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AP Literature Terms Flashcards

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10689132882EUPHEMISMa mild indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.0
10689132883ALLEGORYstory or poem in whichcharacters, settings, and events stand for other people or events or for abstract ideas or qualities.1
10689132884ALLUSIONreference to someone or something that is known from history, literature, religion, politics, sports, science, or another branch of culture. An indirect reference to something from literature, etc.)2
10689132885MICROCOSMcommunity, place, or situation regarded as encapsulating in miniature the characteristic qualities or features of something much larger3
10689132886AMBIGUITYdeliberately suggesting two different, and sometimes conflicting meanings in a work. An event or situation that may be interpreted in more than one way- -this is done on purpose by the author, when it is not done on purpose, it is vagueness, and detracts from the work.4
10689132887ANTAGONISTopponent who struggles against or blocks the hero, or protagonist, in a story5
10689132888PROTAGONISTchief, main, or leading character in a work.6
10689132889CHARACTERIZATIONthe process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character7
10689132890INDIRECT CHARACTERIZATIONthe author reveals to the reader what the character is like by describing how the character looks and dresses, by letting the reader hear what the character says. by revealing the character's thoughts and feelings, by revealing the characters private thoughts and feelings, by revealing the character on other people (showing how other characters feel or behave toward the character), or by showing the character in action. Common in modern literature8
10689132891DIRECT CHARACTERIZATIONthe author tells us directly what the character is like : sneaky generous. mean to pets and so on. Romantic style literature relied more heavily on this form.9

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