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AP Literature Flashcards

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9855551855allegorystory or poem that can be used to reveal a hidden meaning0
9855551856alliterationbeginning of same letter or sound in closely connected words1
9855551857allusionindirect of passing reference2
9855551858anaphorarepetition in first part of a sentence , to have an artistic meaning3
9855551859antagonista hostile person who is opposed to another character4
9855551860apostrophefigure of speech used to adresss an imaginary character5
9855551861approximate rhymewords in rhyming pattern that sound alike6
9855551862asidewhen a character's dialogue is spoken but not heard by other actors on the stage7
9855551863assonancerepetition of vowel sounds8
9855551864blank versepoetry written in meter without an ending rhyme9
9855551865cacophonyblend of unharmonious sounds10
9855551866caesurapause in the middle of a line11
9855551867catharsisthe release of emotions through art (emotional cleanse)12
9855551868flat characterstory character who have no depth, usually has one personality or characteristic13
9855551869round charactercharacter who has complex personality: contradicted person14
9855551870dynamic characterchanges throughout the story, through major conflict15
9855551871static characterperson who doesn't change throughout story keeps same personality16
9855551872characterizationprocess of revealing characters personality17
9855551873climaxpoint where conflict hits its highest point18
9855551874comedydrama that is amusing or funny19
9855551875conflictstruggle between opposing forces20
9855551876connotationsecondary meaning to a word21
9855551877consonancerepetition of same consonant in words close together22
9855551878couplettwo rhyming lines in a verse23
9855551879denotationthe literal meaning of a word24
9855551880denouementfinal outcome of the story25
9855551881deus ex machinaresolution of a plot by chance or coincidence26
9855551882didactic writingwriting with a primary purpose to teach or preach27
9855551883direct presentation of characterauthor telling the reader how a character is and what actions it will do further in the story28
9855551884double rhymerhyme where the repeated vowel is in the second last syllable of words involved (ex; born scorn)29
9855551885dramatic expositionprose commentaries, to provide background information about the characters and their world30
9855551886end rhymerhymes occurring at the end of line31
9855551887end stopped lineline ending in regular punctuation32
9855551888English sonneta sonnet rhyming ababcdcdededgg33
9855551889epiphanywhen a character receives a spiritual insight into they life34
9855551890euphonysmooth choice and arrangement of sounds35
9855551891extended figureA figure of speech sustained or developed through a considerable number of lines or through a whole poem.36
9855551892falling actionEvents after the climax, leading to the resolution37
9855551893feminine rhymelines rhymed by their final two syllables38
9855551894figurative languageLanguage that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.39
9855551895figure of speecha way of saying something other than the ordinary way40
9855551896footbasic unit in the scansion or measurement of verse , stressed and un stressed syllables41
9855551897formexternal pattern or shape of a poem42
9855551898free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme43
9855551899hamartiatragic flaw which causes a character's downfall44
9855551900imageryDescription that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)45
9855551901indirect presentation of characterthe personality of a character is revealed by what he or she does or says46
9855551902internal rhymeA word inside a line rhymes with another word on the same line47
9855551903ironyA contrast between expectation and reality48
9855551904verbal ironyA figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant49
9855551905dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.50
9855551906irony of situationrefers to an occurrence that is contrary to what is expected or intended51
9855551907italian sonnetA sonnet consisting of an octave with the rhyme pattern abbaabba, followed by a sestet with the rhyme pattern cdecde or cdcdcd52
9855551908masculine rhymeA rhyme ending on the final stressed syllable53
9855551909melodramaa play based upon a dramatic plot and developed sensationally54
9855551910metaphorA comparison without using like or as55
9855551911meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry56
9855551912metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it57
9855551913motivationA need or desire that energizes and directs behavior58
9855551914narratorPerson telling the story59
9855551915octave8 line stanza60
9855551916onomatopoeiaA word that imitates the sound it represents.61
9855551917hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor62
9855551918oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.63
9855551919paradoxA contradiction or dilemma64
9855551920paraphraseA restatement of a text or passage in your own words.65
9855551921personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes66
9855551922plotSequence of events in a story67
9855551923point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told68
9855551924omniscient point of viewThe point of view where the narrator knows everything about the characters and their problems - told in the 3rd person.69
9855551925third person limited point of viewnarrator tells the story from only one character's pov70
9855551926first person point of viewa character in the story is actually telling the story himself/herself71
9855551927objective point of viewa narrator who is totally impersonal and objective tells the story, with no comment on any characters or events.72
9855551928protagonistMain character73
9855551929quatrainA four line stanza74
9855551930rhythmA regularly recurring sequence of events or actions.75
9855551931rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem76
9855551932rising actionEvents leading up to the climax77
9855551933sarcasmthe use of irony to mock or convey contempt78
9855551934satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.79
9855551935scansionAnalysis of verse into metrical patterns80
9855551936sestet6 line stanza81
9855551937settingThe context in time and place in which the action of a story occurs.82
9855551938simileA comparison using "like" or "as"83
9855551939soliloquyA long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage84
9855551940sonnet14 line poem85
9855551941stanzaA group of lines in a poem86
9855551942stream of consciousnessprivate thoughts of a character without commentary87
9855551943syllabic verseVerse measured by the number of syllables rather than the number of feet per line.88
9855551944symbolA thing that represents or stands for something else89
9855551945synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa90
9855551946synesthesiadescribing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("a loud color", "a sweet sound")91
9855551947tercet3 line stanza92
9855551948terza rimaa verse form with a rhyme scheme: aba bcb cdc, etc.93
9855551949themeCentral idea of a work of literature94
9855551950toneAttitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character95
9855551951tragedyA serious form of drama dealing with the downfall of a heroic or noble character96
9855551952truncationUtilizing a melody with part of the end omitted.97
9855551953understandmentthe deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; a deliberate under-emphasis98
9855551954verseA single line of poetry writing arranged with a metrical rhythm, typically having a rhyme99
9855551955vilanellea 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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