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Noko AP Literature - Literary Terms Flashcards

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7359761188allegoryA story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.0
7359761189alliterationIt is a stylistic device in which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series.1
7359761190allusionA brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.2
7359761191anagrama word or phrase spelled by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase3
7359761192antecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.4
7359761193antagonistA character or force in conflict with the main character5
7359761194anaphoraA rhetorical figure of repetition in which the same word or phrase is repeated in (and usually at the beginning of) successive lines, clauses, or sentences.6
7359761195anastropheInversion of the natural or usual word order7
7359761196antithesisA balancing of two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses.8
7359761197aphorismA brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.9
7359761198apostropheA figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.10
7359761199assonanceRepetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity11
7359761200asyndetonA series of words separated by commas (with no conjunction), e.g. "I came, I saw, I conquered." The parts of the sentence are emphasized equally; in addition, the use of commas with no intervening conjunction speeds up the flow of the sentence.12
7359761201blank versePoetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter13
7359761202caesuraA natural pause or break in a line of poetry, usually near the middle of the line.14
7359761203cacophonyHarsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of sounds15
7359761204cadenceRhythmic rise and fall16
7359761205conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects.17
7359761206connotationAll the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests18
7359761207consonanceRepetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity.19
7359761208coupletA pair of rhymed lines that may or may not constitute a separate stanza in a poem.20
7359761209dactylA stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables21
7359761210denotationDictionary definition of a word22
7359761211denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot23
7359761212dictionThe choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing24
7359761213didacticIntended to instruct; teaching, or teaching a moral lesson25
7359761214dirgea funeral hymn or mournful speech26
7359761215euphemismAn indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant27
7359761216end-stopped lineA line that ends with a natural speech pause, usually marked by punctuation28
7359761217enjambmentA run-on line of poetry in which logical and grammatical sense carries over from one line into the next.29
7359761218epitaphA brief statement written on a tomb or gravestone30
7359761219epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society31
7359761220epistolaryA piece of literature contained in or carried on by letters32
7359761221flashbackA method of narration in which present action is temporarily interrupted so that the reader can witness past events33
7359761222foreshadowingA narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.34
7359761223footA metrical unit composed of stressed and unstressed syllables.35
7359761224frame storyA secondary story or stories embedded in the main story36
7359761225free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme37
7359761226genreA category or type of literature (or of art, music, etc.) characterized by a particular form, style, or content.38
7359761227hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall39
7359761228heroic coupletA pair of rhymed, iambic pentameter lines.40
7359761229hexameterA line of poetry that has six metrical feet.41
7359761230hubrisExcessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy42
7359761231hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor43
7359761232iambA common meter in poetry consisting of an unrhymed line with five feet or accents, each foot containing an unaccented syllable and an accented syllable.44
7359761233imageryDescriptive or figurative language in a literary work; the use of language to create sensory impressions.45
7359761234ironyA contrast or discrepancy between what is stated and what is really meant, or between what is expected to happen and what actually does happen.46
7359761235verbal ironyIn this type of irony, the words literally state the opposite of the writer's true meaning47
7359761236situational ironyOccurs when the outcome of a work is unexpected, or events turn out to be the opposite from what one had expected48
7359761237dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.49
7359761238jargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand50
7359761239juxtapositionPlacement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts51
7359761240kenningA device employed in Anglo-Saxon poetry in which the name of a thing is replaced by one of its functions or qualities.52
7359761241metaphorA comparison that establishes a figurative identity between objects being compared.53
7359761242meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry54
7359761243metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it55
7359761244moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader56
7359761245motif(n.) a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design57
7359761246motivationA psychological factor that provides a directional force or reason for behavior.58
7359761247narrationThe purpose of this type of rhetorical mode is to tell the story or narrate an event or series of events.59
7359761248novelA long fictional narrative written in prose, usually having many characters and a strong plot.60
7359761249novellaA short novel usually under 100 pages.61
7359761250noveletteWhen a novel is short and has chapters reffered to as vignettes62
7359761251octavea verse form consisting of eight lines of iambic pentameter63
7359761252odeA lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exalted feelings toward the subject.64
7359761253onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.65
7359761254oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.66
7359761255paeansong of joy or triumph; a fervent expression of joy67
7359761256parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson68
7359761257paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.69
7359761258parallelismPhrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other70
7359761259parodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.71
7359761260pedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.72
7359761261pentametera rhythm in poetry that has five stressed syllables in each line (five metrical feet)73
7359761262personaA pattern of relatively permanent traits, dispositions, or characteristics that give some consistency to people's behavior.74
7359761263personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes75
7359761264plotSequence of events in a story76
7359761265point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told77
7359761266polysyndetonDeliberate use of many conjunctions in close succession, especially where some might be omitted. Hemingway and the Bible both use extensively. Ex. "he ran and jumped and laughed for joy"78
7359761267prosodyAppropriate expression when reading. Includes pitch (intonation), loudness, stressing phrases, etc.79
7359761268protagonistChief character in a dramatic or narrative work, usually trying to accomplish some objective or working toward some goal.80
7359761269punA joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings.81
7359761270quatrain4 line stanza82
7359761271refrainA line or set of lines repeated several times over the course of a poem.83
7359761272rhetorical questionA question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer84
7359761273end rhymeA word at the end of one line rhymes with a word at the end of another line85
7359761274eye rhymerhyme that appears correct from spelling but does not rhyme because of pronunciation86
7359761275forced rhymewhen two words don't really rhyme together, but an author uses similar spelled, or sounding words to try to create a rhyme; Ex: stone, one87
7359761276internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line88
7359761277slant rhymerhyme in which the vowel sounds are nearly, but not exactly the same (i.e. the words "stress" and "kiss"); sometimes called half-rhyme, near rhyme, or partial rhyme89
7359761278rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem90
7359761279satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.91
7359761280sesteta rhythmic group of six lines of verse92
7359761281shifts/turnsChanges in the speaker's attitude. Look for key words such as but, yet, however, and although, punctuation, and stanza division.93
7359761282sonnet14-line lyric poem focused on a single theme; usually written in iambic pentameter94
7359761283symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.95
7359761284synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa96
7359761285syntaxArrangement of words in phrases and sentences97
7359761286themeA topic of discussion or writing; a major idea broad enough to cover the entire scope of a literary work.98
7359761287toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.99
7359761288understatementthe presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.100
7359761289villanelleA French verse form calculated to appear simple and spontaneous but consisting of nineteen lines and a prescribed pattern of rhymes.101
7359763868zeugmaA figure of speech in which a word, usually a verb or an adjective, applies to more than one noun, blending together grammatically and logically different ideas. For instance, in a sentence "John lost his coat and his temper", the verb "lost" applies to both noun "coat" and "temper".102

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