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AP Literature Terms Flashcards

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7229795522acta major unit of action in a drama or play. Each act can be further divided into smaller sections called scenes.0
7229797012allegorya story in which people, things and actions represent an idea about life; allegories often have a strong moral or lesson.1
7229797921alliterationthe repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words (tongue twisters)2
7229798950allusiona reference in a literary work to a person, place, or thing in history or another work of literature. Allusions are often indirect or brief references to well-known characters or events3
7229800324analogya comparison of two or more like objects that suggests if they are alike in certain respects, they will probably be alike in other ways as well4
7229801237anecdotea brief account of an interesting incident or event that usually is intended to entertain or to make a point.5
7229802177antagonistsee character6
7229802870asidean actor's speech, directed to the audience, that is not supposed to be heard by other actors on stage. An aside is used to let the audience know what a character is about to do or what he or she is thinking.7
7229807095assonancerepetition of vowel sounds within a line of poetry8
7229809471audiencethe particular group of readers or viewers that the writer is addressing. A writer considers his or her audience when deciding on a subject, a purpose for writing and the tone and style in which to write.9
7229811334authorthe writer of a book, article or other text10
7229817801author's purposean author's purpose is his or her reason for creating a particular work. The purpose can be to entertain, explain or inform, express an opinion, or to persuade11
7229818580autobiographya form of nonfiction in which a person tells the story of his or her life12
7229819372balladis a poem that tells a story and is meant to be sung or recited13
7229820494biographythe story of a person's life that is written by someone else14
7229821847blank verseunrhymed iambic pentameter (see meter)15
7229823789caesuraa pause or a sudden break in a line of poetry16
7229826377cause and effecttwo events are related as cause and effect when one event brings about or causes the other. The event that happens first is the cause; the one that follows is the effect.17
7229831516charactera person who is responsible for the thoughts and actions within a story, poem, or other literature. Characters are extremely important because they are the medium through which a reader interacts with a piece of literature. Every character has his or her own personality, which a creative author uses to assist in forming the plot of a story or creating a mood.18
7229833913chorussee refrain19
7229834492chronological orderthe order in which events happen in time.20
7229834687clarifyingthe reader's process of pausing occasionally while reading to quickly review what he or she understands. By clarifying as they read, good readers are able to draw conclusions about what is suggested but not stated directly.21
7229837570clichéa type of figurative language containing an overused expression or a saying that is no longer considered original.22
7229837869climaxsee plot23
7229837955comedya dramatic work that is light and often humorous in tone and usually ends happily with a peaceful resolution of the main conflict24
7229839916comparisonthe process of identifying similarities.25
7229840581concrete poetrya type of poetry that uses its physical or visual form to present its message26
7229843181connectinga reader's process of relating the content of a literary work to his or her own knowledge and experience27
7229843650connotationthe idea and feeling associated with a word as opposed to its dictionary definition or denotation.28
7229844217consonancethe repetition of consonant sounds anywhere within a line of poetry. Alliteration is a specific type of consonance.29
7229844472context clueshints or suggestions that may surround unfamiliar words or phrases and clarify their meaning.30
7229844590contrastthe process of pointing out differences between things.31
7229844822coupleta rhymed pair of lines in a poem. One of William Shakespeare's trademarks was to end a sonnet with a couplet, as in the poem "Shall I Compare Thee to a Summer's Day": So long as men can breathe or eyes can see, So long as lives this, and this gives life to thee.32
7229845074denotationis the opposite of connotation in that it is the exact or dictionary meaning of a word.33
7229845701denouementsee plot34
7229846888dialecta form of language that is spoken in a particular place or by a particular group of people.35
7229847105dialogueThe conversation between characters in a drama or narrative. A dialogue occurs in most works of literature.36
7229847419dramaa drama or play is a form of literature meant to be performed by actors before an audience. In a drama, the characters' dialogue and actions tell the story. The written form of a play is known as a script.37
7229847732drawing conclusionscombining several pieces of information to make an inference is called drawing a conclusion.38
7229847859dramatic monologuea literary device that is used when a character reveals his or her innermost thoughts and feelings, those that are hidden throughout the course of the story line, through a poem or a speech. This speech, where only one character speaks, is recited while other characters are present onstage. This monologue often comes during a climactic moment in a work and often reveals hidden truths about a character, their history and their relationships.39
7229848993elegya type of literature defined as a song or poem that expresses sorrow or lamentation, usually for one who has died.40
7229849474enjambmentin poetry, the running over of a line or thought into the next of verse41
7229849748epigrama short poem or verse that seeks to ridicule a thought or event, usually with witticism or sarcasm.42
7229849958epica long narrative poem about the adventures of a hero whose actions reflect the ideals and values of a nation or group.43
7229850277epiphanya sudden moment of understanding that causes a character to change or to act in a certain way.44
7229850562epitapha short poem or verse written in memory of someone45
7229850761essaya short work of nonfiction that deals with a single subject.46
7229851266evaluatingthe process of judging the value of something or someone. A work of literature can be evaluated in terms of such criteria as entertainment, believability, originality, and emotional power.47
7229851545exaggerationsee hyperbole48
7229851787expositionsee plot49
7229852236extended metaphora figure of speech that compares two essentially unlike things in great length.50
7229852556external conflictsee conflict51
7229853082fablea brief tale that teaches a lesson about human nature. Fables often feature animals as characters.52
7229853350fact and opiniona fact is a statement that can be proved. An opinion, in contrast, is a statement that reflects the writer's or speaker's belief, but which cannot be supported by proof or evidence.53
7229853685falling actionsee plot54
7229853950fantasya work of literature that contains at least one fantastic or unreal element.55
7229854160fictionprose writing that tells an imaginary story. Fiction includes both short stories and novels56
7229854306figurative language or figure of speechexpressions that are not literally true. see simile, metaphor, hyperbole, understatement, irony, oxymoron, cliché, metonymy57
7229854630first person point of viewsee point of view58
7229854908flashbackan interruption of the chronological sequence (as in a film or literary work) of an event of earlier occurrence. A flashback is a narrative technique that allows a writer to present past events during current events, in order to provide background for the current narration.59
7229855091foilsee character60
7229855482folkloretraditions, customs and stories that are passed down within a culture. Folklore contains various types of literature such as legends, folktales, myths, and fables.61
7229856118folktalea simple story that has been passed from generation to generation by word of mouth. Folktales are told primarily to entertain rather than to explain or teach a lesson.62
7229856292foota unit of meter within a line of poetry63
7229856576foreshadowingwhen the writer provides clues or hints that suggest or predict future event in a story.64
7229857098free versepoetry without regular patterns of rhyme and rhythm. Often used to capture the sounds and rhythms of ordinary speech.65
7229857366generalizationa broad statement about an entire group.66
7229857531genrea type or category of literature. The four main literary genres include: fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and drama.67
7229859691haikua traditional form of Japanese poetry, usually dealing with nature. A haiku has three lines and describes a single moment, feeling or thing. The first and third lines contain five syllables and the second line contains seven syllables.68
7229860755hero or heroinesee character69
7229861180heroic couplet or closed coupleta couplet consisting of two successive rhyming lines that contain a complete thought.70
7229861319historical fictionfiction that explores a past time period and may contain references to actual people and events of the past.71
7229861923horror fictionfiction that contains mysterious and often supernatural events to create a sense of terror.72
7229862377humorthe quality that provokes laughter or amusement. Writers create humor through exaggeration, sarcasm, amusing descriptions, irony, and witty dialogue.73
7229862570hyperbolea figure of speech in which the truth is exaggerated for emphasis or humorous effect.74
7229863079iambic pentametersee meter75
7229863772imagerythe use of words and phrases that appeal to the five senses. Writers use sensory details to help readers imagine how things look, feel, smell, sound, and taste76
7229863538idioma phrase or expression that means something different from what the words actually say (for example, using the phrase "over his head" instead of "He doesn't understand").77
7229864470inferenceis a logical guess based on evidence based on evidence in the text.78
7229865003internal conflictsee conflict79
7229866635interviewa meeting in which one person asks another about personal matters, professional matters or both80
7229867942legenda story handed down from the past about a specific person, usually someone of heroic accomplishments.81
7229867094ironya contrast between what is expected and what actually exists or happens. Irony spices up a literary work by adding unexpected twists and allowing the reader to become more involved with the characters and plot. There are many types of irony, including: 1. 2. 3. 4. verbal irony: occurs when the speaker means something totally different than what he or she is saying and often times the opposite of what a character is saying is true. dramatic irony: occurs when facts are not known to the characters in a work of literature but are known by the audience. cosmic irony: suggests that some unknown force brings about dire and dreadful events. irony of situation: the difference between what is expected to happen and the way events actually work out.82
7229868171limericka short humorous poem composed of five lines that usually has the rhyme scheme aabba, created by two rhyming couplets followed by a fifth line that rhymes with the first couplet. A limerick typically has a sing-song rhythm.83
7229868731literal meaningthe actual meaning of a word or phrase.84
7229874564lyrica song-like poem written mainly to express the feelings or emotions of a single speaker. main character: see character85
7229875218main ideathe most important point that a writer wishes to express.86
7229877871minor charactersee character87
7229875531memoira specific type of autobiography; like autobiography, a memoir is about the author's personal experiences. However, a memoir does not necessarily cover the author's entire life.88
7229876264metaphora type of figurative language in which a comparison is made between two things that are essentially unalike but may have one quality in common. Unlike a simile, a metaphor does not contain an explicit word of comparison, such as "like" or "as".89
7229876413meterthe regular pattern of accented and unaccented syllables. Although all poems have rhythm, not all poems have regular meter. Each unit of meter is known as a foot. The conventional symbols used to identify accented and unaccented syllables are: "/" to indicate an accented syllable; and an "X" or a small symbol shaped like a "U" to indicate an unaccented symbol. The metrical foot is the basic unit of meter90
7229877498metonymythe metaphorical substitution of one word or phrase for another related word or phrase. Example: "The pen is mightier than the sword." The word "pen" is used in place of "words" and the word "sword" is used to represent the idea of fighting or war91
7229879075morala lesson that a story teaches. A moral is often stated directly at the end of a fable92
7229878289mooda mood or atmosphere is the feeling that a literary work conveys to readers. Mood is created through the use of plot, character, the author's descriptions, etc93
7229882030motifa recurring object, concept, or structure in a work of literature. A motif may also be two contrasting elements in a work, such as good and evil. A motif is important because it allows one to see main points and themes that the author is trying to express, in order that one might be able to interpret the work more accurately.94
7229882167motivationthe reason why a character acts, feels or thinks in a certain way.95
7229882339mytha traditional story that attempts to explain how the world was created or why the world is the way that it is. Myths are stories that are passed on from generation to generation and are of unknown authorship. Also see folklore.96
7229882962narrativeany writing that tells a story. Most novels and short stories are placed into the categories of first- person and third-person narratives, which are based on who is telling the story and from what perspective.97
7229883111narrative poemsee narrative98
7229883311narratorsee narrative99
7229884000nonfictionis prose writing that presents and explains ideas or that tells about real people, places, objects or events. Some examples of nonfiction include autobiographies, newspaper articles, biographies, essays, etc.100
7229884557novela work of fiction that is longer and more complex than a short story. In a novel, setting, plot and characters are usually developed in great detail.101
7229884811odea lyric poem of some length, usually of serious or meditative nature and having an elevated style and formal structure.102
7229885261onomatopoeiathe use of words whose sound suggest their meaning (ex. buzz, bang, hiss)103
7229886757opinionsee fact and opinion104
7229887203oxymorona form of figurative language combining contradictory words or ideas (ex. jumbo shrimp, bittersweet).105
7229887056oral historystories of people's lives related by word of mouth. These histories usually include both factual material and personal reactions.106
7229887449paradoxa statement that seems to contradict itself but is, nevertheless, true.107
7229888652parallelismthe use of similar grammatical constructions to express ideas that are related or equal in importance. For example: The sun rises. The sun sets108
7229888848paraphrasingthe restatement of a text by readers in their own words or in another form.109
7229889289personificationa figure of speech where animals, ideas or inanimate objects are given human characteristics.110
7229889104parodya literary or artistic work that imitates the characteristic style of an author's work for comic effect or ridicule.111
7229890162perspectivesee point of view112
7229891380playsee drama113
7229891034persuasionpersuasive writing is meant to sway readers' feelings, beliefs, or actions. Persuasion normally appeals to both the mind and the emotions of readers.114
7229891715plotthe sequence of related events that make up a story.115
7229892362expositionintroduces the characters and the conflicts they face.116
7229893139inciting incidentoccurs after the exposition and introduces the central conflict within the story.117
7229893264rising actionfollowing the introduction of the central conflict; complications arise as the characters struggle with the conflict.118
7229893571climaxthe turning point, point of maximum interest, and highest tension in the plot of a story, play, or film. The climax usually occurs towards the end of story after the reader has understood the conflict and become emotionally involved with the characters. At the climax, the conflict is resolved, and the outcome of the plot becomes clear.119
7229893826falling actionthe end of the central conflict in a story, when the action starts to wind down.120
7229894261resolution or denouementoccurs after the climax and is where conflicts are resolved and loose ends are tied up.121
7229896451subplotan additional minor plot that involves a secondary conflict in the story; the subplot may or may not affect the main plot122
7229899950point of viewperspective from which a story is told. Understanding the point of view used in a work is critical to understanding literature; it serves as the instrument to relay the events of a story, and in some instances the feelings and motives of the character(s)123
7229898174poetryPoets arrange words in ways designed to touch readers' senses, emotions, and minds. Most poems are written in lines that may contain patterns of rhyme and rhythm. These lines may in turn be grouped in stanzas. See narrative, epic, ballad, lyric, haiku, limerick and concrete poetry.124
7229901953third person limited or third person objectivethe person telling the story is not one of the characters in the story. He or she is an outside observer. The reader can only know what one character learns through interaction with other characters or through overheard conversations. The narrator cannot supply the thoughts or feelings of other characters in the story.125
7229900723first person point of viewthe person telling the story is one of the characters in the story. It is the "I" point of view. It is the most limited among the types because the narrator can only state what he or she sees, feels, and hears. He or she cannot go into the minds of the other characters.126
7229901566second person point of viewrefers to the use of "you" in explanations or arguments. It is not frequently used, but is appropriate in certain circumstances. Most second person points of view occur within instructions that are meant to be followe127
7229903154primary sourcea first hand account of an event; primary sources include: diaries, journals, letters, speeches, news stories, photographs, and pieces of art128
7229902278third person omniscientthe narrator is not a character in the story, but the events in the story are seen through the eyes of more than one of the characters. The narrator is considered to be "all knowing" and cannot only see and hear everything that is happening to all characters in the story, but can also enter their minds and tell the reader what each is thinking and feeling. This is the least limited point of view because the narrator has knowledge of all the characters129
7229903045predictingthe process of gathering information and combining it with the reader's own knowledge to guess what might occur in the story.130
7229904557propagandatext that uses false or misleading information to present a slanted point of view131
7229904715prosethe ordinary form of spoken and written language; that is, language that lacks the special features of poetry. Examples of prose include: essays, stories, articles, speeches, etc132
7229905330protagonistsee character133
7229905586questioningthe process of raising questions while reading in an effort to understand characters and events.134
7229905686realistic fictionimaginative writing set in the real, modern world. The characters act like real people who use ordinary human abilities to cope with problems and conflicts typical of modern life.135
7229905955refrainrepetition in literature of one or more lines at regular intervals; sometimes called the chorus.136
7229906380repetitiona technique in which a sound, word, phrase, or line is repeated for effect or emphasis.137
7229906503resolutionsee plot138
7229908050rhymerepetition of an identical or similarly accented sound or sounds in a work. Rhyme gives poems flow and rhythm, helping the lyricist tell a story and convey a mood139
7229908243end or terminal rhymeswords that rhyme at the end of a verse-line140
7229908457eye rhymesare words that when written appear to rhyme, but when spoken do not (ex: dog/fog, cough/enough/bough, etc)141
7229908742internal rhymerhyme found within a line of poetry (alliteration, assonance, and consonance)142
7229909207slant rhymeis also known as near rhyme, half rhyme, off rhyme, imperfect rhyme, oblique rhyme, or pararhyme. A distinctive system or pattern of metrical structure and verse composition in which two words have only their final consonant sounds and no preceding vowel or consonant sounds in common. Instead of perfect or identical sounds or rhyme, it is the repetition of near or similar sounds or the pairing of accented and unaccented sounds that if both were accented would be perfect rhymes (stopped and wept, parable and shell). Alliteration, assonance, and consonance are accepted as slant rhyme due to their usage of sound combinations (spilled and spoiled, chitter and chatter).143
7229909593rhyme schemethe pattern of end rhyme used in a poem, generally indicated by matching lowercase letters to show which lines rhyme. The letter "a" notes the first line, and all other lines rhyming with the first line. The first line that does not rhyme with the first, or "a" line, and all others that rhyme with this line, is noted by the letter "b", and so on. The rhyme scheme may follow a fixed pattern (as in a sonnet) or may be arranged freely according to the poet's requirements.144
7229909766rhythmrefers to the pattern of flow of sounds created by the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry. The accented or stressed syllables are marked with: stressed or accented syllables: / unstressed or unaccented syllables: X or U145
7229910165sarcasmthe use of praise to mock someone or something; the use of mockery or verbal irony146
7229910616satirea literary technique in which ideas or customs are ridiculed for the purpose of improving society.147
7229910743scanningthe process of searching through writing for a particular fact or piece of information.148
7229911085scenea section in a play presenting events that occur in one place at one time.149
7229911223science fictionprose writing in which a writer explores unexpected possibilities of the past or the future by using scientific data and theories as well as his or her imagination.150
7229912029secondary sourcea secondary source presents information compiled from or based on other sources.151
7229912093sensory detailswords and phrases that help readers see, hear, taste, feel, or smell what an author is describing.152
7229912613sequencethe order in which events occur or in which ideas are presented153
7229914298settingthe time, place, physical details, and circumstances in which a story occurs. Settings include the background, atmosphere or environment in which characters live and move, and usually include physical characteristics of the surroundings. Settings enables the reader to better envision how a story unfolds by relating necessary physical details of a piece of literature.154
7229916397short storybrief work of fiction that generally focuses on one or two main characters who face a single problem or conflict.155
7229916739similea simile is a type of figurative language that makes a comparison between two otherwise unlike objects or ideas by connecting them with the words "like" or "as."156
7229917111soliloquya speech delivered by a character who is alone on the stage.157
7229917735sonneta sonnet is a distinctive poetic style that uses a system or pattern of metrical structure and verse composition usually consisting of fourteen lines, arranged in a set rhyme scheme or pattern. There are two main styles of sonnet, the Italian sonnet and the English sonnet.158
7229918455sound devicessee alliteration, onomatopoeia, repetition, rhyme and rhythm159
7229918682speakerthe voice that talks to the reader in a poem, as the narrator does in a work of fiction. The speaker in the poem is not necessarily the poet160
7229918853speecha talk given in public161
7229919127stage directionsthe instructions to the actors, director and stage crew in the script of a play.162
7229919437stanzaa grouping of two or more lines within a poem163
7229920262static charactersee character164
7229920355stereotypea broad generalization or an oversimplified view that disregards individual differences165
7229921036story mappinga visual organizer that helps a reader understand a work of literature by tracking setting, characters, events and conflicts.166
7229921388stylehow a writer says something; many elements contribute to style, including word choice, sentence length, tone and figurative language167
7229921597subplotsee plot168
7229923413symbolismusing something specific to stand for something else, especially an idea. A symbol is a person, place, object or action that for something beyond itself. For example, a dove may represent peace. The dove can be seen and peace cannot.169
7229921679summarizingthe process of briefly recounting the main ideas of a piece of writing in a person's own words, while omitting unimportant details170
7229923178suspensea feeling of growing tension and excitement. Writers create suspense by raising questions in readers' minds about what might happen.171
7229929109tall talea humorously exaggerated story about impossible events.172
7229928218synecdochea literary technique in which the whole is represented by naming one of its parts (genus named for species), or vice versa (species named for genus). Example: "You've got to come take a look at my new set of wheels." The vehicle here is represented by its parts, or wheels.173
7229930235third person point of viewsee point of view.174
7229929331themea common thread or repeated idea that is incorporated throughout a literary work. A theme is a thought or idea the author presents to the reader about life or human nature. Generally, a theme has to be extracted as the reader explores the passages of a work. The author utilizes the characters, plot, and other literary devices to assist the reader in this endeavor. The author often intertwines the theme throughout the work, and the full impact is slowly realized as the reader processes the text. The ability to recognize a theme is important because it allows the reader to understand part of the author's purpose in writing the book.175
7229929998tonethe writer's attitude or feeling about his or her subject176
7229930758tragedya dramatic work that presents the downfall of a dignified character or characters who are involved in historically or socially significant events. The events in a tragic plot are set in motion by a decision that is often an error in judgment. Succeeding events inevitably lead to a disastrous conclusion, usually death.177
7229930944traitsee characterization.178
7229931064understatementa statement that is restrained in ironic contrast to what might have been said; the opposite of hyperbole. Understatement is usually used for a humorous effect.179
7229931394unreliable narratorsee narrative180
7229931638urban legenda contemporary story that is told in many rumored versions that have little basis in fact.181
7229939317foila character who serves as a contrast or a conflict to another character182
7229931974voicean author or narrator's distinctive style or manner of expression. Voice can reveal much about the author or narrator's personality.183
7229935585antagonista character in a story or poem who deceives, frustrates, or works against the main character, or protagonist, in some way. The antagonist doesn'tnecessarily have to be a person. It could be death, the devil, an illness, or any challenge that prevents the main character from living "happily ever after."184
7229936226caricaturea picture or imitation of a person's habits, physical appearance or mannerisms exaggerated in a comic or absurd way185
7229939708hero/heroinea character whose actions are inspiring or noble; often the main character in a story.186
7229939799main charactersthe characters who are central to the plot of a story; main characters are usually dynamic and round.187
7229939970minor charactersa less important character who interacts with the main characters, helping to move the plot along and providing background for the story. Minor characters are usually static and flat.188
7229940385characterizationall of the techniques that writers use to create characters.189
7229942973dynamic charactera character who changes throughout the course of the story.190
7229940591character traita character's personality; a trait is not a physical description of a character.191
7229942763direct characterizationthe author directly states a character's traits or makes direct comments about a character's nature192
7229943637flat charactera character about whom little information is provided.193
7229944109round characteris a character who is fully described by the author (several character traits, background information, etc.)194
7229943796indirect characterizationhe author does not directly state a character's traits; instead the reader draws conclusions and discovers a character's traits based upon clues provided by the author.195
7229946408static charactera character who does not change or who changes very little in the course of a story.196
7229950688central conflictthe dominant or most important conflict in the story.197
7229953566external conflictthe problem or struggle that exists between the main character and an outside force. (ex: person vs. person, person vs. society, person vs. nature, person vs. the supernatural, person vs. technology, etc.)198
7229955032internal conflictthe problem or struggle that takes place in the main character's mind (person vs. self).199

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