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AP Literature - Literary Terms Flashcards

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4946378215allegoryA story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.0
4946378216alliterationIt is a stylistic device in which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series.1
4946378217allusionA brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.2
4946378218anagrama word or phrase spelled by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase3
4946378219antecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.4
4946378220antagonistA character or force in conflict with the main character5
4946378221anaphoraA 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
4946378222anastropheInversion of the natural or usual word order7
4946378223antithesisA balancing of two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses.8
4946378224aphorismA brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.9
4946378225apostropheA figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.10
4946378226assonanceRepetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity11
4946378227asyndetonA 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
4946378228blank versePoetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter13
4946378229caesuraA natural pause or break in a line of poetry, usually near the middle of the line.14
4946378230cacophonyHarsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of sounds15
4946378231cadenceRhythmic rise and fall16
4946378232conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects.17
4946378233connotationAll the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests18
4946378234consonanceRepetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity.19
4946378235coupletA pair of rhymed lines that may or may not constitute a separate stanza in a poem.20
4946378236dactylA stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables21
4946378237denotationDictionary definition of a word22
4946378238denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot23
4946378239dictionThe choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing24
4946378240didacticIntended to instruct; teaching, or teaching a moral lesson25
4946378241dirgea funeral hymn or mournful speech26
4946378242euphemismAn indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant27
4946378243end-stopped lineA line that ends with a natural speech pause, usually marked by punctuation28
4946378244enjambmentA run-on line of poetry in which logical and grammatical sense carries over from one line into the next.29
4946378245epitaphA brief statement written on a tomb or gravestone30
4946378246epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society31
4946378247epistolaryA piece of literature contained in or carried on by letters32
4946378248flashbackA method of narration in which present action is temporarily interrupted so that the reader can witness past events33
4946378249foreshadowingA narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.34
4946378250footA metrical unit composed of stressed and unstressed syllables.35
4946378251frame storyA secondary story or stories embedded in the main story36
4946378252free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme37
4946378253genreA category or type of literature (or of art, music, etc.) characterized by a particular form, style, or content.38
4946378254hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall39
4946378255heroic coupletA pair of rhymed, iambic pentameter lines.40
4946378256hexameterA line of poetry that has six metrical feet.41
4946378257hubrisExcessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy42
4946378258hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor43
4946378259iambA 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
4946378260imageryDescriptive or figurative language in a literary work; the use of language to create sensory impressions.45
4946378261ironyA 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
4946378262verbal ironyIn this type of irony, the words literally state the opposite of the writer's true meaning47
4946378263situational ironyOccurs when the outcome of a work is unexpected, or events turn out to be the opposite from what one had expected48
4946378264dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.49
4946378265jargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand50
4946378266juxtapositionPlacement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts51
4946378267kenningA device employed in Anglo-Saxon poetry in which the name of a thing is replaced by one of its functions or qualities.52
4946378268metaphorA comparison that establishes a figurative identity between objects being compared.53
4946378269meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry54
4946378270metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it55
4946378271moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader56
4946378272motif(n.) a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design57
4946378273motivationA psychological factor that provides a directional force or reason for behavior.58
4946378274narrationThe purpose of this type of rhetorical mode is to tell the story or narrate an event or series of events.59
4946378275novelA long fictional narrative written in prose, usually having many characters and a strong plot.60
4946378276novellaA short novel usually under 100 pages.61
4946378277noveletteWhen a novel is short and has chapters reffered to as vignettes62
4946378278octavea verse form consisting of eight lines of iambic pentameter63
4946378279odeA lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exalted feelings toward the subject.64
4946378280onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.65
4946378281oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.66
4946378282paeansong of joy or triumph; a fervent expression of joy67
4946378283parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson68
4946378284paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.69
4946378285parallelismPhrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other70
4946378286parodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.71
4946378287pedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.72
4946378288pentametera rhythm in poetry that has five stressed syllables in each line (five metrical feet)73
4946378289personaA pattern of relatively permanent traits, dispositions, or characteristics that give some consistency to people's behavior.74
4946378290personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes75
4946378291plotSequence of events in a story76
4946378292point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told77
4946378293polysyndetonDeliberate 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
4946378294prosodyAppropriate expression when reading. Includes pitch (intonation), loudness, stressing phrases, etc.79
4946378295protagonistChief character in a dramatic or narrative work, usually trying to accomplish some objective or working toward some goal.80
4946378296punA joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings.81
4946378297quatrain4 line stanza82
4946378298refrainA line or set of lines repeated several times over the course of a poem.83
4946378299rhetorical questionA question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer84
4946378300end rhymeA word at the end of one line rhymes with a word at the end of another line85
4946378301eye rhymerhyme that appears correct from spelling but does not rhyme because of pronunciation86
4946378302forced 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
4946378303internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line88
4946378304slant 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
4946378305rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem90
4946378306satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.91
4946378307sesteta rhythmic group of six lines of verse92
4946378308shifts/turnsChanges in the speaker's attitude. Look for key words such as but, yet, however, and although, punctuation, and stanza division.93
4946378309sonnet14-line lyric poem focused on a single theme; usually written in iambic pentameter94
4946378310symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.95
4946378311synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa96
4946378312syntaxArrangement of words in phrases and sentences97
4946378313themeA topic of discussion or writing; a major idea broad enough to cover the entire scope of a literary work.98
4946378314toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.99
4946378315understatementthe presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.100
4946378316villanelleA 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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