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AP Lit: Literary Terms Flashcards

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5904327169allegorystory or poem that can be used to reveal a hidden meaning0
5904327170alliterationbeginning of same letter or sound in closely connected words1
5904327171allusionindirect of passing reference2
5904327172anaphorarepetition in first part of a sentence , to have an artistic meaning3
5904327173antagonista hostile person who is opposed to another character4
5904327174apostrophefigure of speech used to adresss an imaginary character5
5904327175approximate rhymewords in rhyming pattern that sound alike6
5904327176asidewhen a character's dialogue is spoken but not heard by other actors on the stage7
5904327177assonancerepetition of vowel sounds8
5904327178blank versepoetry written in meter without an ending rhyme9
5904327179cacophonyblend of unharmonious sounds10
5904327180caesurapause in the middle of a line11
5904327181catharsisthe release of emotions through art (emotional cleanse)12
5904327182flat characterstory character who have no depth, usually has one personality or characteristic13
5904327183round charactercharacter who has complex personality: contradicted person14
5904327184dynamic characterchanges throughout the story, through major conflict15
5904327185static characterperson who doesn't change throughout story keeps same personality16
5904327186characterizationprocess of revealing characters personality17
5904327187climaxpoint where conflict hits its highest point18
5904327188comedydrama that is amusing or funny19
5904327189conflictstruggle between opposing forces20
5904327190connotationsecondary meaning to a word21
5904327192couplettwo rhyming lines in a verse22
5904327193denotationthe literal meaning of a word23
5904327194denouementfinal outcome of the story24
5904327195deus ex machinaresolution of a plot by chance or coincidence25
5904327196didactic writingwriting with a primary purpose to teach or preach26
5904327197direct presentation of characterauthor telling the reader how a character is and what actions it will do further in the story27
5904327200end rhymerhymes occurring at the end of line28
5904327201end stopped lineline ending in regular punctuation29
5962299713enjambmentwhen a thought or line in poetry continues past one line to the next, connected in thought30
5904327202English sonneta sonnet rhyming ababcdcdededgg31
5904327203epiphanywhen a character receives a spiritual insight into they life32
5904327204euphonysmooth choice and arrangement of sounds33
5904327206falling actionEvents after the climax, leading to the resolution34
5904327207feminine rhymelines that have a two-syllable word rhyming at the end, with the first syllable stressed and the second syllable unstressed35
5904327208figurative languageLanguage that is not literal, often written to create a special effect or feeling.36
5904327209figure of speecha way of saying something other than the literal way (figurative language)37
5904327210foota measuring unit in poetry, which is made up of stressed and unstressed syllables38
5904327211formexternal pattern or shape of a poem39
5904327212free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme40
5904327213hamartiatragic flaw, usually pride, which causes a character's downfall41
5904327214imageryDescription that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)42
5904327215indirect presentation of characterthe personality of a character is revealed by what he or she does or says43
5904327216internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line44
5904327217ironyA contrast between expectation and reality45
5904327218verbal ironyA figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant46
5904327219dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.47
5904327220irony of situationrefers to an occurrence that is contrary to what is expected or intended48
5904327221italian sonnetA sonnet consisting of an octave with the rhyme pattern abbaabba, followed by a sestet with the rhyme pattern cdecde or cdcdcd49
5904327222masculine rhymeA rhyme ending on the final stressed syllable50
5904327223melodramaa play based upon a dramatic plot and developed sensationally51
5904327224metaphorA comparison without using like or as52
5904327225meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry53
5904327226metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it54
5904327227motivationA need or desire that energizes and directs behavior55
5904327228narratorPerson telling the story56
5904327229octave8 line stanza57
5904327230onomatopoeiaA word that imitates the sound it represents.58
5904327231hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor59
5904327232oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.60
5904327233paradoxA contradiction or dilemma, usually situational61
5904327234paraphraseA restatement of a text or passage in your own words.62
5904327235personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes63
5904327236plotSequence of events in a story64
5904327237point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told65
5904327238omniscient point of viewThe point of view where the narrator knows everything about the characters and their problems - told in the 3rd person.66
5904327239third person limited point of viewnarrator tells the story from only one character's pov67
5904327240first person point of viewa character in the story is actually telling the story himself/herself68
5904327241objective point of viewa narrator who is totally impersonal and objective tells the story, with no comment on any characters or events.69
5904327242protagonistMain character70
5904327243quatrainA four line stanza71
5904327244rhythmA regularly recurring sequence of events or actions.72
5904327245rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem73
5904327246rising actionEvents leading up to the climax74
5904327247sarcasmthe use of irony to mock or convey contempt75
5904327248satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.76
5904327249scansionAnalysis of verse into metrical patterns77
5904327250sestet6 line stanza78
5904327251settingThe context in time and place in which the action of a story occurs.79
5904327252simileA comparison using "like" or "as"80
5904327253soliloquyA long monologue expressing the thoughts of one character alone on stage81
5904327254sonnet14-line poem82
5904327255stanzaA chunk of lines in a poem, a "paragraph" within a poem83
5904327256stream of consciousnessprivate thoughts of a character within the text, usually disobeying rules of grammar and not interfering with plot action84
5904327258symbolA physical item that represents or stands for something more meaningful85
5904327259synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa86
5904327260synesthesiadescribing one kind of sensation in terms of another sense, mixing two or more of the five senses ("a silent color", "a delicious sound")87
5904327261tercet3 line stanza88
5904327262terza rimaan arrangement of triplets, especially in iambs, that rhyme aba bcb cdc, etc.89
5904327263themeCentral idea of a work of literature90
5904327264toneAttitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character91
5904327265tragedyA serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character92
5904327266truncationUtilizing a melody with part of the end omitted.93
5904327267understatementthe deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; a deliberate under-emphasis94
5904327269vilanellea 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.95

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