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AP Literature - Literary Terms Flashcards

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10473943268allegoryA story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.0
10473943269alliterationIt is a stylistic device in which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series.1
10473943270allusionA brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.2
10473943271anagrama word or phrase spelled by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase3
10473943272antecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.4
10473943273antagonistA character or force in conflict with the main character5
10473943274anaphoraA 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
10473943275anastropheInversion of the natural or usual word order7
10473943276antithesisA balancing of two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses.8
10473943277aphorismA brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.9
10473943278apostropheA figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.10
10473943279assonanceRepetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity11
10473943280asyndetonA 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
10473943281blank versePoetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter13
10473943282caesuraA natural pause or break in a line of poetry, usually near the middle of the line.14
10473943283cacophonyHarsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of sounds15
10473943284cadenceRhythmic rise and fall16
10473943285conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects.17
10473943286connotationAll the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests18
10473943287consonanceRepetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity.19
10473943288coupletA pair of rhymed lines that may or may not constitute a separate stanza in a poem.20
10473943289dactylA stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables21
10473943290denotationDictionary definition of a word22
10473943291denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot23
10473943292dictionThe choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing24
10473943293didacticIntended to instruct; teaching, or teaching a moral lesson25
10473943294dirgea funeral hymn or mournful speech26
10473943295euphemismAn indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant27
10473943296end-stopped lineA line that ends with a natural speech pause, usually marked by punctuation28
10473943297enjambmentA run-on line of poetry in which logical and grammatical sense carries over from one line into the next.29
10473943298epitaphA brief statement written on a tomb or gravestone30
10473943299epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society31
10473943300epistolaryA piece of literature contained in or carried on by letters32
10473943301flashbackA method of narration in which present action is temporarily interrupted so that the reader can witness past events33
10473943302foreshadowingA narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.34
10473943303footA metrical unit composed of stressed and unstressed syllables.35
10473943304frame storyA secondary story or stories embedded in the main story36
10473943305free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme37
10473943306genreA category or type of literature (or of art, music, etc.) characterized by a particular form, style, or content.38
10473943307hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall39
10473943308heroic coupletA pair of rhymed, iambic pentameter lines.40
10473943309hexameterA line of poetry that has six metrical feet.41
10473943310hubrisExcessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy42
10473943311hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor43
10473943312iambA 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
10473943313imageryDescriptive or figurative language in a literary work; the use of language to create sensory impressions.45
10473943314ironyA 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
10473943315verbal ironyIn this type of irony, the words literally state the opposite of the writer's true meaning47
10473943316situational ironyOccurs when the outcome of a work is unexpected, or events turn out to be the opposite from what one had expected48
10473943317dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.49
10473943318jargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand50
10473943319juxtapositionPlacement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts51
10473943320kenningA device employed in Anglo-Saxon poetry in which the name of a thing is replaced by one of its functions or qualities.52
10473943321metaphorA comparison that establishes a figurative identity between objects being compared.53
10473943322meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry54
10473943323metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it55
10473943324moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader56
10473943325motif(n.) a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design57
10473943326motivationA psychological factor that provides a directional force or reason for behavior.58
10473943327narrationThe purpose of this type of rhetorical mode is to tell the story or narrate an event or series of events.59
10473943328novelA long fictional narrative written in prose, usually having many characters and a strong plot.60
10473943329novellaA short novel usually under 100 pages.61
10473943330noveletteWhen a novel is short and has chapters reffered to as vignettes62
10473943331octavea verse form consisting of eight lines of iambic pentameter63
10473943332odeA lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exalted feelings toward the subject.64
10473943333onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.65
10473943334oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.66
10473943335paeansong of joy or triumph; a fervent expression of joy67
10473943336parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson68
10473943337paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.69
10473943338parallelismPhrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other70
10473943339parodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.71
10473943340pedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.72
10473943341pentametera rhythm in poetry that has five stressed syllables in each line (five metrical feet)73
10473943342personaA pattern of relatively permanent traits, dispositions, or characteristics that give some consistency to people's behavior.74
10473943343personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes75
10473943344plotSequence of events in a story76
10473943345point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told77
10473943346polysyndetonDeliberate 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
10473943347prosodyAppropriate expression when reading. Includes pitch (intonation), loudness, stressing phrases, etc.79
10473943348protagonistChief character in a dramatic or narrative work, usually trying to accomplish some objective or working toward some goal.80
10473943349punA joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings.81
10473943350quatrain4 line stanza82
10473943351refrainA line or set of lines repeated several times over the course of a poem.83
10473943352rhetorical questionA question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer84
10473943353end rhymeA word at the end of one line rhymes with a word at the end of another line85
10473943354eye rhymerhyme that appears correct from spelling but does not rhyme because of pronunciation86
10473943355forced 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
10473943356internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line88
10473943357slant 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
10473943358rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem90
10473943359satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.91
10473943360sesteta rhythmic group of six lines of verse92
10473943361shifts/turnsChanges in the speaker's attitude. Look for key words such as but, yet, however, and although, punctuation, and stanza division.93
10473943362sonnet14-line lyric poem focused on a single theme; usually written in iambic pentameter94
10473943363symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.95
10473943364synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa96
10473943365syntaxArrangement of words in phrases and sentences97
10473943366themeA topic of discussion or writing; a major idea broad enough to cover the entire scope of a literary work.98
10473943367toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.99
10473943368understatementthe presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.100
10473943369villanelleA 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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