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AP Literature Terms Flashcards

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6485284996allegorystory or poem that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning0
6485284997alliterationclosely connected words that begin with the same sound1
6485284998allusiona reference to another story (literature, art, history, myth)2
6485284999anaphorasuccessive phrases or clauses that begin with the same words3
6485285000antagonistthe character or force that opposes the main character4
6485285001apostrophea direct address to an inanimate object or a person/character who is not present5
6485285002slant rhymewords in rhyming pattern that sound alike; an imperfect rhyme6
6485285003asidewhen a character's dialogue is spoken but not heard by other actors on the stage7
6485285004assonancerepetition of vowel sounds within words8
6485285005blank versepoetry written in meter without an rhyme scheme9
6485285006cacophonyblend of unharmonious sounds10
6485285007caesurapause in the middle of a line11
6485285008catharsisthe release of emotions through art (emotional cleanse)12
6485285009flat characterstory character who have no depth, usually has one personality or characteristic13
6485285010round charactercharacter who has complex personality: contradicted person14
6485285011dynamic charactera character who changes throughout the story15
6485285012static characterperson who doesn't change throughout story keeps same personality16
6485285013characterizationprocess of revealing a character's personality17
6485285014climaxpoint where conflict hits its highest point; the turning point in a story18
6485285015comedydrama that is amusing or funny; drama that has a happy ending19
6485285016conflictstruggle between opposing forces20
6485285017connotationmeanings and feelings associated with a word21
6485285018consonancerepetition of same consonant in words close together22
6485285019couplettwo rhyming lines in a verse23
6485285020denotationthe dictionary definition of a word24
6485285021denouementfinal outcome of the story25
6485285022deus ex machinaresolution of a plot by chance or coincidence26
6485285023didactic writingwriting with a primary purpose to teach or preach27
6485285024direct presentation of characterauthor telling the reader how a character is and what actions it will do further in the story28
6485285025double rhymea feminine rhyme involving one stressed and one unstressed syllable in each rhyming line29
6485285026dramatic expositionprose commentaries, to provide background information about the characters and their world30
6485285027end rhymerhymes occurring at the end of line31
6485285028end-stopped lineline ending in regular punctuation32
6485285029Elizabethan or Shakespearean sonneta sonnet rhyming ababcdcdededgg33
6485285030epiphanysudden realization or spiritual insight (by a character)34
6485285031euphonypleasant arrangement of sounds35
6485285032extended figureA figure of speech sustained or developed through a considerable number of lines or through a whole poem.36
6485285033falling actionEvents after the climax, leading to the resolution37
6485285034feminine rhymea rhyme between stressed syllables followed by one or more unstressed syllables38
6485285035figurative languageLanguage that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.39
6485285036figure of speecha way of saying something other than the ordinary way40
6485285037footbasic unit in the scansion or measurement of verse, made up of stressed and unstressed syllables41
6485285038formexternal pattern or shape of a poem42
6485285039free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme43
6485285040hamartiatragic decision or flaw which causes a character's downfall44
6485285041imageryDescription that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)45
6485285042indirect characterizationthe personality of a character is revealed by what he or she does or says46
6485285043internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line47
6485285044ironyIn general, a contrast between expectation and reality48
6485285045verbal ironyA figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant49
6485285046dramatic 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
6485285047situational ironyrefers to an occurrence that is contrary to what is expected or intended51
6485285048Italian or Petrarchan sonnetA sonnet consisting of an octave with the rhyme pattern abbaabba, followed by a sestet with the rhyme pattern cdecde or cdcdcd52
6485285049masculine rhymeA rhyme ending on the final stressed syllable53
6485285050melodramaa play based upon a dramatic plot and developed sensationally54
6485285051metaphorA comparison without using like or as55
6485285052meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry56
6485285053metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it57
6485285054motivationA need or desire that energizes and directs behavior58
6485285055narratorPerson telling the story59
6485285056octavesegment of poetry eight lines long60
6485285057onomatopoeiaA word that imitates the sound it represents.61
6485285058hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor62
6485285059oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.63
6485285060paradoxA contradiction or dilemma64
6485285061paraphraseA restatement of a text or passage in your own words.65
6485285062personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes66
6485285063plotSequence of events in a story67
6485285064point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told68
6485285065omniscient point of viewThe point of view where the narrator knows everything about the characters and their problems - told in the 3rd person.69
6485285066third person limited point of viewnarrator tells the story from only one character's pov70
6485285067first person point of viewa character in the story is actually telling the story himself/herself71
6485285068objective point of viewa narrator who is totally impersonal and objective tells the story, with no comment on any characters or events.72
6485285069protagonistMain character73
6485285070quatrainsegment of poetry four lines long74
6485285071rhythmThe pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in writing75
6485285072rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem76
6485285073rising actionEvents leading up to the climax77
6485285074sarcasmthe use of irony to mock or convey contempt78
6485285075satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.79
6485285076scansionAnalysis of verse into metrical patterns80
6485285077sestetsegment of poetry six lines long81
6485285078settingThe context in time and place in which the action of a story occurs.82
6485285079simileA comparison using "like" or "as"83
6485285080soliloquyA long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage84
6485285081sonnet14 line poem85
6485285082stanzaA group of lines in a poem86
6485285083stream of consciousnessprivate thoughts of a character without commentary87
6485285084syllabic verseVerse measured by the number of syllables rather than the number of feet per line.88
6485285085symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else89
6485285086synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa90
6485285087synesthesiadescribing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("a loud color", "a sweet sound")91
6485285088tercetsegment of poetry three lines long92
6485285089terza rimaa verse form with a rhyme scheme: aba bcb cdc, etc.93
6485285090themeCentral idea of a work of literature94
6485285091toneAttitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character95
6485285092tragedyA serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character96
6485285093truncationA line of poetry that has been shortened97
6485285094understandmentthe deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; a deliberate under-emphasis98
6485285095versewriting arranged with a metrical rhythm, typically having a rhyme99
6485285096villanellea 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
6486385631polysyndentonthe use of more conjunctions than is grammatically necessary101
6486402445asyndetonthe elimination of conjunctions102
6486427340epistrophethe repetition of words at the ENDS of successive phrases or clauses103
6486443067antimetabole (also called chiasmus)rhetorical device in which a phrase or sentence is repeated, but in reverse order104
6486491977enjambmentthe continuation of the sense and grammatical construction from one line of poetry to the next105
6486500791conceitan 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
6486513068epic simile or Homeric similean extended simile; often used in epic poetry107
6486529617parallelismsuccessive lines of writing that follow the same grammatical structure108

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