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AP Literature - Literary Terms Flashcards

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9743330274allegoryA story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.0
9743330275alliterationIt is a stylistic device in which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series.1
9743330276allusionA brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.2
9743330277anagrama word or phrase spelled by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase3
9743330278antecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.4
9743330279antagonistA character or force in conflict with the main character5
9743330280anaphoraA 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
9743330281anastropheInversion of the natural or usual word order7
9743330282antithesisA balancing of two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses.8
9743330283aphorismA brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.9
9743330284apostropheA figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.10
9743330285assonanceRepetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity11
9743330286asyndetonA 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
9743330287blank versePoetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter13
9743330288caesuraA natural pause or break in a line of poetry, usually near the middle of the line.14
9743330289cacophonyHarsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of sounds15
9743330290cadenceRhythmic rise and fall16
9743330291conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects.17
9743330292connotationAll the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests18
9743330293consonanceRepetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity.19
9743330294coupletA pair of rhymed lines that may or may not constitute a separate stanza in a poem.20
9743330295dactylA stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables21
9743330296denotationDictionary definition of a word22
9743330297denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot23
9743330298dictionThe choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing24
9743330299didacticIntended to instruct; teaching, or teaching a moral lesson25
9743330300dirgea funeral hymn or mournful speech26
9743330301euphemismAn indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant27
9743330302end-stopped lineA line that ends with a natural speech pause, usually marked by punctuation28
9743330303enjambmentA run-on line of poetry in which logical and grammatical sense carries over from one line into the next.29
9743330304epitaphA brief statement written on a tomb or gravestone30
9743330305epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society31
9743330306epistolaryA piece of literature contained in or carried on by letters32
9743330307flashbackA method of narration in which present action is temporarily interrupted so that the reader can witness past events33
9743330308foreshadowingA narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.34
9743330309footA metrical unit composed of stressed and unstressed syllables.35
9743330310frame storyA secondary story or stories embedded in the main story36
9743330311free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme37
9743330312genreA category or type of literature (or of art, music, etc.) characterized by a particular form, style, or content.38
9743330313hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall39
9743330314heroic coupletA pair of rhymed, iambic pentameter lines.40
9743330315hexameterA line of poetry that has six metrical feet.41
9743330316hubrisExcessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy42
9743330317hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor43
9743330318iambA 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
9743330319imageryDescriptive or figurative language in a literary work; the use of language to create sensory impressions.45
9743330320ironyA 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
9743330321verbal ironyIn this type of irony, the words literally state the opposite of the writer's true meaning47
9743330322situational ironyOccurs when the outcome of a work is unexpected, or events turn out to be the opposite from what one had expected48
9743330323dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.49
9743330324jargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand50
9743330325juxtapositionPlacement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts51
9743330326kenningA device employed in Anglo-Saxon poetry in which the name of a thing is replaced by one of its functions or qualities.52
9743330327metaphorA comparison that establishes a figurative identity between objects being compared.53
9743330328meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry54
9743330329metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it55
9743330330moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader56
9743330331motif(n.) a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design57
9743330332motivationA psychological factor that provides a directional force or reason for behavior.58
9743330333narrationThe purpose of this type of rhetorical mode is to tell the story or narrate an event or series of events.59
9743330334novelA long fictional narrative written in prose, usually having many characters and a strong plot.60
9743330335novellaA short novel usually under 100 pages.61
9743330336noveletteWhen a novel is short and has chapters reffered to as vignettes62
9743330337octavea verse form consisting of eight lines of iambic pentameter63
9743330338odeA lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exalted feelings toward the subject.64
9743330339onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.65
9743330340oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.66
9743330341paeansong of joy or triumph; a fervent expression of joy67
9743330342parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson68
9743330343paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.69
9743330344parallelismPhrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other70
9743330345parodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.71
9743330346pedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.72
9743330347pentametera rhythm in poetry that has five stressed syllables in each line (five metrical feet)73
9743330348personaA pattern of relatively permanent traits, dispositions, or characteristics that give some consistency to people's behavior.74
9743330349personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes75
9743330350plotSequence of events in a story76
9743330351point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told77
9743330352polysyndetonDeliberate 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
9743330353prosodyAppropriate expression when reading. Includes pitch (intonation), loudness, stressing phrases, etc.79
9743330354protagonistChief character in a dramatic or narrative work, usually trying to accomplish some objective or working toward some goal.80
9743330355punA joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings.81
9743330356quatrain4 line stanza82
9743330357refrainA line or set of lines repeated several times over the course of a poem.83
9743330358rhetorical questionA question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer84
9743330359end rhymeA word at the end of one line rhymes with a word at the end of another line85
9743330360eye rhymerhyme that appears correct from spelling but does not rhyme because of pronunciation86
9743330361forced 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
9743330362internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line88
9743330363slant 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
9743330364rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem90
9743330365satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.91
9743330366sesteta rhythmic group of six lines of verse92
9743330367shifts/turnsChanges in the speaker's attitude. Look for key words such as but, yet, however, and although, punctuation, and stanza division.93
9743330368sonnet14-line lyric poem focused on a single theme; usually written in iambic pentameter94
9743330369symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.95
9743330370synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa96
9743330371syntaxArrangement of words in phrases and sentences97
9743330372themeA topic of discussion or writing; a major idea broad enough to cover the entire scope of a literary work.98
9743330373toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.99
9743330374understatementthe presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.100
9743330375villanelleA 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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