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AP Literature and Composition > AP Terms > Flashcards

AP Terms Flashcards

(83 cards)

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1
Q

abstract

A

an abbreviated synopsis of a longer work of scholarship or research

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2
Q

adage

A

a saying or proverb containing a truth based on experience and often crouched in metaphorical language

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3
Q

allegory

A

a story in which the narrative or characters carry an underlying symbolic, metaphorical, or possibly and ethical meaning

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4
Q

allusion

A

a reference to a person, place, or event meant to create and affect or enhance the meaning of an idea

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5
Q

ambiguity

A

A vagueness or meaning; a conscious lack of clarity meant to evoke multiple meanings and interpretation

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6
Q

analogy

A

a comparison that points out similarities between two dissimilar things

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7
Q

antithesis

A

a rhetorical opposition or contrast of ideas by menas of a grammatical arrangement of words, clauses, or sentences

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8
Q

archetype

A

an abstract or ideal conception of a type; a perfectly typical example; an original model or form

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9
Q

assonance

A

the repetition of two or more vowel sounds in a group of words or lines in poetry and prose

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10
Q

ballad

A

a simple narrative verse that tells a story that is sung or recited

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11
Q

bildungsroman

A

a german word refe3rring to a novel structured as a series or events that take place as the hero travels in a quest of a goal

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12
Q

blank verse

A

poetry written in iambic pentameter, the primary meter used in english (“Blank” because lines generally dont rhyme)

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13
Q

carpe diem

A

“sieze the day”

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14
Q

climax

A

the high point, or turning point, of a story or play

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15
Q

connotation

A

the suggested or implied meaning of a word or phrase

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16
Q

consonance

A

the repetition of two or more consonant sounds in a group of words or a line of poetry

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17
Q

denotation

A

the dictionary definition of a word

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18
Q

denouement

A

the resolution that occurs at the end of a play or work of fiction

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19
Q

deus ex machina

A

use of an artificial device or gimmick to solve a problem

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20
Q

diction

A

the choice of words in speech and writing

**serves to create meaning, portray characters, convey tone, develop themes **

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21
Q

dramatic irony

A

a circumstance in which the audience or reader knows more about a situation than a character

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22
Q

elegy

A

a poem or prose selection that laments or mediates on the passing or death of something or someone of value

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23
Q

empathy

A

a feeling of association or identification with an object or person

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24
Q

epic

A

an extended narrative poem that tells of the adventures and exploits of a hero that is generally larger than life and is often considered a legendary figure

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25
epigram
a concise but ingenious, witty, and thoughtful statement
26
eponymous
term for the title character of a work of literature
27
exposition
the background and events that lead to the presentation of the main idea or purpose of a work of literature
28
fable
a short tale often featuring nonhuman characters that act as people whose actions enable the author to make observations or draw useful lessons about human behavior
29
fantasy
a story containing unreal, imaginary features
30
figure of speech
figurative language implies meanings
31
1st person narrative
a narrative told by a character involved in the story,using 1st person pronouns such as "I" and"we"
32
flashback
a return to an earlier time in a story or play in order to clarify present action or circumstances
33
foil
a minor character whose personality or attitude contrasts with that of the main character (juxtaposing one character against another intensifies the qualities of both)
34
apostrophe
an address to someone not present or to a personified object or idea
35
caricature
a portrait (verbal or otherwise) that exaggerates a facet of personality
36
conceit, controlling image
conceit refers to a startling or unusual metaphor, or one developed and expanded upon over several lines Controlling image is when the image dominates and shapes the entire work
37
enjambment
the continuation of a syntactic unit from one line or couplet of a poem to the next with no pause
38
hyperbole
exaggeration or deliberate overstatement
39
irony
* Comes in variety of forms * a statement that means the opposite of what it seems to mean * Undertow of meaning, sliding against the literal meaning of the words
40
metaphor
comparison or analogy that states one thing is another | ex:/ his eyes were burning coal
41
simile
like metaphor, but softens the meaning using "like" or "as"
42
objectivity
impersonal or outside view of events
43
subjectivity
uses the interior or personal view of a single observer
44
opposition
* one of the most useful concepts in analyzing literature * meaning you have a pair of elements that contrast sharply * pairing of images whereby each becomes more striking and informative bc it is placed in contrast to the other one * creates mystery and tension
45
paradox
situation or statement that seems to contradict itself but on closer inspection does not
46
omniscient narrator
3rd person narrator who sees like god
47
limited omniscient narrator
3rd person narrator who reports only what one character sees and the thoughts of that one character
48
objective narrator
3rd person only reports what would be visible to a camera
49
1st person narrator
is a character in the story & tells from his/her point of view
50
satire
* satire exposes common character flaws to the cold light of humor * satire attempts to improve things by pointing out ppls mistakes in the hope that such behavior will become less common * great satirical subjects: hypocrisy, vanity, and greed
51
stanza
group of lines in verse
52
accent
in poetry --> refers to stressed portion of a word | *often a matter of opinion
53
aesthetic
*"appealing to the senses"
54
allegory
story in which each aspect of the story has a symbolic meaning outside the tale itself
55
alliteration
repetition of initial consonant sounds | ********consonant clusters coming closely cramped and compressed******************
56
anachronism
"misplaced in time"
57
analogy
* comparison * involve 2 or more symbolic parts * employed to clarify and action or a relationship
58
anecdote
short narrative
59
antecedent
word, phrase, or clause that a pronoun refers to or replaces
60
anthropomorphism
when inanimate objects, animals, or natural phenomena are given human characteristics, behavior, or motivation
61
anticlimax
occurs when an action produces far smaller results than one had been led to expect *frequently comic
62
antihero
protagonist markedly unheroic
63
aphorism
short & witty saying
64
archaism
deliberately using old-fashioned language
65
aside
a speech made by an actor to the audience as though momentarily stepping outside the action on stage
66
aspect
a trait or characteristic
67
assonance
repeated use of vowel sounds
68
atmosphere
emotional tone or background surrounding a scene
69
bathos
writing tries to elicit tears
70
pathos
writing evokes feelings of pity and sympathy
71
black humor
use of disturbing things in comedy
72
bombast
pretentious exaggerated learned language
73
burlesque
broad parody
74
cacophony
using deliberately harsh, awkward sounds
75
cadence
beat or rhythm of poetry in a general sense
76
canto
name for a section division in a long work of poetry
77
catharsis
"cleansing" of emotion an audience member experiences having lived vicariously through the experiences presented on stage
78
coinage
a new word, usually invented on the spot
79
colloquialism
word or phrase used in everyday conversational english that isnt a part of accepted "schoolbook" english
80
decorum
character's speech styled according to her social station and in accordance with the occasion
81
dirge
song for the dead | *tone typically slow, heavy, and melancholy
82
dissonance
grating of incompatible sounds
83
doggerel
crude, simplistic verse

AP Literature and Composition (1 decks)

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