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The Total Package - AP Literature Terms 2017 Flashcards

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6255979970ambiguityA literary technique in which a word, statement, or literary work is deliberately endowed with multiple meanings0
6255979971aphorismA statement of truth, moral, or philosophical principles expressed in a concise, witty, ans somewhat terse manner1
6255979972epic poemLong narrative poem that includes heroic deeds2
6255979973flashbackNarrative interruptions in which past events are inserted in the story line in order to provide background information or context that helps readers to interpret current events in a different light3
6255979974syntaxThe way in which words and phrases are placed together in sentences to convey a certain meaning4
6255979975pasticheArtistic work in a style that imitates a wide mixture of themes, characters, and concepts from different literary texts5
6255979976motifRecurring symbol, image, theme, or other narrative detail that becomes a unifying element in the literary work6
6255979977analogyA technique in which two things that are very different are compared to one another in order to reveal surprising truths about one or both of the elements7
6255979978bildungsromanA coming of age story8
6255979979foreshadowingA literary technique in which a writer gives hints as warnings or indications of future events that will occur in the narrative9
6255979980monologueDramatic speech delivered by a single character in a play10
6255979981symbolismThe use of an object, person, situation, or word to represent or suggest an idea or belief11
6255979982frame narrativeLiterary technique in which an introductory story is presented for the purpose of setting the stage for a second narrative: a story within a story12
6255979983euphemismThe use of a word that is less harsh in place of one that may be perceived to be blunt or offensive13
6255979984juxtapositionPlacing two or more things side by side for the purpose of comparing or contrasting them14
6255979985eponymThe use of a real or fictional person's name as a descriptive term15
6255979986neoclassicalA revival of a classical (Greek/Roman) style or treatment in art literature, architecture, or music16
6255979987chiasmusa reversal in the word order of words in two otherwise parallel sentences17
6255979988metaphorfigurative language that describes something as though it actually were something else18
6255979989metonymythe substitution of one term for another that is generally associated with it. (ex. the crown declared that the man would be executed.)19
6255979990onomatopoeiathe use of words that imitate the sounds they represent20
6255979991paradoxa statement or expression so surprisingly self-contradictory but ends up being true on some level21
6255979992parallelismthe use of similar grammatical structures or word order.22
6255979993point of viewthe perspective that a narrator takes toward the events it describes23
6255979994puna witty word-play which reveals that words with different meanings have similar or even identical sounds24
6255979995polysyndetonA literary technique in which conjunctions are used repeatedly in quick succession for an artistic or stylistic effect - often slows the speed of reading and emphasizes each item in the list25
6255979996asyndetonPurposely leaving out conjunctions while maintaining the grammatical construction of a phrase. Used to build rhythm, speed, and momentum in writing26
6255979997archetypea symbol found in many cultures27
6255979998dramatic ironya situation where the audience knows something that the characters on stage are not aware of28
6255979999allusiona reference to a piece of literature, character, historical figure that the author assumes the reader will recognize29
6255980000dictionthe word choices made by a writer30
6255980001didactichaving the primary purpose of teaching or instructing31
6255980002expositionthe beginning portion of Freytag's pyramid where the background information, characters and setting are introduced32
6255980003inciting incidentthe spark or complication that "gets the action going" in the play the event that sets the plot into motion33
6255980004denouement (catastrophe)The final outcome of the main dramatic complication in a literary work or the outcome of a complicated sequence of events34
6255980005omniscient narratora narrator who is able to know, see, and tell all, including the inner thoughts and feelings of the characters35
6255980006themeCentral idea of a work of literature/ Meaning of the work as a whole / Lesson about the human condition.36
6255980007toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization.37
6255980008deus ex machinaan unexpected power or event saving a seemingly hopeless situation, especially as a contrived plot device in a play or novel38
6255980009allegorya piece of writing in which abstract ideas are represented by characters and events. Usually political or moral in nature39
6255980010alliterationbeginning of same letter or sound in closely connected words40
6255980011anaphorarepetition in first part of a sentence , to have an artistic meaning41
6255980012antagonista hostile person who is opposed to another character42
6255980013apostrophefigure of speech used to adresss an imaginary character43
6255980014asidewhen a character's dialogue is spoken but not heard by other actors on the stage44
6255980015assonancerepetition of vowel sounds45
6255980016blank versepoetry written in meter without an ending rhyme46
6255980017cacophonyblend of unharmonious sounds47
6255980018caesurapause in the middle of a line48
6255980019catharsisthe release of emotions through art (emotional cleanse)49
6255980020flat characterstory character who has no depth; usually has one personality or characteristic50
6255980021round charactercharacter who has complex and perhaps contradictory personality traits51
6255980022dynamic characterchanges throughout the story, through major conflict52
6255980023static characterperson who doesn't change throughout story; keeps same personality53
6255980024characterizationprocess of revealing characters personality54
6255980025climaxpoint where conflict hits its highest point; the turning point toward resolution of conflict55
6255980026comedydrama that is amusing or funny56
6255980027conflictstruggle between opposing forces57
6255980028connotationsecondary meaning to a word58
6255980029consonancerepetition of same consonant in words close together59
6255980030couplettwo rhyming lines in a verse60
6255980031denotationthe literal meaning of a word61
6255980032denouementfinal outcome of the story62
6255980033direct characterizationauthor telling the reader how a character is and what actions it will do further in the story63
6255980034end rhymerhymes occurring at the end of line64
6255980035end stopped lineline ending in regular punctuation65
6255980036English sonneta sonnet rhyming abab cdcd eded gg (4+4+4+2=14)66
6255980037epiphanywhen a character receives a spiritual insight into they life67
6255980038euphonysmooth choice and arrangement of sounds68
6255980039extended metaphorA comparison sustained or developed through a considerable number of lines or through a whole poem.69
6255980040falling actionEvents after the climax, leading to the resolution70
6255980041feminine rhymelines rhymed by their final two syllables71
6255980042figurative languageLanguage that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.72
6255980043figure of speecha way of saying something other than the ordinary way73
6255980044footbasic unit in the scansion or measurement of verse , stressed and un stressed syllables74
6255980045formexternal pattern or shape of a poem75
6255980046free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme76
6255980047hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall77
6255980048imageryDescription that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)78
6255980049indirect presentation of characterthe personality of a character is revealed by what he or she does or says rather than by what is directly stated79
6255980050internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line80
6255980051ironyA contrast between expectation and reality81
6255980052verbal ironyA figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant82
6255980053situational ironyrefers to an occurrence that is contrary to what is expected or intended83
6255980054italian sonnetA sonnet consisting of an octave with the rhyme pattern abbaabba, followed by a sestet with the rhyme pattern cdecde or cdcdcd (8+6=14)84
6255980055masculine rhymeA rhyme ending on the final stressed syllable85
6255980056melodramaa play based upon a dramatic plot and developed sensationally86
6255980057meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry87
6255980058motivationA need or desire that energizes and directs behavior88
6255980059narratorPerson telling the story89
6255980060octave8 line stanza90
6255980061hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor91
6255980062oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.92
6255980063paraphraseA restatement of a text or passage in your own words.93
6255980064personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes94
6255980065plotSequence of events in a story95
6255980066omniscient point of viewThe point of view where the narrator knows everything about the characters and their problems - told in the 3rd person.96
6255980067third person limited point of viewnarrator tells the story from only one character's pov97
6255980068first person point of viewa character in the story is actually telling the story himself/herself98
6255980069objective point of viewa narrator who is totally impersonal and objective tells the story, with no comment on any characters or events.99
6255980070protagonistMain character100
6255980071quatrainA four line stanza101
6255980072rhythmA regularly recurring sequence of events or actions.102
6255980073rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem103
6255980074rising actionEvents leading up to the climax104
6255980075sarcasmthe use of irony to mock or convey contempt105
6255980076satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.106
6255980077scansionAnalysis of verse into metrical patterns107
6255980078sestet6 line stanza108
6255980079settingThe context in time and place in which the action of a story occurs.109
6255980080simileA comparison using "like" or "as"110
6255980081soliloquyA long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage111
6255980082sonnet14 line poem112
6255980083stanzaA group of lines in a poem113
6255980084stream of consciousnessprivate thoughts of a character without commentary114
6255980085syllabic verseVerse measured by the number of syllables rather than the number of feet per line.115
6255980086symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else116
6255980087synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa117
6255980088synesthesiadescribing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("a loud color", "a sweet sound")118
6255980089tercet3 line stanza119
6255980090terza rimaa verse form with a rhyme scheme: aba bcb cdc, etc.120
6255980091tragedyA serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character121
6255980092truncationThe shortening of a line of poetry that interferes with an otherwise metrical rhythm.122
6255980093understatementthe deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; a deliberate under-emphasis123
6255980094verseA single line of poetry writing arranged with a metrical rhythm, typically having a rhyme124
6255980095vilanellea 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.125
6255980096foila character who contrasts with another character (usually the protagonist) in order to highlight qualities of the other character by opposition126
6255980097in media resthe narrative technique of beginning a story in the middle of the action without preamble or background information127
6255980098Juvenalian satireBitter, angry and ironic criticism of people or society.128
6255980099Horatian satireSatire in which the voice is tolerant, amused, and witty.129
6255980100innuendoan indirect suggestion; a hint130
6255980101litotesironic understatement using the negative to express its opposite. Example: "she's not ugly" to mean "she's pretty"131

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