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VanAuken AP Literature Terms Flashcards

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8164157365allegorystory or poem that can be used to reveal a hidden meaning0
8164157366alliterationbeginning of same letter or sound in closely connected words1
8164157367allusionindirect of passing reference2
8164157368anaphorarepetition in first part of a sentence , to have an artistic meaning3
8164157369antagonista hostile person who is opposed to another character4
8164157370apostrophefigure of speech used to adresss an imaginary character5
8164157371approximate rhymewords in rhyming pattern that sound alike6
8164157372asidewhen a character's dialogue is spoken but not heard by other actors on the stage7
8164157373assonancerepetition of vowel sounds8
8164157374blank versepoetry written in meter without an ending rhyme9
8164157375cacophonyblend of unharmonious sounds10
8164157376caesurapause in the middle of a line11
8164157377catharsisthe release of emotions through art (emotional cleanse)12
8164157378flat characterstory character who have no depth, usually has one personality or characteristic13
8164157379round charactercharacter who has complex personality: contradicted person14
8164157380dynamic characterchanges throughout the story, through major conflict15
8164157381static characterperson who doesn't change throughout story keeps same personality16
8164157382characterizationprocess of revealing characters personality17
8164157383climaxpoint where conflict hits its highest point18
8164157384comedydrama that is amusing or funny19
8164157385conflictstruggle between opposing forces20
8164157386connotationsecondary meaning to a word21
8164157387consonancerepetition of same consonant in words close together22
8164157388couplettwo rhyming lines in a verse23
8164157389denotationthe literal meaning of a word24
8164157390denouementfinal outcome of the story25
8164157391deus ex machinaresolution of a plot by chance or coincidence26
8164157392didactic writingwriting with a primary purpose to teach or preach27
8164157393direct presentation of characterauthor telling the reader how a character is and what actions it will do further in the story28
8164157394double rhymerhyme where the repeated vowel is in the second last syllable of words involved (ex; born scorn)29
8164157395dramatic expositionprose commentaries, to provide background information about the characters and their world30
8164157396end rhymerhymes occurring at the end of line31
8164157397end stopped lineline ending in regular punctuation32
8164157398English sonneta sonnet rhyming ababcdcdededgg33
8164157399epiphanywhen a character receives a spiritual insight into they life34
8164157400euphonysmooth choice and arrangement of sounds35
8164157401extended figureA figure of speech sustained or developed through a considerable number of lines or through a whole poem.36
8164157402falling actionEvents after the climax, leading to the resolution37
8164157403feminine rhymelines rhymed by their final two syllables38
8164157404figurative languageLanguage that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.39
8164157405figure of speecha way of saying something other than the ordinary way40
8164157406footbasic unit in the scansion or measurement of verse , stressed and un stressed syllables41
8164157407formexternal pattern or shape of a poem42
8164157408free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme43
8164157409hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall44
8164157410imageryDescription that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)45
8164157411indirect presentation of characterthe personality of a character is revealed by what he or she does or says46
8164157412internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line47
8164157413ironyA contrast between expectation and reality48
8164157414verbal ironyA figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant49
8164157415dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.50
8164157416irony of situationrefers to an occurrence that is contrary to what is expected or intended51
8164157417italian sonnetA sonnet consisting of an octave with the rhyme pattern abbaabba, followed by a sestet with the rhyme pattern cdecde or cdcdcd52
8164157418masculine rhymeA rhyme ending on the final stressed syllable53
8164157419melodramaa play based upon a dramatic plot and developed sensationally54
8164157420metaphorA comparison without using like or as55
8164157421meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry56
8164157422metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it57
8164157423motivationA need or desire that energizes and directs behavior58
8164157424narratorPerson telling the story59
8164157425octave8 line stanza60
8164157426onomatopoeiaA word that imitates the sound it represents.61
8164157427hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor62
8164157428oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.63
8164157429paradoxA contradiction or dilemma64
8164157430paraphraseA restatement of a text or passage in your own words.65
8164157431personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes66
8164157432plotSequence of events in a story67
8164157433point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told68
8164157434omniscient point of viewThe point of view where the narrator knows everything about the characters and their problems - told in the 3rd person.69
8164157435third person limited point of viewnarrator tells the story from only one character's pov70
8164157436first person point of viewa character in the story is actually telling the story himself/herself71
8164157437objective point of viewa narrator who is totally impersonal and objective tells the story, with no comment on any characters or events.72
8164157438protagonistMain character73
8164157439quatrainA four line stanza74
8164157440rhythmA regularly recurring sequence of events or actions.75
8164157441rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem76
8164157442rising actionEvents leading up to the climax77
8164157443sarcasmthe use of irony to mock or convey contempt78
8164157444satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.79
8164157445scansionAnalysis of verse into metrical patterns80
8164157446sestet6 line stanza81
8164157447settingThe context in time and place in which the action of a story occurs.82
8164157448simileA comparison using "like" or "as"83
8164157449soliloquyA long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage84
8164157450sonnet14 line poem85
8164157451stanzaA group of lines in a poem86
8164157452stream of consciousnessprivate thoughts of a character without commentary87
8164157453syllabic verseVerse measured by the number of syllables rather than the number of feet per line.88
8164157454symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else89
8164157455synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa90
8164157456synesthesiadescribing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("a loud color", "a sweet sound")91
8164157457tercet3 line stanza92
8164157458terza rimaa verse form with a rhyme scheme: aba bcb cdc, etc.93
8164157459themeCentral idea of a work of literature94
8164157460toneAttitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character95
8164157461tragedyA serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character96
8164157462truncationUtilizing a melody with part of the end omitted.97
8164157463understandmentthe deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; a deliberate under-emphasis98
8164157464verseA single line of poetry writing arranged with a metrical rhythm, typically having a rhyme99
8164157465vilanellea 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.100

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