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AP Literature Literary Terms Flashcards

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2341258887AccentThe stress on a certain syllable.0
2341259162AllegoryDescribes a story that contains a double meaning.The narrative generally acts as an extended metaphor1
2341260811AlliterationThe repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of at least two words within close proximity.2
2341262037AllusionA reference within a work to a person, place, event, or another work of literature.3
2341265604AnadiplosisRepeating the last word of a clause at the beginning of the next clause.4
2341267162AnaphoraIntentionally repeating beginning clauses to create some effect.5
2341267608AntagonistThe character with which the protagonist/main character struggles/fights with.6
2341268423AntithesisUsing opposite phrases near each other.7
2341269254AphorismA terse statement that reveals a truth.8
2341269415ApostropheThe object in a poem/prose that is being talked to when no one is there.9
2341270907Approximate rhymeAll about the sound. Sounds similar, but is not pure.10
2341272876ArchetypeA character who's is modeled after.11
2341273302AsideShort speech by a character spoken directly to the audience.12
2341275081AssonanceRepetition of vowel sounds with different consonant sounds after it.13
2341275700AtmosphereMood (air).14
2341276347AubadeReally specific poem.15
2341277072BalladType of poetry, love poem, intended to go with music.16
2341278074Blank verseType of poetry, no set rhyme scheme, iambic pentameter.17
2341279783CacophonyImagery, words that do not go together.18
2341280802CaesuraImplied pause in a poem.19
2341280959CatharsisBrings one relief from emotions.20
2341281330ClichéA phrase or expression that has been used so much it loses originality/meaning.21
2341282083ColloquialismUsing an ordinary word instead of formal writing.22
2341283060ConceitComparison of two different or like objects to show a truth.23
2341283658Connotationa meaning that is attached with a word. Meaning derived from the person receiving the word.24
2341284493DenotationLiteral definition of a word.25
2341285058ConsonanceConsidered a near rhyme; Same consonant sound at the end, different vowel.26
2341286944CoupletTwo lines that end with a rhyme; same meter, same topic.27
2341287450DialectA way of speaking that is characteristic of a group/region.28
2341287722DictionChoice of words of the author.29
2341288284DidacticTo teach a lesson.30
2341288721DimeterA line that only has two feet.31
2341289045DirgeComposition that resembles a song that is meant to be sung at a funeral; meant to mourn.32
2341290062ElegyPoem lamenting the dead. More general than a dirge.33
2341290519EllipsesThree dots; something that is taken out, but didn't affect the meaning.34
2341292978End rhymeRhyme at the end of a word35
2341294016English sonnetIambic pentameter; 14 equal lines, 4 stanzas, ABABCDCDEFEFGG.36
2341294942EnjambmentWhen one line carries over into the next line without pause.37
2341296079EpanalepsisRepetition of a word or phrase at the beginning and end of the same line.38
2341297051EpicA poem that is long and chronicles the life of a hero.39
2341299502EpigramShort satirical poem having a witty or ingenious ending.40
2341300609EuphemismMild or indirect word replacing a harsher word.41
2341300987EuphonyPleasing to the ear.42
2341301382FableShort story; convey a moral through animals.43
2341303559Figurative languageLanguage that uses words/expressions to signify something different from the literal interpretation, words/expressions not to be taken literally.44
2341305361FlashbackA transition that interrupts the chronological order of events to return to an earlier time. Used to clarify back stories of characters or past occurrences. Break in chronological order.45
2341306881Flat CharacterA character who does not change or develop throughout the course of a work.46
2341307822FoilA character who contrasts with the main character to highlight the main character's attributes.47
2341308562FolktaleA tale or legend that originates among a people or group.48
2341308756FootBasic unit of measure of a syllabic line.49
2341309130ForeshadowA writer gives an advance notice to a later event.50
2341309552Framed NarrationA story inside of commentary.51
2341310115Free verseNo meter, no rhythm, no structure. No rules.52
2341310800GenreA category of artistic composition, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.53
2341311409GothicA genre that includes a monster or a ghost, the possibility of returning to life after death; weather is important, darkness and thunderstorms.54
2341312722HubrisExcessive pride and arrogance displayed by a character that often leads to his/her downfall.55
2341325078Magical realismRealistic setting with one funny/weird thing that happens, just accepted.56
2341325925MetaphorComparing two unlike things without using like or as.57
2341326198MeterBasic beat of stressed and unstressed; rhythm.58
2341326726MetonymyWhen an object represents a bigger concept.59
2341327054MotifA recurring element in a piece of literature.60
2341327351MonologueA long speech by one character, delivered to the audience.61
2341327661MythTraditional tale, dealing with gods. Started out by trying to explain something about the world.62
2341328360NaturalismA literary movement, sort of like realism, we are not in control of our destiny.63
2341328863Irony3 types: verbal, dramatic, and situational. Expression of ones meaning by saying the opposite.64
2341331005Juxtaposition2 or more ideas are placed side by side to compare.65
2341331430Italian sonnet14 lines, 2 parts, 8 lines (octave), 6 lines (sestet), ABBAABBACDECDE.66
2341332274Petrarchan sonnetAnother name for an Italian sonnet.67
2341332543Octave8 lines, ABBAABBA.68
2341332910OdeA very long elaborate stanza poem, serious subject matter treated with respect.69
2341335928Omniscient narratorAll-knowing narrator.70
2341336139OnomatopoeiaLoud noise, sounds like the sound.71
2341338689HyperboleAn exaggerated statement.72
2341338819ImageryUse of vivid language to express feelings, characters, ideas, mood, or tone.73
2341339128Innocent eye narratorA character telling the story that is usually a child or a developmentally disabled individual.74
2341339504Internal rhymeOccurs within a line of a verse.75
2341340739OxymoronCombination of contradictory words.76
2341340932PalindromeWord, phrase, or number; read same forward and backward.77
2341341252ParadoxStatement that contradicts itself.78
2341341865Pathetic fallacyPoetic practice of giving nature human emotion or responses.79
2341342252Parallel fallacyAnother term that is the same as pathetic fallacy.80
2341343104PedanticDescribes words, phrases, or general tone that are overly scholarly, academic, or verbose.81
2341343900PentameterA line of verse containing five metrical feet.82
2341344211PersonificationAttribution of human characteristics to anything non-human, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form.83
2341344885Point of viewThe perspective from which the narrator of a story presents information.84
2341345490ProtagonistA leading or principal figure in poetry, narrative, or any other story.85
2341346076QuatrainA stanza or poem consisting of four lines.86
2341346339RealismArtistic or literary representation intended as an accurate and unidealized portrayal of real life or of the objective world.87
2341346999RhetoricThe art of effective or persuasive writing or speaking.88
2341347550Rhetorical pauseAnother word for caesura.89
2351439257RhythmPattern of stressed unstressed sounds.90
2351439628RhymeHave the same sounds or vowel sounds at the end of two words.91
2351440772Rhyme schemeThe pattern of rhyme at the end of the line.92
2351441579RomanticismWriting characterized by heightened emotion.93
2351441916Round characterA character that is fully developed throughout a story; undergoes change.94
2351442746SarcasmHarsh, cunning language intended to ridicule.95
2351443042SatireUse of humor, irony, or exaggeration to ridicule society.96
2351443697ScansionThe process of reading a poem, analyzing the meter/rhythm.97
2351447247SemanticsThe study of the meaning of words and connotations.98
2351447769Sestet6 line stanza.99
2351447923ShiftWhen rhythm of the poem shifts, or when a character shifts.100
2351448267Setting shiftThe setting shifts.101
2351448721Action shiftAction shifts the mood, turn.102
2351448880SimileCompares two items using like or as.103
2351449308SoliloquyIn a play, a character speaks to himself; inner thoughts are revealed.104
2351449718StanzaGrouped up set of lines.105
2351463733Stream of consciousnessUninterrupted flow of a character's thoughts.106
2351463859StructureHow the work is organized.107
2351464021SymbolismUsing something to represent something greater.108
2351464167Writer voiceHow the author writes; what differentiates the writer from another writer.109
2351465137Narrator voiceUnique characteristic of how the narrator speaks.110
2351466526SynecdocheA figure of speech where a part represents a whole . Similar, but different than metonymy.111
2351468128SyntaxStyle of putting words together, arrangement of words and phrases.112
2351468257Tercet3 Lined verse.113
2351468819ThemeUnderlying meaning of a literary work.114
2351470942ToneInference or attitude toward a certain subject.115
2351471289TropeChange from a literal meaning to a nonliteral meaning.116
2351471792Unreliable narratorA biased or untrustworthy narrator; doesn't know everything about the outside world.117
2351472456VernacularCommon language in a particular area.118
2351473218VerisimilitudeAppearance of being true or real.119
2351475518Villanelle19 Lines long, 5 tercets (ABA), 1 quatrain at the end (ABAB).120
2351476313VignetteShort impressionistic scene that focuses on one scene.121
2351477178VerseRefers to a single line of a poem.122

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