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AP Literature vocab Flashcards

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6973603076ALLEGORYstory or poem in which characters, settings, and events stand for other people or events or for abstract ideas or qualities0
6973605538ALLITERATIONrepetition of the same or similar consonant sounds in words that are close together.1
6973609090ALLUSIONreference to someone or something that is known from history, literature, religion, politics, sports, science, or another branch of culture. An indirect reference to something (usually from literature, etc.)2
6973612304AMBIGUITYdeliberately suggesting two or more 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.3
6973616794ANALOGYComparison made between two things to show how they are alike4
6973617727ANAPHORARepetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences in a row. This is a deliberate form of repetition and helps make the writer's point more coherent.5
6973622095ANASTROPHEInversion of the usual, normal, or logical order of the parts of a sentence. Purpose is rhythm or emphasis or euphony. It is a fancy word for inversion.6
6973624722ANECDOTEBrief story, told to illustrate a point or serve as an example of something, often shows character of an individual7
6973626710ANTAGONISTOpponent who struggles against or blocks the hero, or protagonist, in a story.8
6973630945ANTIMETABOLERepetition of words in successive clauses in reverse grammatical order. ( In poetry, this is called chiasmus. )9
6973635965ANTITHESISBalancing words, phrases, or ideas that are strongly contrasted, often by means of grammatical structure.10
6975261919ANTIHEROCentral character who lacks all the qualities traditionally associated with heroes. may lack courage, grace, intelligence, or moral scruples11
6975263895ANTHROPOMORPHISMattributing human characteristics to an animal or inanimate object (Personification)12
6975286330APHORISMbrief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life, or of a principle or accepted general truth. Also called maxim, epigram.13
6975297224APOSTROPHEcalling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person, or to a place or thing, or a personified abstract idea. If the character is asking a god or goddess for inspiration it is called an invocation.14
6975303176APPOSITIONPlacing in immediately succeeding order of two or more coordinate elements, the latter of which is an explanation, qualification, or modification of the first (often set off by a colon).15
6975306061ASSONANCEthe repetition of similar vowel sounds followed by different consonant sounds especially in words that are together.16
6975307780ASYNDETONCommas used without conjunction to separate a series of words, thus emphasizing the parts equally: instead of X, Y, and Z... the writer uses X,Y,Z.... see polysyndeton.17
6975354551BALANCEConstructing a sentence so that both halves are about the same length and importance. Sentences can be unbalanced to serve a special effect as well.18
6975362828CHARACTERIZATIONthe process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character.19
6975371019INDIRECT 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 private thoughts and feelings, by revealing the characters effect on other people (showing how other characters feel or behave toward the character), or by showing the character in action. Common in modern literature20
6975374575DIRECT 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.21
6975385790STATIC CHARACTERone who does not change much in the course of a story.22
6975404190DYNAMIC CHARACTERone who changes in some important way as a result of the story's action.23
6975405417FLAT CHARACTERhas only one or two personality traits. They are one dimensional, like a piece of cardboard. They can be summed up in one phrase.24
6975416927ROUND CHARACTERhas more dimensions to their personalities---they are complex, just a real people are.25
6975421205CHIASMUSIn poetry, a type of rhetorical balance in which the second part is syntactically balanced against the first, but with the parts reversed. In prose this is called antimetabole.26
6975427833CLICHEis a word or phrase, often a figure of speech, that has become lifeless because of overuse.27
6975430526COLLOQUIALISMa word or phrase in everyday use in conversation and informal writing but is inappropriate for formal situations.28
6975436877COMEDYin general, a story that ends with a happy resolution of the conflicts faced by the main character or characters.29
6975443687CONCEITan elaborate metaphor that compares two things that are startlingly different. Often an extended metaphor.30
6975451368CONFESSIONAL POETRYa twentieth century term used to describe poetry that uses intimate material from the poet's life.31
6975468264CONFLICTthe struggle between opposing forces or characters in a story.32
6975477890EXTERNAL CONFLICTconflicts can exist between two people, between a person and nature or a machine or between person a whole society.33
6975492461INTERNAL CONFLICTa conflict can be internal, involving opposing forces within a person's mind.34
6975497583CONNOTATIONthe associations and emotional overtones that have become attached to a word or phrase, in addition to its strict dictionary definition.35
6975499015COUPLETtwo consecutive rhyming lines of poetry.36
6975525498DIALECTa way of speaking that is characteristic of a certain social group or of the inhabitants of a certain geographical area.37
6975532491DICTIONa speaker or writer's choice of words.38
6975552840DIDACTICform of fiction or nonfiction that teaches a specific lesson or moral or provides a model of correct behavior or thinking.39
6975557848ELEGYa poem of mourning, usually about someone who has died. A Eulogy is great praise or commendation, a laudatory speech, often about someone who has died.40
6975565101EPANALEPSISdevice of repetition in which the same expression (single word or phrase) is repeated both at the beginning and at the end of the line, clause, or sentence.41
6975570750EPICa long narrative poem, written in heightened language , which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society.42
6975575421EPIGRAPHa quotation or aphorism at the beginning of a literary work suggestive of the theme.43
6975577086EPISTROPHEDevice of repetition in which the same expression (single word or phrase) is repeated at the end of two or more lines, clauses, or sentences (it is the opposite of anaphora).44
6975598406EPITHETan adjective or adjective phrase applied to a person or thing that is frequently used to emphasize a characteristic quality. A Homeric epithet is a compound adjective used with a person or thing:45
6975602201ESSAYa short piece of nonfiction prose in which the writer discusses some aspect of a subject.46

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