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AP Literature > APL literacy terms > Flashcards

APL literacy terms Flashcards

1
Q

major unit of action in a drama or play; can be divided into smaller sections called scenes.

A

Act

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2
Q

often have a strong moral lesson; story in which people, things and actions represents an idea about life.

A

Allegory

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3
Q

repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words

A

Alliteration

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4
Q

reference in a literary work to a person, place or thing in history or another work of literature; often indirect or brief references to well known characters or events

A

Allusion

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5
Q

comparison of two or more like objects that suggest if they are alike in certain respects, they will probably be alike in other ways as well.

A

Analogy

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6
Q

brief account of an interesting incident or event that usually intended to entertain or to make a point

A

Anecdote

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7
Q

actors speech directed to the audience that is not suppose to be heard by others on stage; used to let the audience know what the character is about to do or thinking.

A

Aside

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8
Q

repetition of vowel sounds within a line of poetry

A

Assonance

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9
Q

group of readers or viewers that the writer is addressing. A writer considers the audience when deciding on a subject, a purpose for writing and the tone and style in which to write.

A

Audience

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10
Q

the writer of the book, article or other text

A

Author

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11
Q

authors reason for creating a particular work. the purpose can be entertain, explain or inform, express an opinion, or to persuade

A

Author’s purpose

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12
Q

form of nonfiction in which a person tells a story of his or her life

A

Autobiography

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13
Q

a poem that tells a story and is meant to be sung or recited

A

Ballad

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14
Q

the story of a person’s life that is written by someone else

A

Biography

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15
Q

unrhymed iambic pentameter

A

Blank verse

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16
Q

a pause or sudden break in a line of poetry

A

Caesura

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17
Q

one event brings about or causes the other. The first is the cause, the event that follows is the effect

A

Cause and effect

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18
Q

a person who is responsible for the thoughts and actions within a story, poem, or other literature characters are extremely important because they are the medium through which a reader interacts. All have their own personality

A

Character

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19
Q

a character in a story or poem who deceives, frustrates, or works against the main character, or protagonist. Doesn’t have to be a person; could be death, the devil, an illness or any change that prevents the main character living “happily ever after”

A

Antagonist

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20
Q

pictures or imitation of a person’s habits, physical appearance, or mannerisms exaggerated in a comic or absurd way

A

Caricature

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21
Q

character that serves as a contrast or a conflict to another character

A

Foil

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22
Q

character whose actions are inspiring or noble; often the main character in a story

A

Hero/heroine

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23
Q

the characters central to the plot of the story; main characters are usually dynamic and round

A

Main Character

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24
Q

less important character who interacts with the main character, helping to move the plot along and providing background for the story; usually static and flat

A

Minor Character

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25
Q

all the techniques that writers use to create characters

A

Characterization

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26
Q

a characters personality; a trait is not a physical description of a character

A

Character Trait

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27
Q

the author directly states a characters traits or makes direct comments about the characters nature

A

Direct Characterization

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28
Q

a character who changes throughout the course of the story

A

Dynamic Character

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29
Q

a character about whom we know little about

A

Flat Character

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30
Q

the author does not directly state a character’s trait; instead the reader draws conclusions and discovers a character’s trait based upon clues provide by the author

A

Indirect Characterization

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31
Q

a character who is fully described by the author

A

Round Character

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32
Q

a character who does not change or changes very little in the course of a story

A

Static Character

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33
Q

the order in which events happen in time

A

Chronological Order

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34
Q

the readers process of pausing occasionally while reading to quickly review what he or she understands. by doing this good readers are able to draw conclusions about what is suggested but not directly stated

A

Clarifying

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35
Q

type of figurative language containing an overused expression or a saying that is no longer considered original

A

Cliche

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36
Q

dramatic work that is light and often humorous in tone and usually ends happily with a peaceful resolution of the main conflict

A

Comedy

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37
Q

the process of identifying similarities

A

Comparison

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38
Q

a type of poetry that uses its physical or visual form to present its message

A

Concrete Poem

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39
Q

the tension or problem in the story

A

Conflict

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40
Q

the most important conflict in the story

A

Central conflict

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41
Q

the problem or struggle that exists between the main character and an outside force (ex: person vs. person)

A

External conflict

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42
Q

the problem or struggle that takes place in the main characters mind (person vs. self)

A

Internal conflict

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43
Q

a readers purpose of relating the content of a literary work to his or her own knowledge and experience

A

Connecting

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44
Q

The idea and feeling associated with a word

A

Connotation

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45
Q

Dictionary definition of a word

A

Denotation

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46
Q

The repetition of consonant spuds anywhere within a like of poetry

A

Consonance

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47
Q

Hints or suggestions that may surround unfamiliar words or phrases and clarify their meaning.

A

Context clues

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48
Q

The process of pointing out the differences between things

A

Contrast

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49
Q

A rhymed pair of lines in a poem. One of William Shakespeare’s trademarks to end a sonnet.

A

Couplet

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50
Q

Pattern of repeating a word

A

Anadiplosis

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51
Q

Rearranging letters to make a new word.

A

Anagram

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52
Q

Contrast of words. Draws the attention of the reader or listener. Ex: speech is silver, silence is gold

A

Antithesis

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53
Q

A form of language this is spoken in a particular place or by a particular group of people.

A

Dialect

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54
Q

The conversation between characters in a drama or narrative.

A

Dialogue

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55
Q

Form of literature meant to be preformed by actors before an audience. The characters dialogue and actions tell the story.

A

Drama

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56
Q

Written form of a play.

A

Script

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57
Q

Combining several pieces of information to make an inference.

A

Drawing conclusions

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58
Q

A literary device that is used when a character reveals his or her inner most thoughts and feelings, those that are hidden throughout the course of the story line, through a poem or speech.

A

Dramatic monologue

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59
Q

A type of literature defined as a song or poem that expresses sorrow or lamentation, usually for one who has died.

A

Elegy

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60
Q

In poetry, incomplete syntax at the end of a line, the meaning running over into the next line without terminal punctuation.

A

Enjambment

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61
Q

A short poem or verse that seeks to ridiculed thought of event usually with witticism or sarcasm.

A

Epigram

62
Q

A brief tale that teaches a lesson about human nature; often features animals as characters

A

Fable

63
Q

A fact is a statement that can be provoked. An opinion in contrast, is a statement that reflects the writers or speakers belief, but which cannot be supported by proof or evidence

A

Fact and opinion

64
Q

Traditions, customs, and stories that are passed down within a culture; contains various types of literature such as legends, folktales, myths and fables

A

Folklore

65
Q

A simple story that has been passed from generation to generation by word of mouth; fold primarily to entertain rather than to explain or teach a lesson

A

Folktale

66
Q

A unit meter within a line of poetry

A

Foot

67
Q

When the writer provides clues or hints that suggest it predict future events in a story.

A

Foreshadowing

68
Q

Poetry without regular patterns of rhyme and rhythm. Often used to capture the sounds of ordinary speech.

A

Free verse

69
Q

A broad statement about an entire group

A

Generalization

70
Q

A type or category of literature. the four main literary genres include: fiction, nonfiction, poetry and drama

A

Genre

71
Q

A traditional firm of Japanese poetry, usually dealing with nature. 3 lines and describes a single moment, feeling or thing. The first and third lines contain 5 syllables and the second line contains 7

A

Haiku

72
Q

A couplet consisting of two successive rhyming lines that contain a complete thought.

A

Heroic couplet or closed couplet

73
Q

Fiction that explored a past time period and may contain references to actual people and events of the past

A

Historical fiction

74
Q

Quality that provides laughter or amusement. Writers create humor through exaggeration, sarcasm, amusing descriptions, irony and witty and dialogue.

A

Humor

75
Q

Figure of speech in which the truth is exaggerated for emphasis it humorous effect.

A

Hyperbole

76
Q

A phrase or expression that means something different from what the word actually means.
Ex. Over his head= he doesn’t get it.

A

Idiom

77
Q

The use of words and phrases that appeals to the five senses. Writers use sensory details to help readers imagine how things look, feel, smell, sound and taste.

A

Imagery

78
Q

Is logical guess based on evidence

A

Inference

79
Q

anything out of time and out of place

A

Anachronism

80
Q

Form of word play in which letters of a word or phrases are rearranged

A

Anagram

81
Q

see meter

A

Iambic meter

82
Q

See character

A

antagonist

83
Q

See refrain

A

Chorus

84
Q

see plot

A

Climax

85
Q

see plot

A

Denouement

86
Q

see plot

A

falling action

87
Q

see character

A

foil

88
Q

see character

A

hero/heroine

89
Q

a specific type of autobiography; about the authors personal experiences but doesn’t necessarily cover the authors entire life.

A

memoir

90
Q

figurative language in which a comparison is made between two things that are essentially unalike but have quality in common. does not use “like” or “as”

A

Metaphor

91
Q

A meeting in which one person asks another about personal matters, professional matters or both

A

Interview

92
Q

Contrast between what is expected and what actually exists or happens; spices up a literary work by adding unexpected twists and allowing the reader to become more involved with the characters and plot

A

Irony

93
Q

Occurs when the speaker means something totally different than what he or she is saying and often times the opposite of what they say is true

A

Verbal irony

94
Q

Occurs when facts are not known to the characters in a work of literature but are known by the audience

A

Dramatic irony

95
Q

Suggest that some unknown force brings about dire and dreadful events

A

Cosmic irony

96
Q

The difference between what is expected to happen and the way events actually work out.

A

Irony of situation

97
Q

A story handed down from the past about a specific person, usually someone of heroic accomplishments

A

Legend

98
Q

Short humorous poem composed of five lines that usually has the rhyme scheme aabba, created by two rhyming couplets followed by a fifth line that rhymes with the first couplet; song-song

A

Limerick

99
Q

Actual meaning of a word or phrase

A

Literal meaning

100
Q

Song-like poem written mainly to express the feeling or emotions of a single speaker

A

Lyric

101
Q

See character

A

Main character

102
Q

The most important point that a writer wishes to express

A

Main idea

103
Q

Words that rhyme at the end of the line

A

End/terminal rhyme

104
Q

Words that when written appear to rhyme but when spoken do not

A

Eye rhyme

105
Q

Rhyme found within a line of poetry (alliteration, assonance, and consonance)

A

Internal rhyme

106
Q

Aka near rhyme, half rhyme, off rhyme, imperfect rhyme, oblique rhyme or para rhyme. A distinctive system or pattern of metrical structure and verse composition in which two works have only their final consonant sounds and no preceding vowel or constant sounds in common.

A

Slant rhyme

107
Q

Pattern of end rhyme used in a poem, indicated by using lowercase letters to show which lines rhyme

A

Rhyme scheme

108
Q

Refers to the pattern of flow of sounds created by the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables

A

Rhythm

109
Q

See plot

A

Rising action

110
Q

The use if praise to mock someone or something; the use of mockery or verbal irony

A

Sarcasm

111
Q

Distinctive poetic style that uses a system or pattern of metrical structure and verse composition usually consisting of 14 lines

A

Sonnet

112
Q

Written in iambic pentameter. Consists first of an octave, 8 lines, which ask a question or states a problem or proposition and follows the rhyme scheme abba, abba. The sestet, last 6 lines, offers an answer or resolution to the proposed problem and follows cdecde

A

Italian or Petrarchan sonnet

113
Q

regular pattern of accented or unaccented syllables. Not all poems have this. Each unit of meter is known as a foot.

A

Meter

114
Q

”/” symbol used to identify what type of syllable.

A

accented

115
Q

“x” or a small symbol shaped like a “u” is used to identify what type of syllable

A

unaccented

116
Q

the multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage

A

Ambiguity

117
Q

the word, phrase or clause referred to by a pronoun

A

Antecedent

118
Q

a terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or moral principle

A

aphorism

119
Q

A figure of speech that directly addressed an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love

A

Apostrophe

120
Q

Common thread or repeated idea that is incorporated throughout a literary work; a thought or idea the author presents to the reader about life or human nature.

A

Theme

121
Q

See plot

A

Third person point of view

122
Q

Dramatic work that presents the downfall if a dignified character or characters who are involved in historically it socially significant events. The events in the tragic plot set in motion by a decision that is often an error in judgment. Succeeding events normally lead to death.

A

Tragedy

123
Q

See characterization

A

Trait

124
Q

A statement that is restrained in ironic contrast to what might have been said; opposite of hyperbole; used for humorous effect

A

Understatement

125
Q

See narrative

A

Unreliable narrator

126
Q

Contemporary short story that is told in many rumored versions that have little basis in fact

A

Urban legend

127
Q

Author or narrators distinctive style or manner of expression; can reveal much about the author or narrators

A

Voice

128
Q

The emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the authors choice of objects that are described.

A

Atmosphere

129
Q

A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb

A

Clause

130
Q

The use of slang or in formalities in speech or writing

A

Colloquial

131
Q

The fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects

A

Conceit

132
Q

Referring to style, diction refers to the writers word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness

A

Diction

133
Q

From the Greek, literally means “teaching”

A

Didactic

134
Q

From the Greek for “good speech”, a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept

A

Euphemism

135
Q

A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work

A

Extended metaphor

136
Q

Refers to traditions for each genre

A

Generic conventions

137
Q

The major category into which a literary work fits

A

Genre

138
Q

Literally “sermon”, or any serious talk, speech, or lecture providing moral or spiritual advice

A

Homily

139
Q

An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attach using strong, abusive language

A

Invective

140
Q

A type of sentence in which the main idea comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units

A

Loose sentence

141
Q

From the Greek “changed label”, the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it (“the White House” for the president)

A

Metonymy

142
Q

A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity

A

Paradox

143
Q

From the Greek for “beside one another”, the grammatical or rhetorical framing if words phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity.

A

Parallelism

144
Q

A work that closely imitated the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.

A

Parody

145
Q

An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general time that is overly scholarly, academic or bookish

A

Pedantic

146
Q

A sentence that presents it’s central meaning in a main clause at the end

A

Periodic sentence

147
Q

The perspective from which a story is told (first person, third person omniscient, third person limited omniscient)

A

Point of view

148
Q

One type of subject complement, an adjective, group of adjectives, or adjective clause that follows a linking verb

A

Predicate adjective

149
Q

Another type of subject complement, a noun, group of nouns, or noun clause that renames the subject

A

Predicate nominative

150
Q

Genre including fiction, nonfiction, written in ordinary language.

A

Prose

151
Q

From the Greek for “orator”, the principle governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively

A

Rhetoric

152
Q

The variety, conventions and purposes of the major kinds of writing (exposition explains and analyzed information; argumentation proves validity of an idea; description recreates, invents, or presents a person, place, event or action; narration tells a story or recount an event)

A

Rhetorical modes

AP Literature (1 decks)

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