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AP Literature Terms #2 Flashcards

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6730898853allegorystory or poem that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning0
6730898854alliterationclosely connected words that begin with the same sound1
6730898855allusiona reference to another story (literature, art, history, myth)2
6730898856anaphorasuccessive phrases or clauses that begin with the same words3
6730898857antagonistthe character or force that opposes the main character4
6730898858apostrophea direct address to an inanimate object or a person/character who is not present5
6730898859slant rhymewords in rhyming pattern that sound alike; an imperfect rhyme6
6730898860asidewhen a character's dialogue is spoken but not heard by other actors on the stage7
6730898861assonancerepetition of vowel sounds within words8
6730898862blank versepoetry written in meter without an rhyme scheme9
6730898863cacophonyblend of unharmonious sounds10
6730898864caesurapause in the middle of a line11
6730898865catharsisthe release of emotions through art (emotional cleanse)12
6730898866flat characterstory character who have no depth, usually has one personality or characteristic13
6730898867round charactercharacter who has complex personality: contradicted person14
6730898868dynamic charactera character who changes throughout the story15
6730898869static characterperson who doesn't change throughout story keeps same personality16
6730898870characterizationprocess of revealing a character's personality17
6730898871climaxpoint where conflict hits its highest point; the turning point in a story18
6730898872comedydrama that is amusing or funny; drama that has a happy ending19
6730898873conflictstruggle between opposing forces20
6730898874connotationmeanings and feelings associated with a word21
6730898875consonancerepetition of same consonant in words close together22
6730898876couplettwo rhyming lines in a verse23
6730898877denotationthe dictionary definition of a word24
6730898878denouementfinal outcome of the story25
6730898879deus ex machinaresolution of a plot by chance or coincidence26
6730898880didactic writingwriting with a primary purpose to teach or preach27
6730898881direct presentation of characterauthor telling the reader how a character is and what actions it will do further in the story28
6730898882double rhymea feminine rhyme involving one stressed and one unstressed syllable in each rhyming line29
6730898883dramatic expositionprose commentaries, to provide background information about the characters and their world30
6730898884end rhymerhymes occurring at the end of line31
6730898885end-stopped lineline ending in regular punctuation32
6730898886Elizabethan or Shakespearean sonneta sonnet rhyming ababcdcdededgg33
6730898887epiphanysudden realization or spiritual insight (by a character)34
6730898888euphonypleasant arrangement of sounds35
6730898889extended figureA figure of speech sustained or developed through a considerable number of lines or through a whole poem.36
6730898890falling actionEvents after the climax, leading to the resolution37
6730898891feminine rhymea rhyme between stressed syllables followed by one or more unstressed syllables38
6730898892figurative languageLanguage that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.39
6730898893figure of speecha way of saying something other than the ordinary way40
6730898894footbasic unit in the scansion or measurement of verse, made up of stressed and unstressed syllables41
6730898895formexternal pattern or shape of a poem42
6730898896free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme43
6730898897hamartiatragic decision or flaw which causes a character's downfall44
6730898898imageryDescription that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)45
6730898899indirect characterizationthe personality of a character is revealed by what he or she does or says46
6730898900internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line47
6730898901ironyIn general, a contrast between expectation and reality48
6730898902verbal ironyA figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant49
6730898903dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience/reader but not by the characters in the play/story.50
6730898904situational ironyrefers to an occurrence that is contrary to what is expected or intended51
6730898905Italian or Petrarchan sonnetA sonnet consisting of an octave with the rhyme pattern abbaabba, followed by a sestet with the rhyme pattern cdecde or cdcdcd52
6730898906masculine rhymeA rhyme ending on the final stressed syllable53
6730898907melodramaa play based upon a dramatic plot and developed sensationally54
6730898908metaphorA comparison without using like or as55
6730898909meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry56
6730898910metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it57
6730898911motivationA need or desire that energizes and directs behavior58
6730898912narratorPerson telling the story59
6730898913octavesegment of poetry eight lines long60
6730898914onomatopoeiaA word that imitates the sound it represents.61
6730898915hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor62
6730898916oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.63
6730898917paradoxA contradiction or dilemma64
6730898918paraphraseA restatement of a text or passage in your own words.65
6730898919personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes66
6730898920plotSequence of events in a story67
6730898921point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told68
6730898922omniscient point of viewThe point of view where the narrator knows everything about the characters and their problems - told in the 3rd person.69
6730898923third person limited point of viewnarrator tells the story from only one character's pov70
6730898924first person point of viewa character in the story is actually telling the story himself/herself71
6730898925objective point of viewa narrator who is totally impersonal and objective tells the story, with no comment on any characters or events.72
6730898926protagonistMain character73
6730898927quatrainsegment of poetry four lines long74
6730898928rhythmThe pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in writing75
6730898929rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem76
6730898930rising actionEvents leading up to the climax77
6730898931sarcasmthe use of irony to mock or convey contempt78
6730898932satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.79
6730898933scansionAnalysis of verse into metrical patterns80
6730898934sestetsegment of poetry six lines long81
6730898935settingThe context in time and place in which the action of a story occurs.82
6730898936simileA comparison using "like" or "as"83
6730898937soliloquyA long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage84
6730898938sonnet14 line poem85
6730898939stanzaA group of lines in a poem86
6730898940stream of consciousnessprivate thoughts of a character without commentary87
6730898941syllabic verseVerse measured by the number of syllables rather than the number of feet per line.88
6730898942symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else89
6730898943synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa90
6730898944synesthesiadescribing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("a loud color", "a sweet sound")91
6730898945tercetsegment of poetry three lines long92
6730898946terza rimaa verse form with a rhyme scheme: aba bcb cdc, etc.93
6730898947themeCentral idea of a work of literature94
6730898948toneAttitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character95
6730898949tragedyA serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character96
6730898950truncationA line of poetry that has been shortened97
6730898951understandmentthe deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; a deliberate under-emphasis98
6730898952versewriting arranged with a metrical rhythm, typically having a rhyme99
6730898953villanellea 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
6730898954polysyndentonthe use of more conjunctions than is grammatically necessary101
6730898955asyndetonthe elimination of conjunctions102
6730898956epistrophethe repetition of words at the ENDS of successive phrases or clauses103
6730898957antimetabole (also called chiasmus)rhetorical device in which a phrase or sentence is repeated, but in reverse order104
6730898958enjambmentthe continuation of the sense and grammatical construction from one line of poetry to the next105
6730898959conceitan extended metaphor; an ingenious and fanciful notion or conception, usually expressed through an elaborate analogy, and pointing to a striking parallel between two seemingly dissimilar things106
6730898960epic simile or Homeric similean extended simile; often used in epic poetry107
6730898961parallelismsuccessive lines of writing that follow the same grammatical structure108

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