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AP Literature Vocab Flashcards

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5373374824allegorya narrative or description having a second meaning beneath the surface one0
5373386642alliterationrepetition at close intervals of the initial consonant sound of words1
5373391197allusionreference to history, pop culture, or other work of literature outside the work2
5373400560ApostropheWhen someone absent, dead, or something nonhuman is addressed as if it were alive and present and could reply3
5373407072AnagnorisisEpiphany--startling discovery, usually in reference to a play4
5373413827AnalogyA similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them5
5373417792AsideCharacter speaks to audience only though others are on the stage--thoughts6
5373429088AssonanceThe repetition at close intervals of the vowel sounds of accented syllables7
5373433575BalladSimple, narrative verse which tells a story8
5373442411Ballad meterVerse written in "lambs" with the meter of 8 and 6 (tetrameter & trimeter)9
5373459168Blank verseUnrhymed iambic pentameter10
5373469339CacophonyA harsh, discordant, unpleasant-sounding choice and arrangement of sounds11
5373473736CaesuraA natural pause in the rhythm of line, whether marked by punctuation or not12
5373483874ConceitAn extended metaphor13
5373485348ConnotationOvertones/associations of meaning of words--what a word implies14
5373490692ConsonanceThe repetition at close intervals of the final consonant sounds of accented syllables15
5373497538CoupletTwo successive lines linked by rhyme16
5373501414DenotationDictionary meaning of words17
5373506581Dictionword choice18
5373508513Elegya poem of lament for deceased individual19
5373510523End rhymeRhymes that occur at the end of lines20
5373514418End-stopped lineA line that ends with a natural speech pause, usually marked by punctuation21
5373522543EnjambmentRun on line, continuing onto the next without grammatical22
5373525509EthosEthical appeal; the source's credibility, the speaker's authority23
5373533120Euphonya smooth, harmonious, pleasant-sounding choice and arrangement of sounds24
5373542417Figurative LanguageMetaphoric language (Simile, metaphor, personification, onomatopoeia, etc.)25
5373547376FootThe basic unit of meter, measuring accented(stressed) and unaccented (unstressed) sounds in poetry. Poetic feet are measured in terms of grouped syllables, either iamb (iambic) one stressed syllable followed by one unstressed ; trochee (trochaic) stressed followed by unstressed; anapest (anapestic) two unstressed followed by one stressed; dactyl (dactylic) stressed followed by two unstressed; or spondee (spondaic) or two stressed syllables. These groups of syllables compose one foot. The line of poetry is then measured by how many feet compose that line: one foot is monometer; two feet, dimeter; three feet, trimester, four feet, tetrameter; five feet, pentameter; six feet, hexameter; etc.26
5373606804FormPhysical structure or external pattern of the work27
5373611027Free versePoetry without a specific metered rhythm28
5373616729Heroic coupletsTwo lines of rhythm iambic pentameter29
5373624963Homeric/Epic SimileAn extended Simile30
5373626911Hyperbole/OverstatementGross exaggeration or overstatement to emphasize31
5373633033IdiomA common saying that is metaphorical in nature (i.e. "kick the bucket")32
5373637430Imagery/detailConcrete details that appeal to one or more of the five senses33
5373643001Internal Rhymea rhyme in which one or both of the rhymed words occur(s) within the line34
5373648072IronyThe opposite of what is expected35
5373651569Dramatic IronyWhen the audience or reader knows something the character doesn't36
5373656898Situational IronyOpposite of what the situation normally calls for; actual vs. expected outcome37
5373661585Verbal IronyWhen what is said is the opposite of what is meant38
5373666036LogosLogical appeal; the logic used to support a claim39
5373670942Metaphora direct comparison that doesn't use a comparison word as a link. Metaphors can be implied and often are created when the comparative term is substitute for the original40
5373681298MeterThe measurable repetition of accented and unaccented syllables in poetry41
5373685500MetonymyThe use of something closely related for the thing actually meant42
5373691815MonologueA long speech from one character to others43
5373696338MotifA reoccurring object, concept, or structure44
5373700618Narrative DistanceHow close the narrator is to a character-closest would be direct thoughts and furthest would be observational only45
5373707283Narrative VoiceThe personality of the narrator and the attitude he/she conveys. It is important to note that the narrative voice is not necessarily the same as tone, since an author's attitude toward a particular subject can differ from that of his/her narrator, just as the narrator's attitude can differ from that of the characters46
5373722694Near Rhyme/ Eye RhymeNear rhyme refers to a rhyme that isn't perfect, but has a partial rhyme, such as "push" and "rush." Eye rhyme doesn't have to sound similar at all, just look like it should rhyme, such "prove" and "love"47
5373736209OnomatopoeiaThe use of words that mimic their meaning in their sound48
5373741677oxymoronContradictory terms that work together to create an effect49
5373745259ParadoxJuxtaposition of apparently contradicting ideas50
5373750897Parallel structureMultiple parts of a sentence or sentences that follow the same structure51
5373754144PathosEmotional appeal; vivid language, emotional language and numerous sensory details52
5373761223PeripeteiaReversal of circumstances/ protagonist's plans-usually in reference to a play53
5373765736PersonificationGiving an object, animal, or concept human characteristics54
5373768088Polysindetonrepetition of "and" when listing55
5373772179ProseNonmetrical language; the opposite of verse56
5373775212PunA play on words that relies on a word's having more than one meaning or sounding like another word57
5373780228RhetoricTe principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively58
5373783800SarcasmBitter or cutting speech; speech intended by its speaker to give pain to the person addressed; similar in structure to verbal irony, but not in intention59
5373794644SatireA kind of literature that ridicules human folly or vice with the purpose of bringing about reform or of keeping others from falling into similar folly or vice60
5373807492simileComparison of two unlike objects using a linking word or phrase (like, as, than, similar to, resembles, or seems)61
5373815040SoliloquyA speech made when only one character is on the stage, expression of thought.62
5373820439SonnetRigid fourteen line verse with specific structure and rhyme scheme63
5373824212StructureInternal arrangement of ideas, images, or thoughts64
5373825871StyleThe language conventions used to construct the piece. A writer can manipulate diction, sentence structure, phrasing, dialogue, and other aspects of language to create style.65
5373836983Syllogisma type of argument that follows this logic: If A=B and B=C, then A=C66
5373843179SymbolA concrete noun that represents and abstract noun67
5373845006SynecdocheThe use of the part for the whole68
5373846983SyntaxThe structure of a sentence --how it's put together-arrangement or words69
5373852724terza rimaGroups of three lines in iambic pentameter following the rhyme scheme of aba, bcb, etc.70
5373856629ToneAttitude conveyed in writing toward audience, subject, or speaker himself71
5373861691UnderstatementDownplaying the importance off to emphasize72
5373863055VerseMetrical language; the opposite of porse73
5373866256VoiceThe personality of the writer and the attitude conveyed by the writer. The writer's style directly leads to the creation of voice. Both style and voice work together to create tone as tone is the attitude the writer conveys about the subject being discussed, and the personality of the writer directly leads to our understanding of his attitude.74
5373879706abstractUsed as a noun, the term refers to a short summary or outline of a longer work. As an adjective applied to writing or literary works, abstract refers to words or phrases that name things not knowable through the five senses. Allegory: A narrative technique in which characters.75
5373880552aestheticthe philosophical theory or set of principles governing the idea of beauty at a given time and place: the clean lines, bare surfaces, and sense of space that bespeak the machine-age aesthetic76
5373880553ambiguosAmbiguity or fallacy of ambiguity is a word, phrase, or statement which contains more than one meaning. Ambiguous words or statements lead to vagueness and confusion, and shape the basis for instances of unintentional humor.77
5373881911AnimisticThe belief that animals, plants, and objects have their own souls or spirits inhabiting them78
5373885082antitheticaldirectly opposite or opposed79
5373885083auditoryrelating to the sense of hearing80
5373886325catharticA Catharsis is an emotional discharge through which one can achieve a state of moral or spiritual renewal or achieve a state of liberation from anxiety and stress. Catharsis is a Greek word and it means cleansing. In literature it is used for the cleansing of emotions of the characters.81
5373889724Circumspectthinking carefully about possible risks before doing or saying somethin82
5373889725Colloquialof or relating to conversation83
5373891656Deprecatingexpress disapproval84
5373891657Deterministicthe belief that all events are caused by things that happened before them and that people have no real ability to make choices or control what happens85
5373892373Gustatoryelating to taste or the sense of taste86
5373892374Idolatrousthe worship of a picture or object as a god87
5373893555Melodramaticemotional in a way that is very extreme or exaggerated : extremely dramatic or emotional88
5373895782Mendaciousnot honest : likely to tell lies89
5373895783Naturalisticlooking like what appears in nature : not looking artificial or man-made90
5373897861Olfactoryof, relating to, or connected with the sense of smell91
5373897862Parodya piece of writing, music, etc., that imitates the style of someone or something else in an amusing way92
5373898731Pastoralof or relating to the spiritual care or guidance of people who are members of a religious group93
5373904894pedantica person who annoys other people by correcting small errors and giving too much attention to minor details94
5373906011romanticmarked by the imaginative or emotional appeal of what is heroic, adventurous, remote, mysterious, or idealized95
5373906012tactilerelating to the sense of touch96
5373906925trivialnot important97
5373906926vaguenot clear in meaning : stated in a way that is general and not specific98
5373907915Visualrelating to seeing or to the eyes99
5373908879Whimsicalunusual in a playful or amusing way : not serious100

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