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AP Literature terms Flashcards

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4794138123abstractAn abbreviated synopsis of a longer work of scholarship or research.0
4794138124adageA saying or proverb containing a truth based on experience and often couched in metaphorical language.1
4794139365allegoryA story in which the narrative or characters carry an underlying symbolic, metaphorical, or possibly an ethical meaning.2
4794139366alliterationThe repetition of one or more initial consonants in a group of words or lines.3
4794140727allusionA reference to a person, place, or event meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of an idea.4
4794141955AmbiguityA vagueness of meaning; a conscious lack of clarity meant to evoke multiple meanings and interpretation.5
4794143292anachronismA person, scene, event, or other element in literature that fails to correspond with the time or era in which the work is set.6
4794144566AnalogyA comparison that points out similarities between two dissimilar things.7
4794144567annotationA brief explanation, summary, or evaluation of a text or work of literature.8
4794145435antagonistA character or force in a work of literature that, by opposing the protagonist produces tension or conflict.9
4794146574AntithesisA rhetorical opposition or contrast of ideas by means of a grammatical arrangement of words, clauses, or sentences.10
4794147409aphorismA short, pithy statement of a generally accepted truth or statement.11
4794148182ApollonianIn contrast to Dionysian, it refers to the most noble qualities of human nature and behavior.12
4794149689apostropheA rhetorical device in which a speaker addresses a person or personified thing not present.13
4794151573ArchetypeAn abstract or ideal conception of a type.14
4794152369AssonanceThe repetition of two or more vowel sounds in a group of words or lines in poetry and prose.15
4794152370BalladA simple narrative verse that tells a story that is sung or recited.16
4794153882BardA poet; in olden times, a performer who told heroic stories to musical accompaniment.17
4794153883bathosThe use of insincere or overdone sentimentality.18
4794155355bibliographyA list of works cited or otherwise relevant to a subject or other work.19
4794156549bildungsromanA German word referring to a novel structured as a series of events that take place as the hero travels in quest of a goal.20
4794156550blank versePoetry written in iambic pentameter, the primary meter used in English poetry and the works of Shakespeare and Milton.21
4794158003bombastInflated, pretentious language used for trivial subjects.22
4794159650burlesqueA work of literature meant to ridicule a subject; grotesque imitation.23
4794160238cacophonyGrating, inharmonious sounds.24
4794160239caesuraA pause somewhere in the middle verse, often (but not always) marked by punctuation25
4794161294canonThe works considered most important in a national literature or period; works widely read and studied.26
4794161295caricatureA grotesque likeness of striking qualities in persons or things.27
4794164136carpe diemLiterally, "Seize the day"; enjoy life while you can, a common theme in literature.28
4794164900catharisA cleansing of the spirit brought about by the pity and terror of a dramatic tragedy.29
4794166512classicA highly regarded work of literature or other art form that withstood the test of time.30
4794168063classical, classicismImplies formality, objectivity, simplicity, and restraint.31
4794168064ClimaxThe high point, or turning point, of a story or play.32
4794170901coming-of-age/novelA tale in which a young protagonist experiences an introduction to adulthood.33
4794170902conceitA witty or ingenious thought; a diverting of highly fanciful idea, often stated in figurative language.34
4794172336connotationThe suggested or implied meaning of a word or phrase. Contrast with denotation.35
4794173249consonanceThe repetition of two or more consonant sounds in a group of words or a line of poetry.36
4794173250coupletA pair of rhyming lines in a poem; that are connected.37
4794174180denotationThe dictionary definition of a word.38
4794176358denouementThe resolution that occurs at the end of a play or work of fiction.39
4794179216deus ex machinaThe use of an artificial device or gimmick to solve a problem.40
4794179217dictionThe choice of words in speech and writing.41
4794180203DionysianRefers to sensual, pleasure-seeking impulses.42
4794180204Dramatic IronyA circumstance in which the audience or the reader knows something that the characters do not.43
4794181074ElegyA poem or prose selection that laments or meditates on the passing or death of something.44
4794184465ellipsisThe three periods that indicate the omission of words in a thought or quotation. (...)45
4794185372elliptical constructionA sentence containing a deliberate omission of words.46
4794185373empathyA feeling of association or identification with an object or person.47
4794189841end-stoppedA term that describes a line of poetry that ends in a natural pause.48
4794191091enjambmentthe use of successive lines with no punctuation or pause between them.49
4794192844EpicAn extended narrative poem that tells of the adventures of a hero that is generally larger than life.50
4794192845EpigramConcise but witty and thoughtful statement.51
4794193691euphonyPleasing, harmonious sounds.52
4794193692epithetAn adjective or phrase that expresses a striking quality of a person or thing.53
4794198301eponymousA term for the title character of a work of literature.54
4794199391euphemismA mild or less negative usage for harsh or blunt term.55
4794199902exposea piece of writing that reveals weakness, faults, frailties or other shortcomings.56
4794202206expositionThe background and events that lead to the presentation of the main idea or purpose of a work of literature.57
4794202918explicationThe interpretation or analysis of a text.58
4794205133extended metaphorA series of comparisons between two unlike things.59
4794206336fableA short tale often featuring nonhuman characters that act as people whose actions enable the author to make observations or draw useful lessons about human behavior.60
4794206337falling actioncoming of the climax and leads to the resolution.61
4794207472fantasyA story containing unreal, imaginary features.62
4794208953figure of speech/ figurative languageImplies meanings. Includes metaphors, similes, personification, etc...63
4794210656First-person narrativeA narrative told by the character involved in the story.64
4794211480flashbackA return to an earlier time in the story. Clarifies present actions.65
4794211481foilA minor character whose personality whose attitude contrasts with the main character.66
4794211482footA unit of stressed and unstressed syllables used to determine the meter of a poetic line.67
4794212637foreshadowingProviding hints to things that will happen later on in the story.68
4794212638frame69
4794214692free verse70
4794214693genre71
4794216137Gothic novel72
4794216800harangue73
4794216801heroic couplet74
4794218656hubris75
4794218657humanism76
4794220882hyperbole77
4794220883idyll78
4794221549image79
4794222888in medias res80
4794224035indirect quotation81
4794224036irony82
4794224889kenning83
4794224890lampoon84
4794225859light verse85
4794225860litotes86
4794226805loose sentence87
4794227801lyric poetry88
4794227802maxim89
4794228706melodrama90
4794228707metaphor91
4794229905metaphysical poetry92
4794229906meter93
4794230751metonymy94
4794230752middle english95
4794232118mock epic96
4794232119mode97
4794232741montage98
4794232742mood99
4794234322moral100
4794234323motif101
4794234324muse102
4794235194myth103
4794235195narritive104
4794236551naturalism105
4794237184non sequitur106
4794237984novella107
4794238640novel of mannors108
4794238641ode109
4794239625Old English110
4794240625omniscient narrator111
4794243265onomatopoeia112
4794244573ottava rima113
4794245554oxymoron114
4794245555parable115
4794246023paradox116
4794246024parody117
4794246714paraphrase118
4794246715pastoral119
4794249708pathetic fallacy120
4794249709pathos121
4794250260pentameter122
4794251194periodic sentence123
4794251195persona124
4794251732personification125
4794251733plot126
4794253507picaresque novel127
4794253508point of view128
4794254291protagonest129
4794256800pseudonym130
4794257376pulp fiction131
4794257377pun132
4794258292quatrain133
4794258293realism134
4794260041rhetorical135
4794261007rhetorical question136
4794262378rhetorical statement137
4794262379rhyme138
4794263209rhyme scheme139
4794265452rhythm140
4794266072roman a clef141
4794266073romance142
4794267093sarcasm143
4794267094satire144
4794267793scan145
4794267794sentiment146
4794268768sentimental147
4794269905setting148
4794270535simile149
4794271539sonnet150
4794271540stanza151
4794273765stream of consciousness152
4794273766style153
4794276507subplot154
4794277085subtext155
4794277086symbolism156
4794278371synecsoche157
4794278372syntax158
4794279195theme159
4794280858title character160
4794280859tone161
4794281822tragedy162
4794281823trope163
4794281824verbal irony164
4794282899verse165
4794284668versification166
4794284669villanelle167
4794285597voice168
4794285598volta169
4794287957wit170

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