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AP Literature Terms 6 Flashcards

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4935652470parodyexaggerated imitation of a serious work for humorous purposes. -borrows words or phrases from an original, and pokes fun at it. EX: The Simpsons often parody Shakespeare plays. Saturday Night Live also parodies famous persons and events. EX:"Don Quixote" written by Miguel de Cervantes is a parody of romances written in his days.0
4935652471pedanticadjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or. bookish EX: Evan's father insisted that his clothes be hung in his closet all facing the same direction, color coded, and arranged by shade from dark to light. EX: "You cannot make half of a sandwich. If its not half of a whole sandwich, its just a small sandwich." - Sheldon Cooper1
4935652472periodic sentenceWhen the main idea is not completed until the end of the sentence. The writer begins with subordinate elements and postpones the main clause. EX: "His confidence broken, his limbs shaking, his collar wet with perspiration, he doubted whether he could ever again appear before an audience." EX: In spite of heavy snow and cold temperatures, the game continued2
4935653222periphrasisuse of excessive and longer words to convey a meaning which could have been conveyed with a shorter expression or in a few words EX: "I am going to" instead of "I will" EX: "As a matter of fact, the assignment in question is temporarily unavailable due to the secrecy of its location." instead of "I lost my homework."3
4935653223polysyndetonWhen a writer creates a list of items which are all separated by conjunctions. - used to slow down the pace of the writing and/or add an authoritative tone EX: "I walked the dog, and fed the cat, and milked the cows." EX: "Or if a soul touch any unclean thing, whether it be a carcass of an unclean beast, or a carcass of unclean cattle, or the carcass of unclean creeping things...he also shall be unclean."4
4935654575personificationgiving human-like qualities to something that is not human. EX: "The tired old truck groaned as it inched up the hill." EX: The stars danced playfully in the moonlit sky.5
4935654576point of viewthe angle of considering things, which shows us the opinion, or feelings of the individuals involved in a situation - In literature, point of view is the mode of narration that an author employs to let the readers "hear" and "see" what takes place in a story, poem, essay etc. EX:"I felt like I was getting drowned with shame and disgrace."-- First Person POV EX: "Mr. Stewart is a principled man. He acts by the book and never lets you deceive him easily."- Third Person POV6
4935655144quatraina stanza of four lines, especially one having alternate rhymes EX:"That thing that we call poetry - when asked where it began, I'd say it started beautifully before the dawn of man!" --How Poetry Began EX: "I follow on along a ledge; below a swirling river's edge. In front of me, the canyon's yawn. Along a ledge, I follow on."--It Matters Not7
4935655145proseform of language that has no formal metrical structure. EX: everyday conversation EX: an essay8
4935655950rhetoricThe art of effective communication. EX:Upon approaching a cashier at the grocery store she asks, "Will you help starving children today by adding $3 to your grocery bill?" EX: When at a restaurant, the server suggests, "Can I add some of our delicious sweet potato fries to your entree for a dollar more?"9
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AP English Literature Final Flashcards

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2620456138AllegoryStory or poem in which characters, settings, and events stand for each other people or events or for abstract ideas or qualities.0
2620457048AlliterationRepetition of the same consonant sounds in words that are close together.1
2620457472AllusionReference to someone or something that is unknown from history, literature, religion, politics, sports, science, or another branch of culture.2
2620459479AmbiguityDeliberately suggesting two or more different, and sometimes conflicting, meanings in a work. An event or situation that may be interpreted in more than one way.3
2620460403AnalogyComparison made between two things to show how they are alike.4
2620460828AnaphoraRepetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of tow or more sentences on a row.5
2620461241AnastropheInversion of the usual, normal, or logical order of the parts of a sentence.6
2620462072AnecdoteBrief story, told to illustrate a point or serve as an example of something, often shows character of an individual.7
2620462699AntagonistOpponent who struggles against or blocks the hero, or protagonist, in a story.8
2620463258AntimetaboleRepetition of words in successive clauses in reverse grammatical order.9
2620463483AntithesisBalancing words, phrases, or ideas that are strongly contrasted, often by means of grammatical structure.10
2620464376AntiheroCentral character who lacks all the qualities traditionally associated with heroes, may lack courage, grace, intelligence, or moral scruples.11
2620466830AnthropomorphismAttributing human characteristics to an animal or intimate object (personification).12
2620467716AphorismBrief cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life, or of a principle or accepted general truth.13
2620471448ApostropheCalling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person, or to a place or thing, or a personified abstract idea.14
2620473736AppositionPlacing an immediately succeeding order of two or more coordinate elements, the latter of which is an explanation, qualification, or modification of the first.15
2620474972AsyndetonCommas used without conjunction to separate a series of words, thus emphasizing the parts equally.16
2620475281BalanceConstructing a sentence so that both halves are about the same length and importance.17
2620475583CharacterizationThe process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character.18
2620476086Indirect CharacterizationThe author reveals to the reader what the character is like by describing how the character looks and dresses, by letting the reader hear what the character says by revealing the character's private thoughts and feelings,by revealing the characters effect on other people, or by showing the character in action.19
2620478052Direct CharacterizationThe author tells us directly what the character is like.20
2620478785Static CharacterOne who does not change much in the course of a story.21
2620478950Dynamic CharacterOne who changes in some important way as to the result of the story's action.22
2620481112Flat CharacterHas only one or two personality traits. They are one dimensional, like a piece of cardboard.23
2620481647Round CharacterHad more dimensions to their personalities - they are complex, just like real people are.24
2620481957ChiasmusIn poetry, a type of rhetorical balance in which the second part is syntactically balanced against the first, but with the parts reversed.25
2620482859ClicheA word or phrase, often a figure of speech, that has become lifeless because of overuse.26
2620483834ColloquialismA word or phrase in everyday use in conversation and informal writing but is inappropriate for formal situations.27
2620484470ComedyA story that ends with a happy resolution of the conflicts faced by the main character or characters.28
2620485365ConceitAn elaborate metaphor that compares two things that are startlingly different.29
2620485763Confessional PoetryA twentieth century term used to describe poetry that uses intimate material from the poet's life.30
2620486817ConflictThe struggle between opposing forces or characters in a story.31
2620487188Internal ConflictConflict within the person's mind or self.32
2620487601External ConflictConflict between two people, nature, or society.33
2620488063ConnotationThe associations and emotional overtones that have become attached to a word or phrase, in addition to its strict dictionary definition.34
2620489879CoupletTwo consecutive rhyming lines of poetry..35
2620490144DialectA way of speaking that is a characteristic of a certain social group or of the inhabitants of a certain geographical area.36
2620491314DictionA speaker or writer's choice of words.37
2620491566DidacticForm of fiction or nonfiction that teaches a specific lesson or moral or provides a model of correct behavior or thinking.38
2620492600ElegyA poem of mourning, usually about someone who has died.39
2620494146EpanalepsisDevice of repetition in which the same expression, is repeated both at the beginning and at the end of the line, clause, or sentence.40
2620495608EpicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society.41
2620497515EpigraphA quotation or aphorism at the beginning of a literary work suggestive of the theme.42
2620498849EpistropheDevice of repetition in which the same expression, is repeated at the end of two or more lines, clauses, or sentences.43
2620499416EpithetAn adjective or adjective phrase applied to a person or thing that is frequently used to emphasize a characteristic quality.44
2620500347EssayA short piece of nonfiction prose in which the writer discusses some aspect of a subject.45
2620500915ArgumentationOne of the four forms of discourse which uses logic, ethics, and emotional appeals to develop an effective means to convince the reader to think or act in a certain way.46
2620502001PersuasionRelies more on emotional appeals than on facts.47
2620502727ArgumentForm of persuasion that appeals to reason instead of emotion to convince an audience to think or act in a certain way.48
2620503841Causal RelationshipForm of argumentation in which the writer claims that one thing results from another, often used as a part of a logical argument.49
2620506672Descriptiona form of discourse that uses language to create a mood or emotion.50
2620507930ExpositionOne of the four major forms of discourse, in which something is explained or "set forth".51
2620509063NarrativeThe form of discourse that tells about a series of events.52
2620509529ExplicationAct of interpreting or discovering the meaning of a text, usually involves close reading and special attention to figurative language.53
2620516382FableA very short story told in prose or poetry that teaches a practical lesson about how to succeed in life.54
2620517832FarceA type of comedy in which ridiculous and often stereotyped characters are involved in silly, far-fetched situations.55
2620520521Figurative LanguageWords which are inaccurate if interpreted literally, but are used to describe. Similes and metaphors are common forms.56
2620577210FlashbackA scene that interrupts the normal chronological sequence of events in a story to depict something that happened at an earlier time.57
2620578172FoilA character who acts as a contrast to another character.58
2620578678ForeshadowingThe use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in a plot.59
2620579715Free VersePoetry that does not conform to a regular meter or rhyme scheme.60
2620580715HyperboleA figure of speech that uses an incredible exaggeration or overstatement, for effect.61
2620582246HypotacticSentence marked by the use of connecting words between clauses or sentences, explicitly showing the logical or other relationships between them.62
2620583259ImageryThe use of language to evoke a picture or a concrete sensation of a person, place, or an experience.63
2620583949InversionThe reversal of the normal word order in a sentence or phrase.64
2620584279IronyA discrepancy between appearances and reality.65
2620584736Verbal IronyOccurs when someone says one thing but really means something else.66
2620584970Situational IronyTakes place when there is a discrepancy between what is expected to happen, or what would be appropriate to happen, and what really does happen.67
2620586064Dramatic IronyA character in the play or story thinks one thing is true, but the audience or reader knows better.68
2620588524JuxtapositionA poetic and rhetorical device in which normally unassociated ideas, words, or phrases are placed next to one another, creating an effect of wit.69
2620590022LitotesA form of understatement in which the positive form is emphasized through the negation of a negative form.70
2620591023Local ColorA term applied to fiction or poetry which tends to place special emphasis on a particular setting, including its customs, clothing dialect and landscape.71
2620592572Loose SentenceThe main clause comes first, followed by further dependent grammatical units.72
2620594137Lyric PoemA poem that does not tell a story but expresses the personal feelings or thoughts of the speaker.73
2620594957MetaphorA figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things without the use of such specific words of comparison as like, as, than, or resembles.74
2620597378Implied MetaphorsDoes not state explicitly the two terms of the comparison.75
2620598317Extended MetaphorA metaphor that is extended or developed as far as the writer wants to take it.76
2620598815Dead MetaphorA metaphor that has been used so often that the comparison is no longer vivid.77
2620600608Mixed MetaphorsA metaphor that has gotten out of control and mixes its terms so that they are visually or imaginatively incompatible.78
2620603882MetonymyA figure of speech in which a person, place, or thing is referred to by something closely associated with it.79
2620605517MoodAn atmosphere created by a writer's diction and the detail selected.80
2620605733MotifA recurring image, word, phrase, action, idea, object, or situation used throughout a work by one author, unifying the work by trying the current situation to previous ones, or new ideas to the theme.81
2620609949MotivationThe reasons for a character's behavior.82
2620610419OnomatopoeiaThe use of words whose sounds echo their sense.83
2620611344OxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.84
2620611899ParableA relatively short story that teaches a moral, or lesson about how to lead a good life.85
2620612737ParadoxA statement that appears self-contradictory, but that reveals a kind of truth.86
2620613268KoanA paradox used in Zen Buddhism to gain intuitive knowledge.87
2620613940Parallel StructureThe repetition of words or phrases that have similar grammatical structures.88
2620615833Paratactic SentenceSimply juxtaposes clauses or sentences.89
2620616202ParodyA work that makes fun of another work by imitating some aspect of the writer's style.90
2620617002Periodic SentenceThe main idea or central complete thought at the end of the sentence, after all introductory elements.91
2620617935PersonificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes.92
2620618635PlotThe series of related events in a story or play, sometimes called the storyline.93
2620621173Expositionintroduces characters, situation, and setting.94
2620621892Rising ActionComplications in conflict and situations.95
2620622136ClimaxThat point in the plot that creates the greatest intensity, suspense, or interest, also called the turning point.96
2620623502ResolutionThe conclusion of a story, when all or most of the conflicts have been settled; often called the denouement.97
2620626563Point of ViewThe vantage point from which the writer tells the story.98
2620627522First Person Point of ViewOne of the characters tells the story.99
2620627967Third Person Point of ViewAn unknown narrator, tells the story, but the narrator zooms in to focus on the thoughts and feelings of only one character.100
2620629731Omniscient Point of ViewAn omniscient of all knowing narrator tells the story, also using the third person pronouns.101
2620632336Objective Point of ViewA narrator who is totally impersonal and objective tells the story, with no comment on any characters or events102
2620634049PolysyndetonSentence which uses a conjunction with no commas to separate the items in the series.103
2620635709ProtagonistThe central character in a story, the one who initiates or drives the action.104
2620637417PunA "play on words" based on the multiple meanings of a single word or on words that sound alike buy mean different things.105
2620638671QuatrainA poem consisting of four lines, or four lines of a poem that can be considered as a unit.106
2620639499RefrainA word, phrase, line, or group of lines that is repeated, for effect, several times in a poem.107
2620640430RhythmA rise and fall of the voice produced by the alternation of stressed and unstressed syllables in language.108
2620643652RhetoricArt of effective communication, especially persuasive discourse.109
2620644652Rhetorical QuestionA question asked for an effect, and not actually requiring an answer.110
2620645554RomanceA story in which an idealized hero or heroine undertakes a quest and is successful.111
2620645738SatireA type of writing that ridicules the shortcomings of people or instructions in an attempt to bring about a change.112
2620647371SimileA comparison of two unlike things using like, then, or as.113
2620649876SoliloquyA long speech made by a character in a play while no other characters are on stage.114
2620651276StereotypeA fixed idea or conception of a character or an idea which does not allow for any individuality, often based on religious, social, or racial prejudices.115
2620653881Stream of ConsciousnessA style of writing that portrays the inner workings of a character's mind.116
2620656097StyleThe distinctive way in which a writer uses language: a writer's distinctive use of diction, tone, and syntax.117
2620657186SuspenseA feeling of uncertainty and curiosity about what will happen next in a story.118
2620657921SymbolA person, place, thing, or event that has meaning in itself and that also stands for something more than itself.119
2620661453SynecdocheA figure of speech in which a part represents the whole.120
2620662255Syntactical FluencyAbility to create a variety of sentence structures, appropriately complex and/or simple and varied length.121
2620663672Syntactical PermutationSentence structures that are extraordinarily complex and involved, often difficult for a reader to follow.122
2620664851Tall TaleAn outrageously exaggerated, humorous story that is obviously unbelievable.123
2620665996Telegraphic SentenceA sentence shorter than five words in length.124
2620669491ThemeThe insight about human life that is revealed in a literary work.125
2620670135ToneThe attitude a writer toward the subject of a work, the character in it, or the audience, revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization.126
2620673552TragedyA story in which a heroic character either dies or comes to some other unhappy end.127
2620675887TricolonSentence of three parts of equal importance and length, usually three independent clauses.128
2620677405UnderstatementA statement that says less than what it means.129
2620679621UnityUnified parts of the writing are related to one central idea or organizing principle, dependent on coherence.130
2620680669VernacularThe language spoken by the people who live in a particular locality.131
2620682063ImpressionismA nineteenth-century movement in literature and art which advocated a recording of the artist's personal impressions of the world, rather than a strict representation of reality.132
2620684075ModernismA term for the bold new experimental styles and forms that swept the arts during the first third of the twentieth century.133
2620685053NaturalismA nineteenth-century literary movement that was and extension of realism and that claimed to portray life exactly as it was.134
2620686336Plain StyleWriting style thats stresses simplicity and clarity of expression, and was the main form of the Puritan writers.135
2620690564PuritanismWriting style of America's early English-speaking colonists, emphasizes obedience to God and consists mainly of journals, sermons, and poems.136
2620692423RationalismA movement that began in Europe in the seventeenth century, which held that we can arrive at the truth by using our reason rather than relying on the authority of the past, on the authority of the Church, or an institution.137
2620705163RealismA style of writing, developed in the nineteenth century, that attempts to depict life accurately without idealizing or romanticizing it.138
2620705812RegionalismLiterature that emphasizes a specific geographic setting and that reproduces the speech, behavior, and attitudes of the people who live in that region.139
2620708765RomanticismA revolt against Rationalism that affected literature and the other arts, beginning in the late eighteenth century and remaining strong throughout most of the nineteenth century.140
2620711498SurrealismMovement in art and literature that started in Europe during the 1920's.141
2620712971SymbolismA literary movement that originated in late nineteenth century France, in which writers rearranged the world of appearances in order to reveal a more truthful version of reality.142
2620714235TranscendentalismA nineteenth century movement in the Romantic tradition, which held that every individual can reach ultimate truths through spiritual intuition, which transcends reasons and sensory experience.143
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AP Literature - Literary Terms Flashcards

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6192077402allegorya story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.0
6192077403alliterationit is a stylistic device in which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series.1
6192077404allusiona brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.2
6192077405ambiguitymore than one meaning3
6192107438analoguetwo related scenes or events in literature4
6192077406anecdotea short story or tidbit added to provide information5
6192077407antagonista character or force in conflict with the main character6
6192077411aphorisma brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.7
6192077412apostrophea figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.8
6192177857asidea separate conversation usually in a play to the audience or another person9
6192185023assonancerepetition of vowels10
6192187369balladelaborate narrative poem or verse11
6192196113biographydescription of a person's life and accomplishments12
6192077415blank versepoetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter13
6192077417cacophonyharsh or discordant mixture of sounds14
6192212350carpe diemlatin for seize the day15
6192229913catastrophethe final action that completes the unraveling of the plot in a play, especially in a tragedy16
6192244447charactera person, object or animal in a story17
6192263654characterizationusing devices and description to provide information about the qualities of a character18
6192274955classicisma movement or tendency in art, music, and literature to retain the characteristics found in work originating in classical Greece and Rome19
6192288943climaxthe peak of events in a work of literature20
6192294021comedya literary work which is amusing and ends happily21
6192077419conceita fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects.22
6192317834conclusionthe resolution of the events in a story23
6192323584concrete poetrya poem that visually resembles something found in the physical world.24
6480200605conflictinvolves a struggle between two opposing forces usually a protagonist and an antagonist25
6192077420connotation vs denotationAll the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests vs the actual definition26
6192077421consonanceRepetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity.27
6192077422coupletA pair of rhymed lines that may or may not constitute a separate stanza in a poem.28
6192077423dactylA stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables29
6192077425denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot30
6480252445dialogueconversational passage or a spoken or written exchange of conversation in a group or between two persons directed towards a particular subject31
6192077426dictionThe choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing32
6192077427didacticIntended to instruct; teaching, or teaching a moral lesson33
6480261169dramatic monologuea poetic form in which a single character, addressing a silent auditor at a critical moment, reveals himself or herself and the dramatic situation34
6480267262elegya form of literature which can be defined as a poem or song in the form of elegiac couplets, written in honor of someone deceased35
6480270954epigrapha phrase, quotation, or poem that is set at the beginning of a document or component36
6480287306epitheta descriptive literary device that describes a place, a thing or a person in such a way that it helps in making the characteristics of a person, thing or place more prominent than they actually are37
6192077429euphemismAn indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant38
6480311332expositionbackground information about events, settings, characters etc. to the audience or readers39
6480320073fabledescribed through plants, animals, forces of nature and inanimate objects by giving them human attributes wherein they demonstrate a moral lesson at the end40
6480326926falling actionthe events following the climax41
6480329416farcea subcategory of dramatic comedy that is different from other forms of comedy, as it only aims at making the audience laugh42
6480341785figurative languagelanguage that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation43
6480358119figure of speecha word or phrase that has a meaning other than the literal meaning; often a metaphor or simile that's designed to further explain a concept44
6192077435flashbackA method of narration in which present action is temporarily interrupted so that the reader can witness past events45
6480399809foilopposite characters in a literary work46
6192077436foreshadowingA narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.47
6192077437footA metrical unit composed of stressed and unstressed syllables.48
6192077439free versePoetry that does not have a regular meter or rhyme scheme49
6192077440genreA category or type of literature (or of art, music, etc.) characterized by a particular form, style, or content.50
6480419297haikua major form of Japanese verse, written in 17 syllables divided into 3 lines of 5, 7, and 5 syllables, and employing highly evocative allusions and comparisons, often on the subject of nature or one of the seasons51
6192077445hyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor52
6192077446iambA common meter in poetry consisting of an unrhymed line with five feet or accents, each foot containing an unaccented syllable and an accented syllable.53
6192077447imageryDescriptive or figurative language in a literary work; the use of language to create sensory impressions.54
6480427493inferencea literary device used commonly in literature and in daily life where logical deductions are made based on premises assumed to be true55
6192077448ironyA contrast or discrepancy between what is stated and what is really meant, or between what is expected to happen and what actually does happen.56
6480430782local colorfiction and poetry that focuses on the characters, dialect, customs, topography, and other features particular to a specific region57
6480437969lyric poema fairly short poem which is the expression of strong feelings of thoughts or perceptions of a single speaker in a meditative manner58
6192077455metaphorA comparison that establishes a figurative identity between objects being compared.59
6192077456meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry60
6192077457metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it61
6192077458moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader62
6480656694mytha legendary or a traditional story that usually concerns an event, or a hero, particularly one concerning with demigods or deities, and describes some rites, practices and natural phenomenon63
6480669335narrative poema form of poetry that tells a story, often making the voices of a narrator and characters as well; the entire story is usually written in metered verse64
6192077462novelA long fictional narrative written in prose, usually having many characters and a strong plot.65
6192077466odeA lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exalted feelings toward the subject.66
6192077467onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.67
6192077468oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.68
6192077470parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson69
6192077471paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.70
6192077472parallel structurePhrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other71
6192077473parodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.72
6480748829pastoraldepicts farm life in an idealized manner, typically for urban audiences73
6480755533pathetic fallacygives human emotions to inanimate objects of nature for example referring to weather features reflecting a mood74
6192077477personificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes75
6192077479point of viewThe perspective from which a story is told76
6192077482protagonistChief character in a dramatic or narrative work, usually trying to accomplish some objective or working toward some goal.77
6192077483punA joke exploiting the different possible meanings of a word or the fact that there are words that sound alike but have different meanings.78
6192077484quatrain4 line stanza79
6480775631resolutionthe part of a story's plot line in which the problem of the story is resolved or worked out80
6480780275rhymea repetition of similar sounding words occurring at the end of lines in poems or songs81
6192077492rhyme schemeA regular pattern of rhyming words in a poem82
6480785345rhythma literary device which demonstrates the long and short patterns through stressed and unstressed syllables particularly in verse form83
6480789345rising actionthe events leading up to the climax84
6480791243sagaany type of story or history in prose, irrespective of the kind or nature of the narrative or the purposes for which it was written85
6192077493satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.86
6480808440scansionthe process of marking the stresses in a poem, and working out the metre from the distribution of stresses87
6480814150settingwhere and when a literary work takes place88
6480818069similiea metaphor using like or as89
6480820550soliloquya speech that a character makes in a work of drama only to him or herself90
6192077496sonnet14-line lyric poem focused on a single theme; usually written in iambic pentameter91
6480829032spondeea beat in a poetic line which consists of two accented syllables92
6480833334stanzaa division of four or more lines having a fixed length, meter or rhyming scheme93
6480836410stereotypea depiction or description of something or someone in an over-simplified way94
6480842197suspensethe intense feeling that an audience goes through while waiting for the outcome of certain events95
6192077497symbolismusing a thing to represent or stand for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract.96
6192077498synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa97
6480850964synesthesiaa technique adopted by writers to present ideas, characters or places in such a manner that they appeal to more than one senses98
6480856007Theater of the AbsurdA form of drama that emphasizes the absurdity of human existence by employing disjointed, repetitious, and meaningless dialogue, purposeless and confusing situations, and plots that lack realistic or logical development99
6192077500themeA topic of discussion or writing; a major idea broad enough to cover the entire scope of a literary work.100
6192077501toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.101
6480870994tragedyA drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow, especially as a consequence of a tragic flaw, moral weakness, or inability to cope with unfavorable circumstances102
6480882298trocheebegins with a stressed syllable, followed by an unstressed, or weak, syllable103
6192077502understatementthe presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.104
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AP English Literature and Composition Flashcards

From the Barron's 5th edition.

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4385541924antithesis"They promised freedom but provided slavery." "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."0
4385546735Apollonianin contrast to Dionysian, it refers to the most noble, godlike qualities of human nature and behavior1
4385560370apostrophespeaker addresses person or personified thing not present (i.e. "Oh, you cruel streets of Manhattan, how I detest you!")2
4385563272balladsimple narrative verse telling a story that is sung or recited (i.e. "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," "La Belle Dame sans Merci," "Reading Gaol")3
4385570748bathosuse of insincere or overdone sentimentality4
4385614471blank versepoetry written in iambic pentameter, the primary meter used in English poetry and the works of Shakespeare and Milton; does not use rhyme5
4385617917bombastinflated, pretentious language used for trivial subjects6
4385620229burlesquework of literature meant to ridicule a subject; a grotesque imitation7
4386216373caesurapause in the middle of a verse, often (but not always) marked by punctuation -- "The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere / The ceremony of innocence is drowned."8
4386226263classical, classicismderiving from the orderly qualities of ancient Greek and Roman culture; implies formality, objectivity, simplicity, and restraint9
4386393542conceitwitty or ingenious thought; a diverting or highly fanciful idea, often stated in figurative language10
4386412978heroic couplettwo rhyming lines in iambic pentameter11
4386524214deux es machinause of an artificial device or gimmick to solve a problem12
4386526296Apolloniansensual, pleasure-seeking impulses, as distinguished from Dionysian13
4386567334elegypoem or prose selection that laments or meditates on the passing or death of someone or something of value14
4386569625elliptical constructionsentence containing deliberate omission of words (i.e. "May was hot and June the same")15
4386618791end-stoppeddescribing a line of poetry that ends with a natural pause often indicated by punctuation ("In the mountains, there you feel free. / I read, much of the night, and go south in the winter.")16
4386624585enjambmentthe use of successive lines with no punctuation or pause between them17
4386628441epigramconcise but ingenious, witty, and thoughtful statement18
4386677640exposépiece of writing that reveals weaknesses, faults, frailties, or other shortcomings19
4386689674explicationinterpretation or analysis of a text20
4386689675falling actionaction in a play or story that occurs after the climax and that leads to the conclusion and often to the resolution of the conflict21
4386693396farcecomedy that contains an extravagant and nonsensical disregard of seriousness, although it may have a serious, scornful purpose22
4386735677foottwo "beats" in a poem's meter, unstressed and stressed23
4386754307free versepoetry without rhymed lines, rhythm, or fixed metrical feet24
4386782420Gothic novelnovel in which supernatural horrors and an atmosphere of unknown terrors pervades the action (i.e. Frankenstein)25
4386785313harangueforceful sermon, tirade, or lecture26
4386787762humanismbelief that emphasizes faith and optimism in human potential and creativity27
4386790039idylllyrical poem or passage that describes a kind of ideal life or place28
4386814562kenningdevice employed in Anglo-Saxon poetry in which the name of a thing is replaced by one of its functions or qualities, as in "ring-giver" for king and "whale-road" for ocean29
4386831245light versevariety of poetry meant to entertain or amuse, but sometimes with a satirical thrust30
4386837763litotesform of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity (i.e. "He is not a bad dancer")31
4386840699loose sentencesentence that follows the customary English word order, subject-verb-object32
4386843966lyric poetrypersonal, reflective poetry that reveals the speaker's thoughts and feelings about the subject33
4386846405melodramaliterary form in which events are exaggerated in order to create an extreme emotional response34
4386849854metaphysical poetrythe work of poets, particularly those of the seventeenth century, that uses elaborate conceits, is highly intellectual, and expresses the complexities of love and life35
4386881375metonymyfigure of speech that uses the name of one thing to represent something else with which it is associated (i.e. "The White House says...")36
4386932805mock epictreats a frivolous topic with extreme seriousness, using conventions such as invocations to the Muse, action-packed battle scenes, and accounts of heroic exploits37
4387009729montagequick succession of images or impressions used to express an idea38
4387013696novel of mannersnovel focusing on and describing the social customs and habits of a particular social group (i.e. Pride and Prejudice, The Age of Innocence)39
4387017140odelyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exalted feelings toward the subject40
4387022994ottava rimaeight-line rhyming stanza of a poem41
4387218715pastoralwork of literature dealing with rural life42
4387288353pathetic fallacyfaulty reasoning that inappropriate ascribes human feelings to nature or nonhuman objects43
4387291758pentameterverse with five poetic feet per line44
4387294480periodic sentencesentence with main thought at end45
4387296863picaresque novelepisodic novel about a roguelike wanderer who lives off his wits (i.e. Don Quixote, Moll Flanders, The Red and the Black)46
4387334783roman à clefFrench for a novel in which historical events and actual people appear under the guise of fiction47
4387430662scan, scansionthe act of determining the meter of a poetic line; if a verse doesn't do this, its meter is irregular48
4387474764synecdochefigure of speech in which part signifies the whole, or whole signifies the part, or name of a material stands for the thing itself (i.e. pigskin)49
4387479783tropegeneric name for a figure of speech50
4387481882verisimilitudesimilar to the truth; the quality of realism in a work that persuades readers that they are getting a vision of life as it is51
4387484942versificationstructural form of a line of verse as revealed by the number of feet it contains (monometer = 1 foot, tetrameter = 4 feet, pentameter = 5 feet, etc.)52
4387518473villanelleFrench verse form calculated to appear simple and spontaneous but consisting of 19 lines and a prescribed rhyme scheme53
4387521494voltaany shift or turning point in a work of prose or poetry; may mark a shift in point of view, tone, mood, style, etc.; commonly found in sonnets between the octave and sestet54
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AP Literature Summer Vocabulary Flashcards

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2864517381dictionthe choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing0
2864527703denotationthe literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests1
2864530623connotationan idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning2
2864533092formal dictiona type of language that consists of words and phrases that are regarded as very informal, are more common in speech than writing, and are typically restricted to a particular context or group of people3
2864540445colloquial dictioncharacteristic of or appropriate to ordinary or familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing; informal4
2864543737abstract dictionLanguage that describes qualities that cannot be perceived with the five senses5
2864549555concrete dictionrefers to words that stimulate some kind of sensory response in the reader: as we read the words, we can imaginatively use our senses to experience what the words represent6
2864554168figure of speecha word or phrase used in a nonliteral sense to add rhetorical force to a spoken or written passage7
2864555851similea figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid8
2864557717metaphora figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable9
2864563064personificationthe attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form10
2864565541analogya comparison between two things, typically on the basis of their structure and for the purpose of explanation or clarification11
2864570860extended metaphoris when an author exploits a single metaphor or analogy at length through multiple linked vehicles, tenors, and grounds throughout a poem or story12
2864572991hyperboleexaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally13
2864574456understatementthe presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is14
2864576482paradoxa statement or proposition that, despite sound (or apparently sound) reasoning from acceptable premises, leads to a conclusion that seems senseless, logically unacceptable, or self-contradictory15
2864579250ironythe expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect16
2864587520verbal ironyin which a person says or writes one thing and means another, or uses words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of the literal meaning17
2864588384imageryvisually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work18
2864589680syntaxthe arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language19
2864591613simple sentencesa sentence consisting of only one clause, with a single subject and predicate20
2864593833cumulative sentencea type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases21
2864599226periodic sentencesdescribed as one that is not complete grammatically or semantically before the final clause or phrase22
2864601529tonethe general character or attitude of a place, piece of writing, situation, etc23
2864608774free versepoetry that does not rhyme or have a regular meter24
2864612657rhymecorrespondence of sound between words or the endings of words, especially when these are used at the ends of lines of poetry25
2864614380end rhymewhen a poem has lines ending with words that sound the same26
2864618681internal rhymea rhyme involving a word in the middle of a line and another at the end of the line or in the middle of the next27
2864620646eye rhymea similarity between words in spelling but not in pronunciation28
2864623033near rhymerhyming in which the words sound the same but do not rhyme perfectly29
2864625084quatraina stanza of four lines, especially one having alternate rhymes30
2864627702coupletsusually comprise two lines that rhyme and have the same metre31
2864631366rhythma strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound32
2864636585blank verseverse without rhyme, especially that which uses iambic pentameter33
2864640850Italian sonnetThe original Italian sonnet form divides the poem's 14 lines into two parts, the first part being an octet and the second being a sestet34
2864644582Petrarchan sonnetconsisting of an octave with the rhyme scheme abbaabba and of a sestet with one of several rhyme schemes, as cdecde or cdcdcd35
2864651747Shakespearean sonnetIn Shakespeare's sonnets, the rhyme pattern is abab cdcd efef gg, with the final couplet used to summarize the previous 12 lines or present a surprise ending. The rhythmic pattern of the sonnets is the iambic pentameter36
2864654865elegya poem of serious reflection, typically a lament for the dead37
2864656743lyricexpressing the writer's emotions, usually briefly and in stanzas or recognized forms38
2864659235odea lyric poem in the form of an address to a particular subject, often elevated in style or manner and written in varied or irregular meter39
2864667185villanellea 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 quatrain40
2864668440enjambmentthe continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line, couplet, or stanza41
2864674480alliterationthe occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words42
2864679219assonancein poetry, the repetition of the sound of a vowel or diphthong in nonrhyming stressed syllables near enough to each other for the echo to be discernible43
2864681406onomatopoeiathe formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named44
2864683384archaicno longer in everyday use but sometimes used to impart an old-fashioned flavor45
2864687645oxymorona figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction46
2864692643parallel structureis the repetition of a chosen grammatical form within a sentence47
2864695758conflicta serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one48
2864698364expositiona comprehensive description and explanation of an idea or theory49
2864700300rising actiona related series of incidents in a literary plot that build toward the point of greatest interest50
2864702496climaxthe most intense, exciting, or important point of something; a culmination or apex51
2864704332falling actionthe parts of a story after the climax and before the very end52
2864709424denouementthe final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved53
2864712441in medias resinto the middle of a narrative; without preamble54
2864714671flashbacka scene in a movie, novel, etc., set in a time earlier than the main story55
2864717260foreshadowingbe a warning or indication of (a future event)56
2864719233bildungsromana novel dealing with one person's formative years or spiritual education57
2864721603epiphanya sudden and striking realization58
2864724560round characterare complex and undergo development, sometimes sufficiently to surprise the reader59
2864727043flat characterwo-dimensional in that they are relatively uncomplicated and do not change throughout the course of a work60
2864728575stock charactersictional character based on a common literary or social stereotype61
2864734551direct characterizationoccurs when the author specifically reveals traits about the character in a direct, straightforward manner62
2864738365indirect characterizationthe process by which the personality of a fictitious character is revealed through the character's speech, actions, appearance63
2864741266point of viewthe narrator's position in relation to the story being told64
2864743824unreliable narratorwhether in literature, film, or theatre, whose credibility has been seriously compromised65
2864746531stream of consciousnessa narrative mode, or device, that seeks "to depict the multitudinous thoughts and feelings which pass through the mind. Another term for it is 'interior monologue'66
2864756543dialogueThe lines spoken by a character or characters in a play, essay, story, or novel, especially a conversation between two characters, or a literary work that takes the form of such a discussion67
2864759037soliloquyan act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play68
2864762696monologuea long speech by one actor in a play or movie, or as part of a theatrical or broadcast program69
2864764531dramatic ironyirony that is inherent in speeches or a situation of a drama and is understood by the audience but not grasped by the characters in the play70
2864767808allusionan expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference71
2864770448juxtapositionthe fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect72
2864772779antithesisa person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else73
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AP-English Literature Terms Flashcards

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2985516836AsyndetonA construction in which elements are presented in a series without conjunctions.The omission or absence of a conjunction between parts of a sentence.0
2985520677LitotesA figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite.1
2985521710ChiasmusA statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is structurally reversed ("Susan walked in, and out rushed Mary.")2
2985524796PolysyndetonThe use of consecutive coordinating conjunctions even when they are not needed. The effect is to render the reader somewhat breathless. He was overwhelmed, as is by a tsunami, and by the fishes, and by the seaweed, and by the salt spray from the heavens.3
2985529143AnaphoraThe repetition of words at the beginning of successive clauses.4
2985533459AnadiplosisFigure of repetition that occurs when the last word or terms in one sentence, clause, or phrase is/are repeated at or very near the beginning of the next sentence, clause, or phrase.5
2985534118AnachronismSomething out of place in time6
2985534970IsocolonParallel structure in which the parallel elements are similar not only in grammatical structure, but also in length7
2985535903SynecdocheA figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa8
2985538028MetonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it9
2985538029ZeugmaA minor device in which two or more elements in a sentence are tied together by the same verb or noun. Zeugmas are especially acute if the noun or verb does not have the exact same meaning in both parts of the sentence. She dashed His hopes and out of his life when she waked through the door.10
2985538977ApostropheA figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.11
2985539737ConundrumA difficult problem12
2985541718InvectiveAn emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.13
2985543878Circumlocution(n.) indirect and wordy language (The professor's habit of speaking in circumlocutions made it difficult to follow his lectures.)14
2985545228Begging the questionOften called circular reasoning, __ occurs when the believability of the evidence depends on the believability of the claim.15
2985545829AdageA proverb, wise saying16
2985559826Verisimilitudethe appearance of being true or real17
2985560740Malapropisma word humorously misused18
2985560741CadenceRhythm19
2985562261False AnalogyWhen two cases are not sufficiently parallel to lead readers to accept a claim of connection between them.20
2985563647Hasty GeneralizationA fallacy in which a conclusion is not logically justified by sufficient or unbiased evidence.21
2985571417NonsequiturA conclusion or statement that does not logically follow previous arguments or statements22
2985571436Post HocBlaming something that has no connection with the problem.23
2985572752Ad hominemAn argument based on the failings of an adversary rather than on the merits of the case; a logical fallacy that involves a personal attack.24
2985572753Polyphrasisexcessive talking25
2985574253Diatribe(n.) a bitter and prolonged verbal attack26
2985574254EpistropheRepetition of the same word or group of words at the ends of successive clauses27
2985575757Appositiona grammar construction in which a noun (or noun phrase) is placed with another as an explanation28
2985576291Appeal to authorityA fallacy in which a speaker or writer seeks to persuade not by giving evidence but by appealing to the respect people have for a famous person or institution.29
2985576941Appeal to ignoranceA fallacy that uses an opponent's inability to disprove a conclusion as proof of the conclusion's correctness.30
2985581875ConcessionSomething given up or yielded31
2985584409EncominumA tribute or eulogy in prose or verse glorifying people, objects, ideas, or events32
2985585675False DilemmaA fallacy of oversimplification that offers a limited number of options (usually two) when in fact more options are available.33
2985587506Refutationrebuttal34
2985589039Running styleSentence style that appears to follow the mind as it worries a problem through, mimicking the "rambling, associative syntax of conversation"--the opposite of periodic sentence style.35
2985589760ExplicationThe interpretation or analysis of a text.36
2985590988Imperative toneinstructions to convey the simplicity of message37
2985591672InterrogativeAsks a question38
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AP Literature Key Terms Flashcards

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5562980624allegorya prose or poetic narrative in which the characters, behavior, and even the setting demonstrates multiple levels of meaning and significance (a narrative that has many levels of meaning)0
5562993110allegory exampleanimal farm is a political allegory for events that occurred in Russia like the communist revolution, each animal actually represents a person (Napoleon=Stalin)1
5563020939alliterationthe sequential repetition of a similar initial sound, usually applied to consonants, usually heard in closely proximate stress syllables (sequential repetition of a similar initial sound in closely proximate stress syllables)2
5563028671alliteration exampleClosed my lids, and kept them close, And the *balls* like pulses *beat*; For the *sky* and the *sea*, and the *sea* and the *sky* *Lay* like a *load* on my weary eye, And the dead were at my feet. - The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge3
5563045808allusiona reference to a literary or historical event, person, or place4
5565787698allusion exampleThe Rime of the Ancient Mariner themes in Frankenstein: Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner" tells the story of an ancient mariner who kills an albatross and brings upon himself and his ship's crew a curse. The ancient mariner travels the world, unburdening his soul, telling his story to whomever needs to hear it. Shelley alludes to the poem several times. Robert Walton in Frankenstein is similar to the Wedding Guest from "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," with Victor Frankenstein playing the role of the mariner. As the mariner feels compelled to share his story to one who needs to hear it, so does Victor. The explicit theme in "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," that love conquers all, is a clue as to how the tragedy that occurs in Frankenstein's life could have been avoided.5
5565810422anaphorathe regular repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases or clauses6
5565815772anaphora example"A Tale of Two Cities" by Charles Dickens starts with following lines: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair."7
5565831523anecdotea brief story or tale told by a character in a piece of literature8
5565834879anecdote examplewhen Raskolnikov's mother relays the story of Dounia's misfortune in town with Svidrigailov in her letter in crime and punishment9
5566075746antagonistany force that is in opposition to the main character, or protagonist10
5566079394antagonist exampleIn the Harry Potter series, Voldemort is the main antagonist (you know why)11
5566098290antithesisthe juxtaposition of sharply contrasting ideas in balanced or parallel words, phrases, grammatical structure, or ideas12
5566106546antithesis exampleit was the best of times, it was the worst of times - Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens HAMLET: To be, or not to be, that is the question— Whether 'tis Nobler in the mind to suffer The Slings and Arrows of outrageous Fortune, Or to take Arms against a Sea of troubles, And by opposing, end them? (Hamlet by William Shakespeare)13
5566141548apostrophean address or invocation to something that is inanimate14
5566145853apostrophe exampleNow, *time*, I roll you up, I deposit you in my bait box and I am off to fish with your long line the fishes of the dawn! (Ode to Age by Pablo Neruda)15
5566166056archetyperecurrent designs, patterns of action, character types, themes or image which are identifiable in a wide range of literature16
5566176555archetype exampleGlinda the Good Witch from the Wizard of Oz the theme of love (pretty universal)17
5566179117assonancea repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds, usually those found in stressed syllables of close proximity18
5566190081assonance example"H*e*ar the m*e*llow w*e*dding b*e*lls" -The Bells by Edgar Allan Poe19
5714636187attitudethe sense expressed by the tone of voice of a piece of writing; the feelings the author holds towards his subject, the people in his narrative, the events, the setting or even the theme. It might even be the feeling he holds for the reader.20
5714636188attitude example21
5714636189ballada narrative poem that is, or originally was, meant to be sung. Repetition and refrain (recurring phrases or phrases) characterize the ballad.22
5714639492ballad exampleIt is an ancient Mariner, And he stoppeth one of three. 'By thy long grey beard and glittering eye, Now wherefore stopp'st thou me? ("The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge) "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" is a famous epic poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge, and is an excellent ballad example. The above excerpt is the first stanza of the long poem, and features some key aspects of ballads, such as the four-line quatrain and the rhyme scheme of ABCB. The poem tells the story of an old sailor who has returned from his voyaging and wants to share the terrible things he has encountered on the high seas. Bobby burns23
5714639493blank versethe verse form that most resembles common speech, blank verse consists of unrhymed lines in iambic pentameter24
5714782248blank verse exampleSomething there is that doesn't love a wall. That sends the frozen-ground-swell under it, And spills the upper boulders in the sun; (Mending Walls by Robert Frost) This poem has no proper rhyme scheme. However, there is consistent meter in 10 syllables of each line. It is following iambic pentameter pattern with five feet in each line. Only the first line is written in trochee pattern.25
5714936318caricaturea depiction in which a character's characteristics or features are so deliberately exaggerated as to render them absurd26
5714959529caricature exampleTwelve voices were shouting in anger, and they were all alike. No question, now, what had happened to the faces of the pigs. The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which. (Animal Farm by George Orwell) The above quote from George Orwell's satire Animal Farm comprises the last few lines of the novel. Orwell wrote Animal Farm to criticize the Russian political leaders who promised one thing—communism and equality for all—and delivered a very different thing—a very segregated society in which there was too much work and not enough food. The final few lines show how Orwell used caricature examples brilliantly to equate humans and pigs. In the logic of the novel, the humans are the bad guys and the pigs becoming like them shows their corruption. Yet, in the way Orwell writes it the caricature clearly shows how the real Russian leaders were themselves greedy pigs.27
5714959530connotationwhat is suggested by a word, apart from what it explicitly describes, often referred to as the implied meaning of a word28
5715012121connotation exampleGeorge Orwell's allegorical novel "Animal Farm" is packed with examples of connotation. The actions of the animals on the farm illustrate the greed and corruption that arose after the Communist Revolution of Russia. The pigs in the novel connote wicked and powerful people who can change the ideology of a society. In addition, Mr. Jones (the owner of the farm), represents the overthrown Tsar Nicholas II; and Boxer, the horse, represents the laborer class etc.29
5715012122consonancethe repetition of a sequence of two or more consonants, but with a change in the intervening vowels, such as pitter-patter, pish-posh30
5715025591consonance example31
5715051555couplettwo rhyming lines of iambic pentameter that together present a single idea or connection32
5715057358couplet exampleliterally the end of any sonnet33
5715060233denotationa direct and specific meaning, often referred to as the dictionary meaning of a word34
5715067508denotation exampleI hope she'll be a fool—that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool. (The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald) This famous quote is spoken by Daisy, who is talking about her daughter. It is a quote that is often misunderstood because readers only look at the denotation of the word "fool." Many readers assume that Daisy wishes her daughter to be foolish because that's all that women can hope to achieve. Instead, Daisy is speaking from her own painful experience of not being a fool and being aware of the vast injustices of women's lot in life. Only by being a fool would a woman remain ignorant of her substandard rights.35
5715067509dialectthe language and speech idiosyncrasies of a specific area, region, or group of people36
5715075306dialect exampleWalter: Reckon I have. Almost died first year I come to school and et them pecans — folks say he pizened 'em and put 'em over on the school side of the fence. (To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee) also seen in Huck Finn37
5715078850dramatic monologuea monologue set in a specific situation and spoken to an imaginary audience, AKA soliloquy38
5715580278dramatic monologue exampleBut soft, what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east and Juliet is the sun! Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief... O that I were a glove upon that hand, That I might touch that cheek! (Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare) This is a famous balcony scene when Romeo hides in the garden of Capulet, and waits for the glimpse of his beloved Juliet, who comes out on the balcony, and then Romeo uses monologue by sharing his thoughts with the audience.39
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AP Literature Vocab 3A Flashcards

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3152837322SynecdocheA figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole or the whole of it for a part.0
3152837323SynesthesiaWhen one kind of sensory stimulus evokes the subjective experience of another. Ex: the sight of red ants makes you itchy1
3152837324SyntaxThe way an author choose to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences similar to diction2
3152837325ThemeThe central idea or message of a work, the insight it offers into life. Usually it is unstated in fictional works, but in nonfiction, it may be directly state,.especially in expository or argumentive writing.3
3152837326ThesisThe sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinions, purpose, meaning, or position4
3152837327ToneSimilar to mood, it describes the authors attitude toward his materials, the audience or both5
3152837328TransitionA word or phrase that links different ideas used especially, although not exclusively in expository and argumentive writing, to signal a shift from one idea to another6
3152837329UnderstatementThe ironic minimalizing of fact, to present something as less significant than it is and the effect can frequently be humorous and emphatic7
3152837330WitIn modern usage intellectually and using language that surprises and delights in this humorous well suggesting the speakers verbal power in creating ingenious and perceptive remarks8
3152837331AnadiplosisThe repetition of the last word of a preceding clause9
3152837332AnecdoteA short account of a particular and send or event especially as an interesting or amusing nature10
3152837333AnthimeriaOne part of speech substituting for another11
3152837334AntimetaboleThe repetition of words in successive clauses in reverse grammatical order12
3152837335ChiasmusAlso called "reverse parallelisms" since the second part of a grammatical clause13
3152837336ClichéAn expression, idea, or element of an artistic work which has been overused to the point of losing its original meaning or affect, rendering it a stereotype14
3152837337DysphemismThe substitution of a more offensive or disparaging words or phrase for one considered less offensive15
3152837338EpistropheA figure of speech and the counter part of an aspirin is the repetition of the same word or words at the end of a successive phrases clauses or sentences16
3152837339EpithetA rhetorical term for an adjective (ad phrase) used to characterize a person or thing17
3152837340Inverted SyntaxA sentence in which the following subject does not start the sentence18
3152837341JargonThe language especially the vocab peculiar to the particular trade, profession or group19
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AP Literature: Historical Background Flashcards

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2864187942Old EnglishThe Anglo-Saxon period refers to ________0
2864197377MedievalThe Middle English period refers to ________1
2864198358vernacularour everyday speech/language2
2864200756coalWales was important because _____ was found there which fueled the Industrial Revolution3
2864201933fictionLegends are mostly ______4
2864203435Sutton HooAuthenticates the legend of Beowulf5
2864205007authenticatesprove validity/source6
2864205008oral traditionthings passed by word of mouth; changed; exaggerated7
2864206845scoporal tradition/story-teller8
2864239718bardwriter9
2864240740legenda story of past; may have some truth10
2864241477myth or fableall made up; completely fiction11
2864242624poetry, prose, dramaThe three main types of writing are:12
2864243896Thameswarriors (honor, loyalty, bravery)13
2864244796Mead hallcenters of the community14
2864244828Meadfermented honey drink15
2864245799Magna CartaWhen did Constitutional Government start?16
2864249065BrythonsWho were the first to invade Britain?17
2864249979CeltsThe ______ were pagan and built Stonehenge18
2864250881Druidspriestly class that settled disputes19
2864270559RomansInvaded England and stayed for 300 years; their road system still exists20
2864274031Anglo-SaxonsThe _________ from Germany began a new period in Britain's history21
2864275373597In ____ Christianity was introduced22
2864277235heroic poetryabout brave warrior23
2864277986elegiac/lament/elegyof grief/sorrow24
2864279003epicnarrative poem25
2864279004dirgefuneral song26
2864279881balladstory put to music27
2864281592morality playsallegorical plays28
2864282408allegoryteaches a lesson; applicable on both the literal and symbolic level29
2864284537lyrica short poem meant to involve one strong emotion30
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AP Literature Drama Terms Flashcards

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2357785648Ancillary Characterscharacters in a play who set off or highlight the protagonist and who provide insight into the action.0
2357786694Antagonistthe person, idea, force, or general set of circumstances opposing the protagonist; an essential element of plot.1
2357791238Asidea speech, usually short, and often witty of satirical, delivered by a character to the audience or another character, the convention being that only the intended characters can hear it, along, of course, with the audience.2
2357793005Blockingin the performance of a play, the director's plan for the grouping and movement of characters on stage.3
2357793874Catastrophethe "overturning" of the dramatic plot, the fourth stage in the structure immediately following the climax; the denouement of a play, in which things are explained and put into place.4
2357796526CatharsisAristotle's concept of tragedy, by arousing pity and fear (eleos and phobos), regularizes and shapes human emotions, and that therefore tragedy is essential in civilized society.5
2357797956Chorusin ancient Athenian drama, was composed of young men—fifteen in tragedies and twenty-four in comedies—who chanted or sang in unison, and who performed dance movements to a flute accompaniment.6
2357799205Climaxthe high point of conflict and tension preceding the resolution or denouement of a story or play, the point of decision, of inevitability and no return.7
2357800305Comedya literary genre, like tragedy, originated in the Dionysia festivals of ancient Athens.8
2357801443Comedy of the Absurda modern form of comedy dramatizing the apparent pointlessness, ambiguity, uncertainty, and absurdity of existence.9
2357805807Comedy of Mannersa form of comedy, usually regular (five acts or three acts), in which attitudes and customs are examined and satirized in light of high intellectual and moral standards. The dialogue is witty and sophisticated, and characters are often measured according to their linguistic and intellectual powers.10
2357807255Commedia dell'arteBroadly humorous farce developed in sixteenth- century Italy, featuring stock characters, stock situations, and much improvised dialogue.11
2357809286Conflictthe opposition between two characters, between large groups of people, or the protagonist and larger forces such as natural objects, ideas, modes of behavior, public opinion, and the like. May also be internal and psychological, involving choices facing a protagonist.12
2357810269Corous Christi Playsa type of medieval drama that enacts events from the Bible, such as the killing of Abel by Cain, the domestic problems of Noah, the jealous anger of Herod, and so on. Crisis: the point of uncertainty and tension in a literary work—the turning point—that results from the conflicts and difficulties brought about through the complications of the plot. Leads to the climax—that is, to the decision made by the protagonist to resolve the conflict.13
2357810849Denoumentthe final stage of plot development, in which mysteries are explained, characters find their destinies, lovers are united, sanity is restored, and the work is completed.14
2357811860Deus ex machinein ancient Athenian drama, the entrance of a god to unravel the problems in a play.15
2357811861Dramaan individual play; also plays are considered as a group; one of the three major genres of imaginative literature.16
2357813811Dynamic Charactera character who undergoes adaption, change, or growth.17
2357814500Episodean acting scene or section of Greek tragedy; A self-enclosed portion of work, such as a section, or passage of particular narration, dialogue, or location.18
2357814501Expostitionthe stage of dramatic or narrative structure that introduces all things necessary for the development of the plot.19
2357815471Falling Actionthe "overturning" of the dramatic plot, the fourth stage in the structure immediately following the climax; the denouement of a play, in which things are explained and put into place.20
2357816261Farcean outlandish physical comedy overflowing with silly characters, improbable happenings, wild clowning, extravagant language, and bawdy jokes.21
2357816832Flat Charactera character, usually minor, who is not individual, but rather useful and structural, static, and unchanging.22
2357817875Foila character, usually minor, designed to highlight qualities of a major character.23
2357819473Hamartiathe "error or frailty" that brings about the downfall or suffering of tragic protagonist.24
2357819474Herothe major male and female protagonists in a narrative or drama.25
2357820823High Comedyelegant comedies characterized by wit and sophistication, in which the complications grow not out of situation but rather out of character.26
2357821984Hubrismeaning "insolence, contemptuous violence," or pride, defines the attitude/attitudes that lead tragic figures to commit their mistakes or offenses.27
2357821985Low Comedycrude, boisterous, and physical comedies and farces, characterized by sight gags, bawdy jokes, and outrageous situations.28
2357823281Lyrica short poem or song written in a fixed stranzaic form; the Aristotelian term for "several kinds of artistic ornaments," such as strophes, and anti-strophes, that are to be used appropriately in a tragedy.29
2357824146Magnitudethe third element in Aristotle's definition of tragedy, emphasizing that a play should be neither too long nor too short, so that artistic balance and proportion can be maintained.30
2357825846Melodramaa sentimental dramatic form with an artificially happy ending.31
2357827088Miracle Playa medieval play dramatizing a miracle or miracles performed by a saint.32
2357827669Monologuea long speech spoken by a single character to himself or herself, to the audience, or to an off-stage character.33
2357828585Morality Playa type of medieval and early Renaissance play that dramatizes the way to live a pious life.34
2357829639Prologue:in ancient Athenian tragedy, the introductory action and speeches before the parados, or the first entry of the chorus.35
2357849213Protagonistthe central character and focus of interest in a narrative or drama.36
2357850179Revenge Tragedya popular type of English Renaissance drama, developed by Thomas Kyd, in which a person is called upon (often by a ghost) to avenge a murder of a loved one.37
2357850180Restoration ComedyEnglish high comedies written mainly between 1660 and 1700. dealing realistically with personal, social, and sexual issues.38
2357851642Rising Actionthe action in a play before the climax.39
2357852609Round Charactera literary character, usually but not necessarily the protagonist of a story or play, who is three-dimensional, rounded, authentic, memorable, original, and true to life.40
2357852610Scenein a play, a part or division (an act on hamlet, or entire play, as in Death of a Saleswoman) in which there is unity of subject, setting, and (often) actors.41
2357853627Soliloquya speech made by a character, alone on stage, directly to the audience, the convention being that the character is revealing his or her inner thoughts, feelings, hopes, and plans.42
2357854662Static Charactera character who undergoes no change.43
2357854663Stock Charactera flat character in a standard role with standard traits, such as irate police captain, the bored hotel clerk, the sadistic criminal; a stereotype.44
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