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Vocab for AP Literature Flashcards

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10305278289Adagea proverb or short statement expressing a general truth0
10305278546Allegorya story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one1
10305279571Alliterationthe occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words2
10305279572Allusionan expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference3
10305279894Ambiguitythe quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness4
10305280138Anachronisma thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, especially a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned5
10305280139Analogya comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification6
10305280493Anaphorathe repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses7
10305280494Antagonista person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary8
10305281014Antithesisa person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else9
10305281039Aphorisma pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."10
10305281417Apostrophea punctuation mark ( ' ) used to indicate either possession (e.g., Harry's book ; boys' coats ) or the omission of letters or numbers (e.g., can't ; he's ; class of '99 ).11
10305282072Archetypea very typical example of a certain person or thing12
10305282341Assonancein poetry, the repetition of the sound of a vowel or diphthong in non rhyming stressed syllables near enough to each other for the echo to be discernible (e.g., penitence, reticence)13
10305282342Ballada poem or song narrating a story in short stanzas. Traditional ballads are typically of unknown authorship, having been passed on orally from one generation to the next as part of the folk culture14
10305282713Bildungsromana novel dealing with one person's formative years or spiritual education15
10305282714Blank Verseverse without rhyme, especially that which uses iambic pentameter16
10305284722Cacophonya harsh, discordant mixture of sounds17
10305284723Caesuraa pause near the middle of a line18
10305285194Catharsisthe process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions19
10305285195Conceita fanciful expression in writing or speech; an elaborate metaphor20
10305285679Connotationan idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning.21
10305286025ConsonanceRepetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity.22
10305286036Denouementthe final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved.23
10305286665Dictionthe choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing.24
10305286666Dramatic IronyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.25
10305288506Elegya poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead.26
10305288507EnjambmentA run-on line of poetry in which logical and grammatical sense carries over from one line into the next.27
10305289049Epigrama witty saying expressing a single thought or observation28
10305289050Euphonythe quality of being pleasing to the ear, especially through a harmonious combination of words; the tendency to make phonetic change for ease of pronunciation29
10305289665EuphemismAn indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant30
10305289995Expositionthe part of a play or work of fiction in which the background to the main conflict is introduced31
10305289996FoilA character who acts as a contrast to another character32
10305289997Free Versepoetry that does not rhyme or have a regular meter33
10305290526Hyperboleexaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.34
10305290527In Medias Resinto the middle of a narrative; without preamble35
10305290988Ironythe expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.36
10305290989Litotesironic understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary (e.g., you won't be sorry, meaning you'll be glad)37
10305291329Metaphora figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.38
10305291330Meterthe rhythm of a piece of poetry, determined by the number and length of feet in a line.39
10305294848MetonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it40
10305294849MotifA recurring theme, subject or idea in literature41
10305295245Non-sequitura conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement.42
10305295452Onomatopoeiahe formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named43
10305295453Oxymorona figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction44
10305295454ParadoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.45
10305295851PersonificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes46
10305295858Protagonisthe leading character or one of the major characters in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text47
10305296282Puna joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings.48
10305296283Satirethe use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.49
10305296284Similea figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid (e.g., as brave as a lion, crazy like a fox).50
10305296928Stream of Consciousness51
10305296929Symbolismthe use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities52
10305297387Synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa, as in Cleveland won by six runs (meaning "Cleveland's baseball team").53
10305297388SyntaxThe arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.54
10305297389ToneAttitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character55
10305297611TropeThe generic name for a figure of speech such as image, symbol, simile, and metaphor.56
10305297612Verbal Ironywhen words express something contrary to truth or someone says the opposite of what they really feel or mean. It is often sarcastic.57
10305298439Verisimilitudethe appearance of being true or real58

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