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AP Literature - Literary Terms Flashcards

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5778003088allegoryA story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.0
5778003089alliterationIt is a stylistic device in which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series.1
5778003090allusionA brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.2
5778003091anagrama word or phrase spelled by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase3
5778003092antecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.4
5778003093antagonistA character or force in conflict with the main character5
5778003094anaphoraA 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
5778003095anastropheInversion of the natural or usual word order7
5778003096antithesisA balancing of two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses.8
5778003097aphorismA brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.9
5778003098apostropheA figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.10
5778003099assonanceRepetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity11
5778003100asyndetonA 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
5778003101blank versePoetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter13
5778003102caesuraA natural pause or break in a line of poetry, usually near the middle of the line.14
5778003103cacophonyHarsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of sounds15
5778003104cadenceRhythmic rise and fall16
5778003105conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects.17
5778003106connotationAll the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests18
5778003107consonanceRepetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity.19
5778003108coupletA pair of rhymed lines that may or may not constitute a separate stanza in a poem.20
5778003109dactylA stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables21
5778003110denotationDictionary definition of a word22
5778003111denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot23
5778003112dictionThe choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing24
5778003113didacticIntended to instruct; teaching, or teaching a moral lesson25
5778003114dirgea funeral hymn or mournful speech26
5778003115euphemismAn indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant27
5778003116end-stopped lineA line that ends with a natural speech pause, usually marked by punctuation28
5778003117enjambmentA run-on line of poetry in which logical and grammatical sense carries over from one line into the next.29
5778003118epitaphA brief statement written on a tomb or gravestone30
5778003119epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society31
5778003120epistolaryA piece of literature contained in or carried on by letters32
5778003121flashbackA method of narration in which present action is temporarily interrupted so that the reader can witness past events33
5778003122foreshadowingA narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.34
5778003123footA metrical unit composed of stressed and unstressed syllables.35
5778003124frame storyA secondary story or stories embedded in the main story36
5778003125free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme37
5778003126genreA category or type of literature (or of art, music, etc.) characterized by a particular form, style, or content.38
5778003127hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall39
5778003128heroic coupletA pair of rhymed, iambic pentameter lines.40
5778003129hexameterA line of poetry that has six metrical feet.41
5778003130hubrisExcessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy42
5778003131hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor43
5778003132iambA 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
5778003133imageryDescriptive or figurative language in a literary work; the use of language to create sensory impressions.45
5778003134ironyA 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
5778003135verbal ironyIn this type of irony, the words literally state the opposite of the writer's true meaning47
5778003136situational ironyOccurs when the outcome of a work is unexpected, or events turn out to be the opposite from what one had expected48
5778003137dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.49
5778003138jargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand50
5778003139juxtapositionPlacement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts51
5778003140kenningA device employed in Anglo-Saxon poetry in which the name of a thing is replaced by one of its functions or qualities.52
5778003141metaphorA comparison that establishes a figurative identity between objects being compared.53
5778003142meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry54
5778003143metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it55
5778003144moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader56
5778003145motif(n.) a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design57
5778003146motivationA psychological factor that provides a directional force or reason for behavior.58
5778003147narrationThe purpose of this type of rhetorical mode is to tell the story or narrate an event or series of events.59
5778003148novelA long fictional narrative written in prose, usually having many characters and a strong plot.60
5778003149novellaA short novel usually under 100 pages.61
5778003150noveletteWhen a novel is short and has chapters reffered to as vignettes62
5778003151octavea verse form consisting of eight lines of iambic pentameter63
5778003152odeA lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exalted feelings toward the subject.64
5778003153onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.65
5778003154oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.66
5778003155paeansong of joy or triumph; a fervent expression of joy67
5778003156parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson68
5778003157paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.69
5778003158parallelismPhrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other70
5778003159parodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.71
5778003160pedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.72
5778003161pentametera rhythm in poetry that has five stressed syllables in each line (five metrical feet)73
5778003162personaA pattern of relatively permanent traits, dispositions, or characteristics that give some consistency to people's behavior.74
5778003163personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes75
5778003164plotSequence of events in a story76
5778003165point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told77
5778003166polysyndetonDeliberate 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
5778003167prosodyAppropriate expression when reading. Includes pitch (intonation), loudness, stressing phrases, etc.79
5778003168protagonistChief character in a dramatic or narrative work, usually trying to accomplish some objective or working toward some goal.80
5778003169punA joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings.81
5778003170quatrain4 line stanza82
5778003171refrainA line or set of lines repeated several times over the course of a poem.83
5778003172rhetorical questionA question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer84
5778003173end rhymeA word at the end of one line rhymes with a word at the end of another line85
5778003174eye rhymerhyme that appears correct from spelling but does not rhyme because of pronunciation86
5778003175forced 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
5778003176internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line88
5778003177slant 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
5778003178rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem90
5778003179satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.91
5778003180sesteta rhythmic group of six lines of verse92
5778003181shifts/turnsChanges in the speaker's attitude. Look for key words such as but, yet, however, and although, punctuation, and stanza division.93
5778003182sonnet14-line lyric poem focused on a single theme; usually written in iambic pentameter94
5778003183symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.95
5778003184synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa96
5778003185syntaxArrangement of words in phrases and sentences97
5778003186themeA topic of discussion or writing; a major idea broad enough to cover the entire scope of a literary work.98
5778003187toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.99
5778003188understatementthe presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.100
5778003189villanelleA 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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