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AP Literature - Literary Terms Flashcards

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4995317579allegoryA story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.0
4995317580alliterationIt is a stylistic device in which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series.1
4995317581allusionA brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.2
4995317582anagrama word or phrase spelled by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase3
4995317583antecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.4
4995317584antagonistA character or force in conflict with the main character5
4995317585anaphoraA 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
4995317586anastropheInversion of the natural or usual word order7
4995317587antithesisA balancing of two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses.8
4995317588aphorismA brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.9
4995317589apostropheA figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.10
4995317590assonanceRepetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity11
4995317591asyndetonA 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
4995317592blank versePoetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter13
4995317593caesuraA natural pause or break in a line of poetry, usually near the middle of the line.14
4995317594cacophonyHarsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of sounds15
4995317595cadenceRhythmic rise and fall16
4995317596conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects.17
4995317597connotationAll the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests18
4995317598consonanceRepetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity.19
4995317599coupletA pair of rhymed lines that may or may not constitute a separate stanza in a poem.20
4995317600dactylA stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables21
4995317601denotationDictionary definition of a word22
4995317602denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot23
4995317603dictionThe choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing24
4995317604didacticIntended to instruct; teaching, or teaching a moral lesson25
4995317605dirgea funeral hymn or mournful speech26
4995317606euphemismAn indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant27
4995317607end-stopped lineA line that ends with a natural speech pause, usually marked by punctuation28
4995317608enjambmentA run-on line of poetry in which logical and grammatical sense carries over from one line into the next.29
4995317609epitaphA brief statement written on a tomb or gravestone30
4995317610epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society31
4995317611epistolaryA piece of literature contained in or carried on by letters32
4995317612flashbackA method of narration in which present action is temporarily interrupted so that the reader can witness past events33
4995317613foreshadowingA narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.34
4995317614footA metrical unit composed of stressed and unstressed syllables.35
4995317615frame storyA secondary story or stories embedded in the main story36
4995317616free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme37
4995317617genreA category or type of literature (or of art, music, etc.) characterized by a particular form, style, or content.38
4995317618hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall39
4995317619heroic coupletA pair of rhymed, iambic pentameter lines.40
4995317620hexameterA line of poetry that has six metrical feet.41
4995317621hubrisExcessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy42
4995317622hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor43
4995317623iambA 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
4995317624imageryDescriptive or figurative language in a literary work; the use of language to create sensory impressions.45
4995317625ironyA 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
4995317626verbal ironyIn this type of irony, the words literally state the opposite of the writer's true meaning47
4995317627situational ironyOccurs when the outcome of a work is unexpected, or events turn out to be the opposite from what one had expected48
4995317628dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.49
4995317629jargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand50
4995317630juxtapositionPlacement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts51
4995317631kenningA device employed in Anglo-Saxon poetry in which the name of a thing is replaced by one of its functions or qualities.52
4995317632metaphorA comparison that establishes a figurative identity between objects being compared.53
4995317633meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry54
4995317634metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it55
4995317635moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader56
4995317636motif(n.) a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design57
4995317637motivationA psychological factor that provides a directional force or reason for behavior.58
4995317638narrationThe purpose of this type of rhetorical mode is to tell the story or narrate an event or series of events.59
4995317639novelA long fictional narrative written in prose, usually having many characters and a strong plot.60
4995317640novellaA short novel usually under 100 pages.61
4995317641noveletteWhen a novel is short and has chapters reffered to as vignettes62
4995317642octavea verse form consisting of eight lines of iambic pentameter63
4995317643odeA lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exalted feelings toward the subject.64
4995317644onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.65
4995317645oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.66
4995317646paeansong of joy or triumph; a fervent expression of joy67
4995317647parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson68
4995317648paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.69
4995317649parallelismPhrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other70
4995317650parodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.71
4995317651pedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.72
4995317652pentametera rhythm in poetry that has five stressed syllables in each line (five metrical feet)73
4995317653personaA pattern of relatively permanent traits, dispositions, or characteristics that give some consistency to people's behavior.74
4995317654personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes75
4995317655plotSequence of events in a story76
4995317656point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told77
4995317657polysyndetonDeliberate 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
4995317658prosodyAppropriate expression when reading. Includes pitch (intonation), loudness, stressing phrases, etc.79
4995317659protagonistChief character in a dramatic or narrative work, usually trying to accomplish some objective or working toward some goal.80
4995317660punA joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings.81
4995317661quatrain4 line stanza82
4995317662refrainA line or set of lines repeated several times over the course of a poem.83
4995317663rhetorical questionA question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer84
4995317664end rhymeA word at the end of one line rhymes with a word at the end of another line85
4995317665eye rhymerhyme that appears correct from spelling but does not rhyme because of pronunciation86
4995317666forced 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
4995317667internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line88
4995317668slant 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
4995317669rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem90
4995317670satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.91
4995317671sesteta rhythmic group of six lines of verse92
4995317672shifts/turnsChanges in the speaker's attitude. Look for key words such as but, yet, however, and although, punctuation, and stanza division.93
4995317673sonnet14-line lyric poem focused on a single theme; usually written in iambic pentameter94
4995317674symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.95
4995317675synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa96
4995317676syntaxArrangement of words in phrases and sentences97
4995317677themeA topic of discussion or writing; a major idea broad enough to cover the entire scope of a literary work.98
4995317678toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.99
4995317679understatementthe presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.100
4995317680villanelleA 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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