA message conveyed or a lesson learned from a story, poem, or an event.5
4813937353ToneAn attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience --> choice of words (diction) or POV.6
4813941738MoodEvokes certain feelings or vibes in readers through words and descriptions.7
4813945117Dramatic IronyA form of irony that is expressed through a work's structure --> the audience is aware of the situation, but the characters are unaware.8
4813954753Situational Irony (a.k.a Irony)Occurs when incongruity appears between expectations and what actually happens instead; assumptions vs. an opposite effect that occurs.9
4813964052Literal LanguageUse of words solely defined by their defined or primary meanings --> Figures of Speech.10
4813970666Figurative LanguageA language that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation.11
4813974201Old EnglishAn Anglo-Saxon language; the foundation of the Modern English and was introduced during 450-1200 A.D. Anglo-Saxon period. Old English had Germanic and Scandinavian roots.12
4813985986Middle EnglishUsed during a time (1100-1150 A.D.) during when the English language was beginning to take on its identity. It's a combination of Old English and Norman French.13
4813999699Modern EnglishThe English language since about 1500 A.D. to the present. It is also called New English.14

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