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AP Literature Terms Flashcards

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9692129402utopiaa perfect society0
9692129403dystopiaa society characterized by human misery, oppression, disease, and overcrowding1
9692129404situational ironyThe difference between what is expected to happen and what actually happens2
9692129405dramatic ironyWhen the audience is more aware of what is happening than a character3
9692129406allusionto make a subtle reference to something4
9692129407satirea technique used by writers to expose and criticize foolishness and corruption of an individual or a society by using humor, irony, or exaggeration; makes fun of a subject without making direct imitation (ex: A Modest Proposal)5
9692129408novellaa story that is longer than a short story but shorter than a novel (Usually under 100 pages)6
9692129409allegorya figure of speech in which abstract ideas are represented by characters; objective to teach a moral lesson7
9692129410dialoguea literary technique in which writers employ two or more characters to be engaged in conversation with each other8
9692129411archetypea typical character, an action or a situation that seems to represent universal patterns of human nature (ex: Beowulf)9
9692129412mytha legendary or a traditional story that usually concerns an event, or a hero, with or without using factual or real explanations, particularly one concerning with demigods or deities, and describes some rites, practices and natural phenomenon; teach moral lessons and explain historical records10
9692129413parablea figure of speech, which presents a short story typically with a moral lesson at the end11
9692129414polysyndetonusing multiple conjunctions to join words in a list12
9692129415asyndetonto intentionally eliminate conjunctions between the phrases and in the sentence, yet maintain the grammatical accuracy13
9692129416Doppelgangerusually shaped as a twin, shadow or a mirror image of a protagonist; refers to a character who physically resembles the protagonist and may have the same name as well14
9692129417epitheta word or phrase given to a person or thing to describe a characteristic; usually a nickname for people15
9692129418kenninga two-word phrase that describes an object through metaphors; replaces the noun it describes16
9692129419alliterationmultiple words that repeat the same consonant sound (beginning of the word)17
9692129420assonancemultiple words repeat the same vowel sound18
9692129421caesuraa pause in a line of text19
9692129422elegya poem or song that mourns the death or loss of a person20
9692129423personathe character speaking in a poem21
9692129424epica long, narrative poem that tells about the life of a hero22
9692129425voltathe turn in thought or feeling in a poem that often begins with words like: "but", "yet", or "and yet"23
9692129426hyperbolean exaggeration24
9692129427moodwhen the author uses words and descriptions to cause the reader to feel an emotion25
9692129428bildungsromana novel that focuses on the growth of a character from childhood to adulthood (also known as a coming-of-age novel)26
9692129429flat character (static character)a character that does not change very much from the beginning to the end of a story27
9692129430round character (dynamic character)like real people with strengths and weaknesses and deep feelings and thoughts28
9692129431personificationgiving a non-human thing human characteristics in order to create imagery29
9692129432anthropomorphismgiving a non-human thing human characteristics in order to make an animal or object behave and appear like they are human beings30
9692129433first person narratornarrator is usually a character in the story, who interacts with other characters; use of "I" or "we"; usually perspective of the protagonist31
9692129434second person narratorthe narrator refers to at least one character directly as "you", suggesting that the audience is a character within the story; rarely found in novels or short stories, often for music lyrics32
9692129435third person narratorsomeone who is not involved in the story is telling the story33
9692129436third person limitedthe person telling the story only knows the point of view of one or two characters34
9692129437third person omniscientthe person telling the story knows everything35
9692129438frame talea story within a story36
9692129439ballada type of poetry that is accompanied by song and dance; a folk story that is passed down from generation to generation with each generation adding their own revisions to the common story37
9692129440anecdotea short and interesting story that is used to make a point or get readers interested in a topic38
9692129441appositivea noun that describes another noun that comes directly before it (ex: the insect, a large cockroach)39
9692129442prologuean opening of a story that establishes setting and gives background details40
9692129443couplettwo lines that have end rhyme, have the same meter and form a complete thought41
9692129444expositionthe first part of a plot. The beginning of a story where characters, setting, and conflict are introduced42
9692129445slant rhyme (half rhyme)words have similar but not identical sounds (ex: world and word)43
9692129446internal rhymea word in the middle of a line rhymes with a word at the end of that same line44
9692129447inversion or anastrophea literary technique in which the normal order of words is reversed in order to emphasize something or to keep meter/rhythm/rhyme (ex: powerful you have become)45
9692129448Early Romance Genreromance originated in medieval France; includes love, chivalry, knights, quests of courtly love, etc.46
9692129449soliloquya speech given by a character alone on the stage47
9692129450acta main division of a play48
9692129451scenedivision of a play that make up an act; no shift in location or time49
9692129452asidea comment that is made by a character that is meant to be heard by the audience or one other character but not by the other characters50
9692129453tragedya play that ends in suffering or defeat; meant to teach a lesson about humanity51
9692129454comedya play that ends well, usually with a wedding; unpleasant circumstances are overcome in the end to make a happy resolution52
9692129455paradoxa statement that seems to be contradictory but might be true when considered from a different perspective (ex: fair is foul and foul is fair)53
9692129456tragic flawa character flaw such as ambition, pride, weakness or poor judgment that causes the downfall of a character54
9692129457tragic heroa protagonist who is involved in events and actions that lead to his/her downfall55
9692129458pastorala poem about nature or simple country life56
9692129459quatraina four-line stanza; usually has an independent theme and a rhyme scheme57
9692129460enjambmentcontinuing a thought from one line to the next; usually no punctuation at the end of the first line to break the thought so that it continues in the second line58
9692129461repititionrepeating a word, phrase, or line multiple times to emphasize it59
9692129462consonancerepeating consonant sounds at the middle or end60
9692129463imageryusing the five senses, touch, sight, sound, taste and smell, to describe something (ex: hope is the thing with feathers)61
9692129464sonneta poem with fourteen lines, is written in Iambic Pentameter, each line has ten syllables, it has a specific rhyme scheme and a volta62
9692129465similemakes a comparison showing similarities between two different things using "like" or "as"63
9692129466apostropheaddressing a character or an idea that is not present64
9692129467extended metaphora hidden comparison that is longer than one phrase or line; often an entire stanza.65
9692129468synecdocheusing a part of something to refer to the whole or using the whole thing to refer to a part of something (ex: all hands (referring to people) on deck)66
9692129469parodyimitating something directly to make a comic effect (ex: Sonnet 130)67
9692129470conceita figure of speech in which two vastly different objects are likened together (ex: you are a snail)68
9692129471equivocationthe use of vague language to hide one's meaning or to avoid committing to a point of view; often used to deceive others (ex: "none of woman born shall harm Macbeth")69
9692129472oxymorontwo opposite words are used together to make an effect (ex: the night of the living dead)70
9692129473motifa recurring word, phrase, image, object, or action that creates unity throughout a text and may also reinforce its theme; an object or idea that repeats itself throughout a literary work (ex: washing of hands in Macbeth)71
9692129474metonymya figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it (ex: "Crown" meaning power or authority)72
9692129475metaphysical poetryuses logical elements in a technique intended to express honestly, if unconventionally, the poet's sense of life's complexities through the use of elaborate conceits73
9692129476parallelismexamples of a writing that have the same grammar style or meaning; repeating something in order for emphasis or to have a balance (ex: easy come, easy go)74
9692129477English sonnet (Shakespearean Sonnet)three four-line stanzas (quatrains) and a couplet, rhymed abab cdcd efef gg; always fourteen lines long and usually written in iambic pentameter75
9692129478catharsisan emotional discharge through which one can achieve a state of moral or spiritual renewal or achieve a state of liberation from anxiety and stress76
9692129479Chiasmusa rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect (ex: never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You)77
9692129480sarcasmwhen what someone says is different than what they mean; usually intended to have a bitter, mocking, or comedic effect; often combined with irony to create satire78
9692129481dialectthe language used by the people of a specific area, class, district or any other group of people; involves spelling, sounds, grammar and pronunciation used by a particular group of people and it distinguishes them from other people around them79
9692129482anaphoraa type of repetition; repeating a word at the beginning of a sentence or the beginning of a clause80
9692129483euphemismpolite, indirect expressions that replace words and phrases considered harsh and impolite (ex: "kick the bucket" = death)81
9692129484odea form of lyrical poetry, in which poets use a certain metrical pattern and rhyme scheme to express their noble and lofty sentiments in serious and sometimes satirical tone; celebratory in nature82
9692129485lyrical poetryfocuses more on emotions than telling a story (pastoral, ode, villanelle etc.)83
9692129486refrainRefrain is a poetic device that repeats, at regular intervals, in different stanzas84
9692129487gothic fictiona branch of romanticism that focuses on terror and mystery in order to entertain or gain insights about a dark side to human nature85
9692129488science fictiona form of fiction that focuses on the impact of science upon society or individuals; usually doesn't include supernatural elements86
9692129489understatementmaking a situation seem less important than it really is. Understatement is the opposite of hyperbole87
9692129490byronic heroa type of antihero who is usually rebellious, arrogant and an outcast or exile (ex: Dracula, Mr. Darcy, etc)88
9692129491juxtapositiontwo or more ideas, places, characters and their actions are placed side by side for the purpose of developing comparisons and contrasts89
9692129492periodic sentencea long sentence where the meaning isn't completed until the very end90
9692129493loose sentencea sentence structure in which a main clause is followed by one or more coordinate or subordinate phrases and clauses91
9692129494cumulative sentencean independent clause followed by a series of subordinate constructions; it has more than one subordinate clause92
9692129495antithetical sentencea sentence that expresses two ideas that are opposed on the surface, but that can actually express another idea in its apparent contradiction93
9692129496balanced sentencemade up of two segments which are equal, not only in length, but also in grammatical structure and meaning (can be periodic or cumulative)94
9692129497epistrophethe same word returns at the end of each sentence95
9692129498leitmotifa musical piece that is associated with a character or object (Star Wars song)96
9692129499invocationan appeal for aid (especially for inspiration) is made to a muse or deity, usually at or near the beginning of the work97
9692129500synesthesiaa technique adopted by writers to present ideas, characters, or places in such a manner that they appeal to more than one sense, like hearing, sight, smell, and touch at a given time98
9692129501masculine rhymea rhyme that matches only one syllable, usually at the end of respective lines (wail & flail)99
9692129502Terza Rimaan arrangement of triplets, especially in iambs, that rhyme aba bcb cdc100
9692129503prolepsisthe representation or assumption of a future act or development as if presently existing or accomplished; referring to a future event as if it is already completed; aka "flash forward"; ex: "I am going to tell you about the events that led to my death"101
9692129504zeitgeistthe defining spirit or mood of a particular period of history as shown by the ideas and beliefs of the time102
9692129505stream of consciousnessa narrative device that attempts to give the written equivalent of the character's thought processes, either in a loose interior monologue (see below), or in connection to his or her actions103
9692129506unreliable narratora character whose telling of the story is not completely accurate or credible due to problems with the character's mental state or maturity104
9692129507feminine rhymea rhyme that matches two or more syllables, usually at the end of respective lines, in which the final syllable or syllabication are unstressed; aka double triple rhyme105
9692129508syntaxthe arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language106
9692129509blank verseunrhymed verse written in iambic pentameter107
9692129510homilya usually short sermon; a lecture or discourse on or of a moral theme108
9692129511dirgea song or hymn of grief or lamentation, especially one intended to accompany funeral or memorial rites109
9692129512limericka form of verse, often humorous and sometimes obscene, in five-line, predominantly anapestic meter with a strict rhyme scheme of AABBA110
9692129513panegyrica lofty oration or writing in praise of a person or thing; eulogy111
9692129514epigrama concise poem dealing pointedly and often satirically with a single thought or event and often ending with an ingenious turn of thought112
9692129515double entendrea word or phrase open to two interpretations, one of which is usually obscene113
9692129516closed formconsists of poems that follow patterns of lines, meter, rhymes, and stanzas, whereas open form poetry does not114
9692129517villanellea nineteen-line poetic form consisting of five tercets (3 lines) followed by a quatrain. There are two refrains and two repeating rhymes, with the first and third line of the first tercet repeated alternately until the last stanza, which includes both repeated lines115
9692129518codathe tail, tag, outro, envoi or concluding passage of a piece of writing116
9692129519em dasha long dash used in punctuation to mark a pause117
9692129520free-versean open form of poetry; does not use consistent meter patterns, rhyme, or any other musical pattern118
9692129521interior monologuethe expression of a character's thoughts, feelings, and impressions in a narrative; a form of stream-of-consciousness119
9692129522missivea letter, especially a long or official one: he hastily banged out electronic missives120
9692129523litotesironical understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary (ex: you won't be sorry, meaning you'll be glad; not bad)121
9692129524lampoonpublicly criticize (someone or something) by using ridicule, irony, or sarcasm122
9692129525free indirect stylea style of third-person narration which uses some of the characteristics of third-person along with the essence of first-person direct speech123
9692129526memoira record of events written by a person having intimate knowledge of them and based on personal observation124
9692129527burlesquean absurd or comically exaggerated imitation of something, especially in a literary or dramatic work; a parody125
9692129528malapropismthe mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with unintentionally amusing effect; ex: His capacity for hard liquor is incredulous (incredible).126
9692129529anachronisma thing belonging or appropriate to a period other than that in which it exists, especially a thing that is conspicuously old-fashioned127
9692129530exact rhymerhyme in which the final accented vowel and all succeeding consonants or syllables are identical, while the preceding consonants are different128
9692129531epanalepsisa figure of speech in which the beginning of a clause or sentence is repeated at the end of that same clause or sentence, with words intervening; ex: "The king is dead, long live the king!"129
9692129532blandishmenta flattering or pleasing statement or action used to persuade someone gently to do something130
9692129533pontificationexpress one's opinions in a way considered annoyingly pompous and dogmatic131
9692129534admonitionwarn or reprimand someone firmly132

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