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AP Literature Terms Flashcards

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7960840547allegorystory or poem that can be used to reveal a hidden meaning0
7960840548alliterationbeginning of same letter or sound in closely connected words1
7960840549allusionindirect of passing reference2
7960840550anaphorarepetition in first part of a sentence , to have an artistic meaning3
7960840551antagonista hostile person who is opposed to another character4
7960840552apostrophefigure of speech used to adresss an imaginary character5
7960840553approximate rhymewords in rhyming pattern that sound alike6
7960840554asidewhen a character's dialogue is spoken but not heard by other actors on the stage7
7960840555assonancerepetition of vowel sounds8
7960840556blank versepoetry written in meter without an ending rhyme9
7960840557cacophonyblend of unharmonious sounds10
7960840558caesurapause in the middle of a line11
7960840559catharsisthe release of emotions through art (emotional cleanse)12
7960840560flat characterstory character who have no depth, usually has one personality or characteristic13
7960840561round charactercharacter who has complex personality: contradicted person14
7960840562dynamic characterchanges throughout the story, through major conflict15
7960840563static characterperson who doesn't change throughout story keeps same personality16
7960840564characterizationprocess of revealing characters personality17
7960840565climaxpoint where conflict hits its highest point18
7960840566comedydrama that is amusing or funny19
7960840567conflictstruggle between opposing forces20
7960840568connotationsecondary meaning to a word21
7960840569consonancerepetition of same consonant in words close together22
7960840570couplettwo rhyming lines in a verse23
7960840571denotationthe literal meaning of a word24
7960840572denouementfinal outcome of the story25
7960840573deus ex machinaresolution of a plot by chance or coincidence26
7960840574didactic writingwriting with a primary purpose to teach or preach27
7960840575direct presentation of characterauthor telling the reader how a character is and what actions it will do further in the story28
7960840576double rhymerhyme where the repeated vowel is in the second last syllable of words involved (ex; born scorn)29
7960840577dramatic expositionprose commentaries, to provide background information about the characters and their world30
7960840578end rhymerhymes occurring at the end of line31
7960840579end stopped lineline ending in regular punctuation32
7960840580English sonneta sonnet rhyming ababcdcdededgg33
7960840581epiphanywhen a character receives a spiritual insight into they life34
7960840582euphonysmooth choice and arrangement of sounds35
7960840583extended figureA figure of speech sustained or developed through a considerable number of lines or through a whole poem.36
7960840584falling actionEvents after the climax, leading to the resolution37
7960840585feminine rhymelines rhymed by their final two syllables38
7960840586figurative languageLanguage that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.39
7960840587figure of speecha way of saying something other than the ordinary way40
7960840588footbasic unit in the scansion or measurement of verse , stressed and un stressed syllables41
7960840589formexternal pattern or shape of a poem42
7960840590free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme43
7960840591hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall44
7960840592imageryDescription that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)45
7960840593indirect presentation of characterthe personality of a character is revealed by what he or she does or says46
7960840594internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line47
7960840595ironyA contrast between expectation and reality48
7960840596verbal ironyA figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant49
7960840597dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.50
7960840598irony of situationrefers to an occurrence that is contrary to what is expected or intended51
7960840599italian sonnetA sonnet consisting of an octave with the rhyme pattern abbaabba, followed by a sestet with the rhyme pattern cdecde or cdcdcd52
7960840600masculine rhymeA rhyme ending on the final stressed syllable53
7960840601melodramaa play based upon a dramatic plot and developed sensationally54
7960840602metaphorA comparison without using like or as55
7960840603meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry56
7960840604metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it57
7960840605motivationA need or desire that energizes and directs behavior58
7960840606narratorPerson telling the story59
7960840607octave8 line stanza60
7960840608onomatopoeiaA word that imitates the sound it represents.61
7960840609hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor62
7960840610oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.63
7960840611paradoxA contradiction or dilemma64
7960840612paraphraseA restatement of a text or passage in your own words.65
7960840613personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes66
7960840614plotSequence of events in a story67
7960840615point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told68
7960840616omniscient point of viewThe point of view where the narrator knows everything about the characters and their problems - told in the 3rd person.69
7960840617third person limited point of viewnarrator tells the story from only one character's pov70
7960840618first person point of viewa character in the story is actually telling the story himself/herself71
7960840619objective point of viewa narrator who is totally impersonal and objective tells the story, with no comment on any characters or events.72
7960840620protagonistMain character73
7960840621quatrainA four line stanza74
7960840622rhythmA regularly recurring sequence of events or actions.75
7960840623rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem76
7960840624rising actionEvents leading up to the climax77
7960840625sarcasmthe use of irony to mock or convey contempt78
7960840626satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.79
7960840627scansionAnalysis of verse into metrical patterns80
7960840628sestet6 line stanza81
7960840629settingThe context in time and place in which the action of a story occurs.82
7960840630simileA comparison using "like" or "as"83
7960840631soliloquyA long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage84
7960840632sonnet14 line poem85
7960840633stanzaA group of lines in a poem86
7960840634stream of consciousnessprivate thoughts of a character without commentary87
7960840635syllabic verseVerse measured by the number of syllables rather than the number of feet per line.88
7960840636symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else89
7960840637synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa90
7960840638synesthesiadescribing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("a loud color", "a sweet sound")91
7960840639tercet3 line stanza92
7960840640terza rimaa verse form with a rhyme scheme: aba bcb cdc, etc.93
7960840641themeCentral idea of a work of literature94
7960840642toneAttitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character95
7960840643tragedyA serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character96
7960840644truncationUtilizing a melody with part of the end omitted.97
7960840645understandmentthe deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; a deliberate under-emphasis98
7960840646verseA single line of poetry writing arranged with a metrical rhythm, typically having a rhyme99
7960840647vilanellea 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

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