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AP Literature - Literary Terms Flashcards

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8953358368allegoryA story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.0
8953358369alliterationIt is a stylistic device in which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series.1
8953358370allusionA brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.2
8953358371anagrama word or phrase spelled by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase3
8953358372antecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.4
8953358373antagonistA character or force in conflict with the main character5
8953358374anaphoraA 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
8953358375anastropheInversion of the natural or usual word order7
8953358376antithesisA balancing of two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses.8
8953358377aphorismA brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.9
8953358378apostropheA figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.10
8953358379assonanceRepetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity11
8953358380asyndetonA 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
8953358381blank versePoetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter13
8953358382caesuraA natural pause or break in a line of poetry, usually near the middle of the line.14
8953358383cacophonyHarsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of sounds15
8953358384cadenceRhythmic rise and fall16
8953358385conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects.17
8953358386connotationAll the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests18
8953358387consonanceRepetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity.19
8953358388coupletA pair of rhymed lines that may or may not constitute a separate stanza in a poem.20
8953358389dactylA stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables21
8953358390denotationDictionary definition of a word22
8953358391denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot23
8953358392dictionThe choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing24
8953358393didacticIntended to instruct; teaching, or teaching a moral lesson25
8953358394dirgea funeral hymn or mournful speech26
8953358395euphemismAn indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant27
8953358396end-stopped lineA line that ends with a natural speech pause, usually marked by punctuation28
8953358397enjambmentA run-on line of poetry in which logical and grammatical sense carries over from one line into the next.29
8953358398epitaphA brief statement written on a tomb or gravestone30
8953358399epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society31
8953358400epistolaryA piece of literature contained in or carried on by letters32
8953358401flashbackA method of narration in which present action is temporarily interrupted so that the reader can witness past events33
8953358402foreshadowingA narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.34
8953358403footA metrical unit composed of stressed and unstressed syllables.35
8953358404frame storyA secondary story or stories embedded in the main story36
8953358405free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme37
8953358406genreA category or type of literature (or of art, music, etc.) characterized by a particular form, style, or content.38
8953358407hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall39
8953358408heroic coupletA pair of rhymed, iambic pentameter lines.40
8953358409hexameterA line of poetry that has six metrical feet.41
8953358410hubrisExcessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy42
8953358411hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor43
8953358412iambA 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
8953358413imageryDescriptive or figurative language in a literary work; the use of language to create sensory impressions.45
8953358414ironyA 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
8953358415verbal ironyIn this type of irony, the words literally state the opposite of the writer's true meaning47
8953358416situational ironyOccurs when the outcome of a work is unexpected, or events turn out to be the opposite from what one had expected48
8953358417dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.49
8953358418jargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand50
8953358419juxtapositionPlacement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts51
8953358421metaphorA comparison that establishes a figurative identity between objects being compared.52
8953358422meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry53
8953358423metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it54
8953358424moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader55
8953358425motif(n.) a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design56
8953358426motivationA psychological factor that provides a directional force or reason for behavior.57
8953358427narrationThe purpose of this type of rhetorical mode is to tell the story or narrate an event or series of events.58
8953358428novelA long fictional narrative written in prose, usually having many characters and a strong plot.59
8953358429novellaA short novel usually under 100 pages.60
8953358430noveletteWhen a novel is short and has chapters reffered to as vignettes61
8953358431octavea verse form consisting of eight lines of iambic pentameter62
8953358432odeA lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exalted feelings toward the subject.63
8953358433onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.64
8953358434oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.65
8953358435paeansong of joy or triumph; a fervent expression of joy66
8953358436parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson67
8953358437paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.68
8953358438parallelismPhrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other69
8953358439parodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.70
8953358440pedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.71
8953358441pentametera rhythm in poetry that has five stressed syllables in each line (five metrical feet)72
8953358442personaA pattern of relatively permanent traits, dispositions, or characteristics that give some consistency to people's behavior.73
8953358443personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes74
8953358444plotSequence of events in a story75
8953358445point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told76
8953358446polysyndetonDeliberate 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"77
8953358448protagonistChief character in a dramatic or narrative work, usually trying to accomplish some objective or working toward some goal.78
8953358449punA joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings.79
8953358450quatrain4 line stanza80
8953358451refrainA line or set of lines repeated several times over the course of a poem.81
8953358452rhetorical questionA question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer82
8953358453end rhymeA word at the end of one line rhymes with a word at the end of another line83
8953358454eye rhymerhyme that appears correct from spelling but does not rhyme because of pronunciation84
8953358455forced 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, one85
8953358456internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line86
8953358457slant 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 rhyme87
8953358458rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem88
8953358459satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.89
8953358460sesteta rhythmic group of six lines of verse90
8953358461shifts/turnsChanges in the speaker's attitude. Look for key words such as but, yet, however, and although, punctuation, and stanza division.91
8953358462sonnet14-line lyric poem focused on a single theme; usually written in iambic pentameter92
8953358463symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.93
8953358464synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa94
8953358465syntaxArrangement of words in phrases and sentences95
8953358466themeA topic of discussion or writing; a major idea broad enough to cover the entire scope of a literary work.96
8953358467toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.97
8953358468understatementthe presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.98
8953358469villanelleA French verse form calculated to appear simple and spontaneous but consisting of nineteen lines and a prescribed pattern of rhymes.99

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