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AP Literature Terms Flashcards

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7563793554allegorystory or poem that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning0
7563793555alliterationclosely connected words that begin with the same sound1
7563793556allusiona reference to another story (literature, art, history, myth)2
7563793557anaphorasuccessive phrases or clauses that begin with the same words3
7563793558antagonistthe character or force that opposes the main character4
7563793559apostrophea direct address to an inanimate object or a person/character who is not present5
7563793560slant rhymewords in rhyming pattern that sound alike; an imperfect rhyme6
7563793561asidewhen a character's dialogue is spoken but not heard by other actors on the stage7
7563793562assonancerepetition of vowel sounds within words8
7563793563blank versepoetry written in meter without an rhyme scheme9
7563793564cacophonyblend of unharmonious sounds10
7563793565caesurapause in the middle of a line11
7563793566catharsisthe release of emotions through art (emotional cleanse)12
7563793567flat characterstory character who have no depth, usually has one personality or characteristic13
7563793568round charactercharacter who has complex personality: contradicted person14
7563793569dynamic charactera character who changes throughout the story15
7563793570static characterperson who doesn't change throughout story keeps same personality16
7563793571characterizationprocess of revealing a character's personality17
7563793572climaxpoint where conflict hits its highest point; the turning point in a story18
7563793573comedydrama that is amusing or funny; drama that has a happy ending19
7563793574conflictstruggle between opposing forces20
7563793575connotationmeanings and feelings associated with a word21
7563793576consonancerepetition of same consonant in words close together22
7563793577couplettwo rhyming lines in a verse23
7563793578denotationthe dictionary definition of a word24
7563793579denouementfinal outcome of the story25
7563793580deus ex machinaresolution of a plot by chance or coincidence26
7563793581didactic writingwriting with a primary purpose to teach or preach27
7563793582direct presentation of characterauthor telling the reader how a character is and what actions it will do further in the story28
7563793583double rhymea feminine rhyme involving one stressed and one unstressed syllable in each rhyming line29
7563793584dramatic expositionprose commentaries, to provide background information about the characters and their world30
7563793585end rhymerhymes occurring at the end of line31
7563793586end-stopped lineline ending in regular punctuation32
7563793587Elizabethan or Shakespearean sonneta sonnet rhyming ababcdcdededgg33
7563793588epiphanysudden realization or spiritual insight (by a character)34
7563793589euphonypleasant arrangement of sounds35
7563793590extended figureA figure of speech sustained or developed through a considerable number of lines or through a whole poem.36
7563793591falling actionEvents after the climax, leading to the resolution37
7563793592feminine rhymea rhyme between stressed syllables followed by one or more unstressed syllables38
7563793593figurative languageLanguage that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.39
7563793594figure of speecha way of saying something other than the ordinary way40
7563793595footbasic unit in the scansion or measurement of verse, made up of stressed and unstressed syllables41
7563793596formexternal pattern or shape of a poem42
7563793597free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme43
7563793598hamartiatragic decision or flaw which causes a character's downfall44
7563793599imageryDescription that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)45
7563793600indirect characterizationthe personality of a character is revealed by what he or she does or says46
7563793601internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line47
7563793602ironyIn general, a contrast between expectation and reality48
7563793603verbal ironyA figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant49
7563793604dramatic 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
7563793605situational ironyrefers to an occurrence that is contrary to what is expected or intended51
7563793606Italian or Petrarchan sonnetA sonnet consisting of an octave with the rhyme pattern abbaabba, followed by a sestet with the rhyme pattern cdecde or cdcdcd52
7563793607masculine rhymeA rhyme ending on the final stressed syllable53
7563793608melodramaa play based upon a dramatic plot and developed sensationally54
7563793609metaphorA comparison without using like or as55
7563793610meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry56
7563793611metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it57
7563793612motivationA need or desire that energizes and directs behavior58
7563793613narratorPerson telling the story59
7563793614octavesegment of poetry eight lines long60
7563793615onomatopoeiaA word that imitates the sound it represents.61
7563793616hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor62
7563793617oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.63
7563793618paradoxA contradiction or dilemma64
7563793619paraphraseA restatement of a text or passage in your own words.65
7563793620personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes66
7563793621plotSequence of events in a story67
7563793622point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told68
7563793623omniscient point of viewThe point of view where the narrator knows everything about the characters and their problems - told in the 3rd person.69
7563793624third person limited point of viewnarrator tells the story from only one character's pov70
7563793625first person point of viewa character in the story is actually telling the story himself/herself71
7563793626objective point of viewa narrator who is totally impersonal and objective tells the story, with no comment on any characters or events.72
7563793627protagonistMain character73
7563793628quatrainsegment of poetry four lines long74
7563793629rhythmThe pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in writing75
7563793630rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem76
7563793631rising actionEvents leading up to the climax77
7563793632sarcasmthe use of irony to mock or convey contempt78
7563793633satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.79
7563793634scansionAnalysis of verse into metrical patterns80
7563793635sestetsegment of poetry six lines long81
7563793636settingThe context in time and place in which the action of a story occurs.82
7563793637simileA comparison using "like" or "as"83
7563793638soliloquyA long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage84
7563793639sonnet14 line poem85
7563793640stanzaA group of lines in a poem86
7563793641stream of consciousnessprivate thoughts of a character without commentary87
7563793642syllabic verseVerse measured by the number of syllables rather than the number of feet per line.88
7563793643symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else89
7563793644synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa90
7563793645synesthesiadescribing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("a loud color", "a sweet sound")91
7563793646tercetsegment of poetry three lines long92
7563793647terza rimaa verse form with a rhyme scheme: aba bcb cdc, etc.93
7563793648themeCentral idea of a work of literature94
7563793649toneAttitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character95
7563793650tragedyA serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character96
7563793651truncationA line of poetry that has been shortened97
7563793652understandmentthe deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; a deliberate under-emphasis98
7563793653versewriting arranged with a metrical rhythm, typically having a rhyme99
7563793654villanellea 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
7563793655polysyndentonthe use of more conjunctions than is grammatically necessary101
7563793656asyndetonthe elimination of conjunctions102
7563793657epistrophethe repetition of words at the ENDS of successive phrases or clauses103
7563793658antimetabole (also called chiasmus)rhetorical device in which a phrase or sentence is repeated, but in reverse order104
7563793659enjambmentthe continuation of the sense and grammatical construction from one line of poetry to the next105
7563793660conceitan 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
7563793661epic simile or Homeric similean extended simile; often used in epic poetry107
7563793662parallelismsuccessive lines of writing that follow the same grammatical structure108

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