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AP Literature - Literary Terms Flashcards

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9713894060allegoryA story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.0
9713894061alliterationIt is a stylistic device in which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series.1
9713894062allusionA brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.2
9713894063anagrama word or phrase spelled by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase3
9713894064antecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.4
9713894065antagonistA character or force in conflict with the main character5
9713894066anaphoraA 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
9713894067anastropheInversion of the natural or usual word order7
9713894068antithesisA balancing of two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses.8
9713894069aphorismA brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.9
9713894070apostropheA figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.10
9713894071assonanceRepetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity11
9713894072asyndetonA 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
9713894073blank versePoetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter13
9713894074caesuraA natural pause or break in a line of poetry, usually near the middle of the line.14
9713894075cacophonyHarsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of sounds15
9713894076cadenceRhythmic rise and fall16
9713894077conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects.17
9713894078connotationAll the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests18
9713894079consonanceRepetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity.19
9713894080coupletA pair of rhymed lines that may or may not constitute a separate stanza in a poem.20
9713894081dactylA stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables21
9713894082denotationDictionary definition of a word22
9713894083denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot23
9713894084dictionThe choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing24
9713894085didacticIntended to instruct; teaching, or teaching a moral lesson25
9713894086dirgea funeral hymn or mournful speech26
9713894087euphemismAn indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant27
9713894088end-stopped lineA line that ends with a natural speech pause, usually marked by punctuation28
9713894089enjambmentA run-on line of poetry in which logical and grammatical sense carries over from one line into the next.29
9713894090epitaphA brief statement written on a tomb or gravestone30
9713894091epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society31
9713894092epistolaryA piece of literature contained in or carried on by letters32
9713894093flashbackA method of narration in which present action is temporarily interrupted so that the reader can witness past events33
9713894094foreshadowingA narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.34
9713894095footA metrical unit composed of stressed and unstressed syllables.35
9713894096frame storyA secondary story or stories embedded in the main story36
9713894097free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme37
9713894098genreA category or type of literature (or of art, music, etc.) characterized by a particular form, style, or content.38
9713894099hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall39
9713894100heroic coupletA pair of rhymed, iambic pentameter lines.40
9713894101hexameterA line of poetry that has six metrical feet.41
9713894102hubrisExcessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy42
9713894103hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor43
9713894104iambA 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
9713894105imageryDescriptive or figurative language in a literary work; the use of language to create sensory impressions.45
9713894106ironyA 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
9713894107verbal ironyIn this type of irony, the words literally state the opposite of the writer's true meaning47
9713894108situational ironyOccurs when the outcome of a work is unexpected, or events turn out to be the opposite from what one had expected48
9713894109dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.49
9713894110jargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand50
9713894111juxtapositionPlacement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts51
9713894112kenningA device employed in Anglo-Saxon poetry in which the name of a thing is replaced by one of its functions or qualities.52
9713894113metaphorA comparison that establishes a figurative identity between objects being compared.53
9713894114meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry54
9713894115metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it55
9713894116moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader56
9713894117motif(n.) a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design57
9713894118motivationA psychological factor that provides a directional force or reason for behavior.58
9713894119narrationThe purpose of this type of rhetorical mode is to tell the story or narrate an event or series of events.59
9713894120novelA long fictional narrative written in prose, usually having many characters and a strong plot.60
9713894121novellaA short novel usually under 100 pages.61
9713894122noveletteWhen a novel is short and has chapters reffered to as vignettes62
9713894123octavea verse form consisting of eight lines of iambic pentameter63
9713894124odeA lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exalted feelings toward the subject.64
9713894125onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.65
9713894126oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.66
9713894127paeansong of joy or triumph; a fervent expression of joy67
9713894128parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson68
9713894129paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.69
9713894130parallelismPhrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other70
9713894131parodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.71
9713894132pedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.72
9713894133pentametera rhythm in poetry that has five stressed syllables in each line (five metrical feet)73
9713894134personaA pattern of relatively permanent traits, dispositions, or characteristics that give some consistency to people's behavior.74
9713894135personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes75
9713894136plotSequence of events in a story76
9713894137point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told77
9713894138polysyndetonDeliberate 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
9713894139prosodyAppropriate expression when reading. Includes pitch (intonation), loudness, stressing phrases, etc.79
9713894140protagonistChief character in a dramatic or narrative work, usually trying to accomplish some objective or working toward some goal.80
9713894141punA joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings.81
9713894142quatrain4 line stanza82
9713894143refrainA line or set of lines repeated several times over the course of a poem.83
9713894144rhetorical questionA question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer84
9713894145end rhymeA word at the end of one line rhymes with a word at the end of another line85
9713894146eye rhymerhyme that appears correct from spelling but does not rhyme because of pronunciation86
9713894147forced 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
9713894148internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line88
9713894149slant 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
9713894150rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem90
9713894151satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.91
9713894152sesteta rhythmic group of six lines of verse92
9713894153shifts/turnsChanges in the speaker's attitude. Look for key words such as but, yet, however, and although, punctuation, and stanza division.93
9713894154sonnet14-line lyric poem focused on a single theme; usually written in iambic pentameter94
9713894155symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.95
9713894156synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa96
9713894157syntaxArrangement of words in phrases and sentences97
9713894158themeA topic of discussion or writing; a major idea broad enough to cover the entire scope of a literary work.98
9713894159toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.99
9713894160understatementthe presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.100
9713894161villanelleA 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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