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

AP Literature Review Terms Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
9715791084allegorystory or poem that can be used to reveal a hidden meaning0
9715791085alliterationbeginning of same letter or sound in closely connected words1
9715791086allusionindirect of passing reference2
9715791087anaphorarepetition in first part of a sentence , to have an artistic meaning3
9715791088antagonista hostile person who is opposed to another character4
9715791089apostrophefigure of speech used to adresss an imaginary character5
9715791090approximate rhymewords in rhyming pattern that sound alike6
9715791091asidewhen a character's dialogue is spoken but not heard by other actors on the stage7
9715791092assonancerepetition of vowel sounds8
9715791093blank versepoetry written in meter without an ending rhyme9
9715791094cacophonyblend of unharmonious sounds10
9715791095caesurapause in the middle of a line11
9715791096catharsisthe release of emotions through art (emotional cleanse)12
9715791097flat characterstory character who have no depth, usually has one personality or characteristic13
9715791098round charactercharacter who has complex personality: contradicted person14
9715791099dynamic characterchanges throughout the story, through major conflict15
9715791100static characterperson who doesn't change throughout story keeps same personality16
9715791101characterizationprocess of revealing characters personality17
9715791102climaxpoint where conflict hits its highest point18
9715791103comedydrama that is amusing or funny19
9715791104conflictstruggle between opposing forces20
9715791105connotationsecondary meaning to a word21
9715791106consonancerepetition of same consonant in words close together22
9715791107couplettwo rhyming lines in a verse23
9715791108denotationthe literal meaning of a word24
9715791109denouementfinal outcome of the story25
9715791110deus ex machinaresolution of a plot by chance or coincidence26
9715791111didactic writingwriting with a primary purpose to teach or preach27
9715791112direct presentation of characterauthor telling the reader how a character is and what actions it will do further in the story28
9715791113double rhymerhyme where the repeated vowel is in the second last syllable of words involved (ex; born scorn)29
9715791114dramatic expositionprose commentaries, to provide background information about the characters and their world30
9715791115end rhymerhymes occurring at the end of line31
9715791116end stopped lineline ending in regular punctuation32
9715791117English sonneta sonnet rhyming ababcdcdededgg33
9715791118epiphanywhen a character receives a spiritual insight into they life34
9715791119euphonysmooth choice and arrangement of sounds35
9715791120extended figureA figure of speech sustained or developed through a considerable number of lines or through a whole poem.36
9715791121falling actionEvents after the climax, leading to the resolution37
9715791122feminine rhymelines rhymed by their final two syllables38
9715791123figurative languageLanguage that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.39
9715791124figure of speecha way of saying something other than the ordinary way40
9715791125footbasic unit in the scansion or measurement of verse , stressed and un stressed syllables41
9715791126formexternal pattern or shape of a poem42
9715791127free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme43
9715791128hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall44
9715791129imageryDescription that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)45
9715791130indirect presentation of characterthe personality of a character is revealed by what he or she does or says46
9715791131internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line47
9715791132ironyA contrast between expectation and reality48
9715791133verbal ironyA figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant49
9715791134dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.50
9715791135irony of situationrefers to an occurrence that is contrary to what is expected or intended51
9715791136italian sonnetA sonnet consisting of an octave with the rhyme pattern abbaabba, followed by a sestet with the rhyme pattern cdecde or cdcdcd52
9715791137masculine rhymeA rhyme ending on the final stressed syllable53
9715791138melodramaa play based upon a dramatic plot and developed sensationally54
9715791139metaphorA comparison without using like or as55
9715791140meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry56
9715791141metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it57
9715791142motivationA need or desire that energizes and directs behavior58
9715791143narratorPerson telling the story59
9715791144octave8 line stanza60
9715791145onomatopoeiaA word that imitates the sound it represents.61
9715791146hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor62
9715791147oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.63
9715791148paradoxA contradiction or dilemma64
9715791149paraphraseA restatement of a text or passage in your own words.65
9715791150personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes66
9715791151plotSequence of events in a story67
9715791152point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told68
9715791153omniscient point of viewThe point of view where the narrator knows everything about the characters and their problems - told in the 3rd person.69
9715791154third person limited point of viewnarrator tells the story from only one character's point of view70
9715791155first person point of viewa character in the story is actually telling the story himself/herself71
9715791156objective point of viewa narrator who is totally impersonal and objective tells the story with no comment on any characters or events.72
9715791157protagonistMain character73
9715791158quatrainA four-line stanza74
9715791159rhythma strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound75
9715791160rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem76
9715791161rising actionEvents leading up to the climax77
9715791162sarcasmthe use of irony to mock or convey contempt78
9715791163satirethe use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.79
9715791164scansionAnalysis of verse into metrical patterns80
9715791165sestetsix-line stanza81
9715791166settingThe context in time and place in which the action of a story occurs.82
9715791167simileA comparison of unlike things using a comparison word such as "like" or "as"83
9715791168soliloquyA long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage84
9715791169sonnet14-line poem85
9715791170stanzaA group of lines in a poem86
9715791171stream of consciousnessa literary style in which a character's thoughts, feelings, and reactions are depicted in a continuous flow uninterrupted by objective description or conventional dialogue.87
9715791172syllabic verseVerse measured by the number of syllables rather than the number of feet per line.88
9715791173symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else89
9715791174synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa90
9715791175synesthesiadescribing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("a loud color", "a sweet sound")91
9715791176tercetthree-line stanza92
9715791177terza rimaa verse form with a rhyme scheme: aba bcb cdc, etc.93
9715791178themeCentral idea of a work of literature, a generalization about the human condition94
9715791179toneAttitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character95
9715791180tragedyA serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character96
9715791181truncationthe omission of one or more unaccented syllables at the beginning or the end of a line of verse.97
9715791182understatementthe deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; a deliberate under-emphasis98
9715791183verseA single line of poetry. Also, writing arranged with a metrical rhythm, typically having a rhyme99
9715791184villanellea nineteen-line poem with two rhymes throughout, consisting of five tercets and a quatrain, with the first and third lines of the opening tercet recurring alternately at the end of the other tercets and with both repeated at the close of the concluding quatrain.100

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!