AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

AP Literature - Literary Terms Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
9846276629allegoryA story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.0
9846276630alliterationIt is a stylistic device in which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series.1
9846276631allusionA brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.2
9846276632anagrama word or phrase spelled by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase3
9846276633antecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.4
9846276634antagonistA character or force in conflict with the main character5
9846276637antithesisA balancing of two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses.6
9846276638aphorismA brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.7
9846276639apostropheA figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.8
9846276640assonanceRepetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity9
9846276641asyndetonA 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.10
9846276642blank versePoetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter11
9846276643caesuraA natural pause or break in a line of poetry, usually near the middle of the line.12
9846276644cacophonyHarsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of sounds13
9846276645cadenceRhythmic rise and fall14
9846276646conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects.15
9846276647connotationAll the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests16
9846276648consonanceRepetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity.17
9846276649coupletA pair of rhymed lines that may or may not constitute a separate stanza in a poem.18
9846276651denotationDictionary definition of a word19
9846276652denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot20
9846276653dictionThe choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing21
9846276654didacticIntended to instruct; teaching, or teaching a moral lesson22
9846276655dirgea funeral hymn or mournful speech23
9846276656euphemismAn indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant24
9846276657end-stopped lineA line that ends with a natural speech pause, usually marked by punctuation25
9846276658enjambmentA run-on line of poetry in which logical and grammatical sense carries over from one line into the next.26
9846276659epitaphA brief statement written on a tomb or gravestone27
9846276660epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society28
9846276661epistolaryA piece of literature contained in or carried on by letters29
9846276662flashbackA method of narration in which present action is temporarily interrupted so that the reader can witness past events30
9846276663foreshadowingA narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.31
9846276664footA metrical unit composed of stressed and unstressed syllables.32
9846276665frame storyA secondary story or stories embedded in the main story33
9846276666free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme34
9846276667genreA category or type of literature (or of art, music, etc.) characterized by a particular form, style, or content.35
9846276669heroic coupletA pair of rhymed, iambic pentameter lines.36
9846276670hexameterA line of poetry that has six metrical feet.37
9846276671hubrisExcessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy38
9846276672hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor39
9846276673iambA common meter in poetry consisting of an unrhymed line with five feet or accents, each foot containing an unaccented syllable and an accented syllable.40
9846276674imageryDescriptive or figurative language in a literary work; the use of language to create sensory impressions.41
9846276675ironyA contrast or discrepancy between what is stated and what is really meant, or between what is expected to happen and what actually does happen.42
9846276676verbal ironyIn this type of irony, the words literally state the opposite of the writer's true meaning43
9846276677situational ironyOccurs when the outcome of a work is unexpected, or events turn out to be the opposite from what one had expected44
9846276678dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.45
9846276679jargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand46
9846276680juxtapositionPlacement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts47
9846276682metaphorA comparison that establishes a figurative identity between objects being compared.48
9846276683meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry49
9846276684metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it50
9846276685moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader51
9846276686motif(n.) a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design52
9846276687motivationA psychological factor that provides a directional force or reason for behavior.53
9846276688narrationThe purpose of this type of rhetorical mode is to tell the story or narrate an event or series of events.54
9846276689novelA long fictional narrative written in prose, usually having many characters and a strong plot.55
9846276690novellaA short novel usually under 100 pages.56
9846276691noveletteWhen a novel is short and has chapters reffered to as vignettes57
9846276692octavea verse form consisting of eight lines of iambic pentameter58
9846276693odeA lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exalted feelings toward the subject.59
9846276694onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.60
9846276695oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.61
9846276697parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson62
9846276698paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.63
9846276699parallelismPhrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other64
9846276700parodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.65
9846276701pedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.66
9846276702pentametera rhythm in poetry that has five stressed syllables in each line (five metrical feet)67
9846276703personaA pattern of relatively permanent traits, dispositions, or characteristics that give some consistency to people's behavior.68
9846276704personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes69
9846276705plotSequence of events in a story70
9846276706point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told71
9846276708prosodyAppropriate expression when reading. Includes pitch (intonation), loudness, stressing phrases, etc.72
9846276709protagonistChief character in a dramatic or narrative work, usually trying to accomplish some objective or working toward some goal.73
9846276710punA joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings.74
9846276711quatrain4 line stanza75
9846276712refrainA line or set of lines repeated several times over the course of a poem.76
9846276713rhetorical questionA question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer77
9846276714end rhymeA word at the end of one line rhymes with a word at the end of another line78
9846276715eye rhymerhyme that appears correct from spelling but does not rhyme because of pronunciation79
9846276716forced 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, one80
9846276717internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line81
9846276718slant 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 rhyme82
9846276719rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem83
9846276720satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.84
9846276721sesteta rhythmic group of six lines of verse85
9846276722shifts/turnsChanges in the speaker's attitude. Look for key words such as but, yet, however, and although, punctuation, and stanza division.86
9846276723sonnet14-line lyric poem focused on a single theme; usually written in iambic pentameter87
9846276724symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.88
9846276725synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa89
9846276726syntaxArrangement of words in phrases and sentences90
9846276727themeA topic of discussion or writing; a major idea broad enough to cover the entire scope of a literary work.91
9846276728toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.92
9846276729understatementthe presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.93
9846276730villanelleA French verse form calculated to appear simple and spontaneous but consisting of nineteen lines and a prescribed pattern of rhymes.94

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!