AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

AP Literature Terms Complete Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
7145383114allegorystory or poem that can be used to reveal a hidden meaning0
7145383115alliterationbeginning of same letter or sound in closely connected words1
7145383116allusionindirect of passing reference2
7145383117anaphorarepetition in first part of a sentence , to have an artistic meaning3
7145383118antagonista hostile person who is opposed to another character4
7145383119apostrophefigure of speech used to adresss an imaginary character5
7145383120approximate rhymewords in rhyming pattern that sound alike6
7145383121asidewhen a character's dialogue is spoken but not heard by other actors on the stage7
7145383122assonancerepetition of vowel sounds8
7145383123blank versepoetry written in meter without an ending rhyme9
7145383124cacophonyblend of unharmonious sounds10
7145383125caesurapause in the middle of a line11
7145383126catharsisthe release of emotions through art (emotional cleanse)12
7145383127flat characterstory character who have no depth, usually has one personality or characteristic13
7145383128round charactercharacter who has complex personality: contradicted person14
7145383129dynamic characterchanges throughout the story, through major conflict15
7145383130static characterperson who doesn't change throughout story keeps same personality16
7145383131characterizationprocess of revealing characters personality17
7145383132climaxpoint where conflict hits its highest point18
7145383133comedydrama that is amusing or funny19
7145383134conflictstruggle between opposing forces20
7145383135connotationsecondary meaning to a word21
7145383136consonancerepetition of same consonant in words close together22
7145383137couplettwo rhyming lines in a verse23
7145383138denotationthe literal meaning of a word24
7145383139denouementfinal outcome of the story25
7145383140deus ex machinaresolution of a plot by chance or coincidence26
7145383141didactic writingwriting with a primary purpose to teach or preach27
7145383142direct presentation of characterauthor telling the reader how a character is and what actions it will do further in the story28
7145383143double rhymerhyme where the repeated vowel is in the second last syllable of words involved (ex; born scorn)29
7145383144dramatic expositionprose commentaries, to provide background information about the characters and their world30
7145383145end rhymerhymes occurring at the end of line31
7145383146end stopped lineline ending in regular punctuation32
7145383147English sonneta sonnet rhyming ababcdcdededgg33
7145383148epiphanywhen a character receives a spiritual insight into they life34
7145383149euphonysmooth choice and arrangement of sounds35
7145383150extended figureA figure of speech sustained or developed through a considerable number of lines or through a whole poem.36
7145383151falling actionEvents after the climax, leading to the resolution37
7145383152feminine rhymelines rhymed by their final two syllables38
7145383153figurative languageLanguage that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.39
7145383154figure of speecha way of saying something other than the ordinary way40
7145383155footbasic unit in the scansion or measurement of verse , stressed and un stressed syllables41
7145383156formexternal pattern or shape of a poem42
7145383157free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme43
7145383158hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall44
7145383159imageryDescription that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)45
7145383160indirect presentation of characterthe personality of a character is revealed by what he or she does or says46
7145383161internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line47
7145383162ironyA contrast between expectation and reality48
7145383163verbal ironyA figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant49
7145383164dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.50
7145383165irony of situationrefers to an occurrence that is contrary to what is expected or intended51
7145383166italian sonnetA sonnet consisting of an octave with the rhyme pattern abbaabba, followed by a sestet with the rhyme pattern cdecde or cdcdcd52
7145383167masculine rhymeA rhyme ending on the final stressed syllable53
7145383168melodramaa play based upon a dramatic plot and developed sensationally54
7145383169metaphorA comparison without using like or as55
7145383170meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry56
7145383171metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it57
7145383172motivationA need or desire that energizes and directs behavior58
7145383173narratorPerson telling the story59
7145383174octave8 line stanza60
7145383175onomatopoeiaA word that imitates the sound it represents.61
7145383176hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor62
7145383177oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.63
7145383178paradoxA contradiction or dilemma64
7145383179paraphraseA restatement of a text or passage in your own words.65
7145383180personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes66
7145383181plotSequence of events in a story67
7145383182point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told68
7145383183omniscient point of viewThe point of view where the narrator knows everything about the characters and their problems - told in the 3rd person.69
7145383184third person limited point of viewnarrator tells the story from only one character's pov70
7145383185first person point of viewa character in the story is actually telling the story himself/herself71
7145383186objective point of viewa narrator who is totally impersonal and objective tells the story, with no comment on any characters or events.72
7145383187protagonistMain character73
7145383188quatrainA four line stanza74
7145383189rhythmA regularly recurring sequence of events or actions.75
7145383190rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem76
7145383191rising actionEvents leading up to the climax77
7145383192sarcasmthe use of irony to mock or convey contempt78
7145383193satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.79
7145383194scansionAnalysis of verse into metrical patterns80
7145383195sestet6 line stanza81
7145383196settingThe context in time and place in which the action of a story occurs.82
7145383197simileA comparison using "like" or "as"83
7145383198soliloquyA long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage84
7145383199sonnet14 line poem85
7145383200stanzaA group of lines in a poem86
7145383201stream of consciousnessprivate thoughts of a character without commentary87
7145383202syllabic verseVerse measured by the number of syllables rather than the number of feet per line.88
7145383203symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else89
7145383204synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa90
7145383205synesthesiadescribing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("a loud color", "a sweet sound")91
7145383206tercet3 line stanza92
7145383207terza rimaa verse form with a rhyme scheme: aba bcb cdc, etc.93
7145383208themeCentral idea of a work of literature94
7145383209toneAttitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character95
7145383210tragedyA serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character96
7145383211truncationUtilizing a melody with part of the end omitted.97
7145383212understandmentthe deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; a deliberate under-emphasis98
7145383213verseA single line of poetry writing arranged with a metrical rhythm, typically having a rhyme99
7145383214vilanellea 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

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!