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AP Literature Terms To Know Flashcards

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6248355369allegoryhidden meaning typically moral or political0
6248355370alliterationthe occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of words1
6248355371allusionreference to an outside work (biblical, historical, mythological)2
6248355372analogycomparison between two things, typically on the basis of their structure for explanation/clarification3
6248355373antagonist/protagonistantagonist=adversary protagonist=leading character in literary work4
6248355374bildungsromana novel dealing with one person's formative years or spiritual education5
6248355375catharsisthe purging or purification of the emotions through the evocation of pity and fear, as in tragedy6
6248355376connotationthe associated or secondary meaning of a word in addition to its primary meaning7
6248355377denotationliteral meaning of the word "dictionary definition"8
6248355378dictionword choice9
6248355379didacticintended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive10
6248355380double-entendrea phrase that could have two meanings or that could be understood in two different ways11
6248355381figurative languageuses words or expressions wth a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation12
6248355382foilcharacter serves to bring out attributes of another character13
6248355383genrecategory of literary composition14
6248355384historical narrativetakes place in the past, but is a made up story (based on real aspects of the past)15
6248355385hyperboleexaggeration-rhetorical device16
6248355386idiomphrase not taken literally...a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words (e.g., rain cats and dogs, see the light )17
6248355387imagerydescription that appeals to our five senses18
6248355388inferencea conclusion arrived at through logical processes19
6248355389ironyconveys a meaning that is opposite of its literal meaning20
6248355390metaphorcomparison using is21
6248355391metonymyword or phrase that is used to stand in for another word (ex: suit for business executive, or the track for horse racing)22
6248355392moodoverall atmosphere created by the tone23
6248355393motifa recurring element that has symbolic significance in a story24
6248355394novela long narrative (prose) which describes fictional characters and events25
6248355395novellashorter than a novel26
6248355396nuancea subtle degree of difference in meaning/feeling/tone27
6248355397onomatopoeiamimics sound of the action it refers to28
6248355398oxymorontwo contradictory words put together in one phrase29
6248355399paradoxa statement that contradicts itself but can still be true30
6248355400parodywork that closely imitates for comic effect or ridicule31
6248355401pedanticoverly concerned with details/overly scholarly (word, phrase, or general tone)32
6248355402personificationgiving human actions to non-living things33
6248355403point of viewperspective the story is told from34
6248355404prose"ordinary writing"/paragraph form35
6248355405punplay on words36
6248355406realismportrays life in a faithful, accurate manner unclouded by false ideals37
6248355407repetitionrepeating a word38
6248355408rhetorical devicestechnique an author uses to convey a meaning with the goal of persuading them39
6248355409satirevices, follies, etc. are held up to ridicule ideally with the intent of shaming40
6248355410similecomparison using like or as41
6248355411stylethe way an author writes (diction, syntax, figurative language)42
6248355412symbolan object (or word) to represent an abstract idea43
6248355413syntaxsentence structure; how words and phrases are arranged44
6248355414toneauthor's attitude toward the subject45
6248355415tragedymain character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow due to their tragic flaw46
6248355416Romanticismemphasized inspiration, subjectivity, and primacy of the individual47
6248355417Victorianismnovels were much more popular as literacy rates rose (a focus on the highly moralistic, straitlaced language and behavior of Victorian morality)48
6248355418Modernismbroke with classical and traditional forms of literature49

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