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AP LIT vocab > ap lit vocab > Flashcards

ap lit vocab Flashcards

1
Q

ALLEGORY

A

a story in which the narrative/characters carry an underlying symbolic/metaphorical meaning

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2
Q

ALLITERATION

A

the repetition of one or more initial consonants in a group of words/lines

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3
Q

ALLUSION

A

a reference to a person/place/event meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of the idea

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4
Q

AMBIGUITY

A

a vagueness of meaning; conscious lack of clarity to evoke multiple meanings/interpretations

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5
Q

ANACHRONISM

A

person/scene/event/element in lit that fails to correspond with the time/era the work is set in

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6
Q

ANALOGY

A

a comparison that points out similarities between two dissimilar things

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7
Q

APHORISM

A

a short/brief/blunt statement of a generally accepted truth or sentiment

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8
Q

APOLLONIAN

A

refers to the most noble/god-like qualities of human nature/behavior

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9
Q

APOSTROPHE

A

a rhetorical device in which a speaker addresses a person/personified thing not present

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10
Q

ARCHETYPE

A

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

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11
Q

ASSONANCE

A

the repetition of two or more vowel sounds in a group of words/lines

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12
Q

BILDUNGSROMAN

A

German word referring to a novel structured as a series of events that take place as the hero travels in a quest to reach a goal

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13
Q

CACOPHONY

A

grating/inharmonious sound

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14
Q

CAESURA

A

a pause somewhere in the middle of a verse, often marked by punctuation

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15
Q

CARPE DIEM

A

“seize the day” ; enjoy life while you can

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16
Q

CATHARSIS

A

a cleansing of the spirit brought about by the pity and terror of a dramatic tragedy classic

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17
Q

CONNOTATION

A

the suggested/implied meaning of a word/phrase

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18
Q

DENOTATION

A

the dictionary definition of a word

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19
Q

DENOUEMENT

A

the resolution that occurs at the end of a work

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20
Q

DEUS EX MACHINA

A

the use of an artificial device of gimmick to solve a problem

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21
Q

DICTION

A

the choice of words in speech or writing; impacts how every aspect of the work is viewed or understood

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22
Q

DIONYSION

A

refers to sensual, pleasure-seeking impulses

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23
Q

DRAMATIC IRONY

A

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

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24
Q

ELEGY

A

poem/prose that meditates on the passing or death of someone or something of value

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25
Q

ELLIPSIS

A

three periods (…) indicating an omission of words of thought in a thought/quotation

26
Q

ELLIPTICAL CONSTRUCTION

A

a sentence containing a deliberate omission of words

27
Q

EMPATHY

A

a feeling of association of identification with an object/person

28
Q

END-STOPPED

A

a term that describes a line of poetry that ends with a natural pause often indicated by a mark of punctuation

29
Q

ENJAMBMENT

A

in poetry, the use of successive lines with no punctuation/pause between them

30
Q

EPIC

A

an extended narrative poem, ie: the Odessey, that tells of the adventures and exploits of a hero that is generally larger than life and is often considered a legend

31
Q

EPONYMOUS

A

a term for the title character of a work of literature

32
Q

EUPHIMISM

A

a mild/less negative usage for a harsh/blunt term

33
Q

EUPHONY

A

pleasing, harmonious sounds

34
Q

EXPOSITION

A

the background events that lead to the presentation of the main idea or purpose of the work

35
Q

FIRST PERSON NARRATIVE

A

narrative told by a character in the story, using first person pronouns like I and we

36
Q

FLASHBACK

A

a return to an earlier time in the story/play in order to clarify present actions/circumstances

37
Q

FOIL

A

a minor character whose personality/attitude contrasts with that of the main character, intensifying the qualities of both

38
Q

FOOT

A

unit of stressed and unstressed syllables used to determine the meter of a poetic line

39
Q

FORESHADOWING

A

providing hints of things to come in a story or play

40
Q

FRAME

A

a structure that provides premise or setting for a narrative

41
Q

FREE VERSE

A

a kind of poetry without rhymed lines, rhythm or fixed metrical feet; ie. blank verse

42
Q

HEROIC COUPLET

A

two rhymed lines written in iambic pentameter

43
Q

HUBRIS

A

the excessive pride that often leads tragic heroes to their death

44
Q

HYPERBOLE

A

overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect

45
Q

IDYLL

A

a lyric poem or passage that describes a kind of ideal life or place

46
Q

IMAGE

A

a word of phrase representing that which can be seen, touched, tasted, smelled or felt

47
Q

IN MEDIAS RES

A

a Latin term for a narrative that starts not at the beginning of events but at some other critical point

48
Q

IRONY

A

a mode of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is stated, often implying ridicule or light sarcasm

49
Q

LITOTES

A

a form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity

50
Q

MAXIM

A

a saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth

51
Q

METAPHOR

A

a figure of speech that compares unlike objects

52
Q

METER

A

the pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables found in poetry

53
Q

MOOD

A

the emotional tone in a work of literature evoked through the author’s diction, choice of details, themes, setting and events

54
Q

MOTIF

A

a phrase/idea/event that through repetition serves to unify or convey a theme in a work of literature

55
Q

NARRATIVE

A

a form of verse or prose that tells a story

56
Q

NOVELLA

A

a work of fiction of roughly 20-50,000 words; longer than a short story but shorter than a novel

57
Q

ODE

A

a lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exalted feelings towards the subject

58
Q

OMNISCIENT NARRATOR

A

a narrator with unlimited awareness, understanding, and insight of character, setting, background, and all other elements of the story

59
Q

ONOMATOPOEIA

A

use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning

60
Q
A

AP LIT vocab (1 decks)

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