AP LIT TERMS

A metrical foot consisting of two unaccented syllables.

similarity or repetition of a vowel sound in two or more words, especially in a line of verse.

an extended metaphor - two unlike things are compared in several different ways

a story which has been composed orally and then passed down by word of mouth

the claim that whatever has not been proved

main character who has strength or moral character, a noble cause

unable to be touched;not concrete

elevated language,often pompous and overdone

focuses on physically or mentally (warped, deluded, retarded) impaired characters

form of poetry usually had three lines, respectively, with 5, 7, then 5 syllables

when an actor says something that other characters on stage are presumed not to have heard him

Latin for "to the man":attacking the arguer and not the argument:mud-slinging

introductory material which sets the tone, setting, characters, and supplies necessary facts

addressing someone or something,usually not something,usually not present,as though present

lyrical poem about death

a term applied to a group of attitudes which emphasize existence rather than the essence

the resolution of a plot after the climax

a concept or value that can not be seen(love,honor,courage,death,etc.)

line of verse that carries over into next line without a pause of any kind

a character's words or actions are clear to the audience although unknown to the character

A metrical foot consisting of two syllables equally or almost equally accented

unexpected character, device, or event introduced suddenly in to a work to resolve a situation

repetition of consonant sounds w/differing vowel sounds in words near each other

a pair of rhyming lines written in the same meter; may be a separate stanza

informal, not always grammatically correct expressions

writing or speech not meant to be taken literally figure of speech

the part of a plot in which the entanglement caused by the conflict is developed

subjective point of view when a character relays a narrative using “I”

a quality of style marked by pleasing, harmonious sounds, the opposite of cacophony

a unit of meter

an author can present action or scenes that occurred before the opening scene in a work

where the actual typeset layout of the poem suggests the topic

also called assuming the answer

a witty saying, usually at the end of a poem

(frame) Begins and ends with same setting and/or narrator(s); middle is flashback

pertaining to the base side of man

approach to literature which emphasizes reason, harmony,balance,proportion,clarity

a specific kind or category of literature, e.g., mystery story, sonnet, romance novel

two extremes in a continuum of intermediate possibilities

a larger-than-life presence;a godlike paragon worthy of respect and reverence

the omission of conjunctions that ordinarily join coordinate words and phrases

nickname or appellation

schematic rhyme that comes at the ends of lines of verse (such as aa,bb or ab, ab)

a term for a poem that teaches, almost preaches

a work which strives to provoke smiles and laughter

the climax or turning point of a story or play

word choices that appeal to the ear, that help you “hear” the words

the method a writer uses to reveal the personality of a character in a literary work

the opposite of a utopia; a controlled world where pain exists instead of pleasure

assertions based on facts, statistics, logical or objective reasoning, hard evidence, etc.

a protagonist who is the antithesis of the hero

a form of novel in which magic, mystery, horrors and chivalry abound

the character in a narrative or play who is in conflict with the main character

form of verse sung or recited & characterized by a dramatic episode in fairly short narrative

feelings of pity and understanding for a character

the structure, shape, pattern, organization, or style of a piece of literature

character who provides a contrast to another character

unrhymed iambic pentameter; metrical verse with no ending rhyme (Shakespeare)

something out of its place in time or history

the turning point, or crisis, in a play or other piece of literature

repetition in successive clauses which are usually parallel in syntax

substitute word(s) that sounds better than another

presentation of events and information in such a way that prepare for later events in a work

fig. of speech in which a thought is balanced w/a contrasting in parallel arrangements of words

a novel showing the development of its central character from childhood to maturity

a story written to make a moral point, using animals as characters

the specific, exact meaning of a word; a dictionary definition

a poem about morning

a long narrative

a totally ridiculous comedy

the repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases for poetic effect

the intentional use of elevated language to describe the trivial or commonplace

an awakening; a sudden understanding or burst of insight; key moment in Greek plays

The basic foot of dipodic verse

the noble qualities of human beings and nature as opposed to the savage and destructive forces

a struggle between opposing forces

A metrical foot consisting of one accented syllable followed by two unaccented syllables

work generally considered by scholars,critics & teachers to be the most important to study/read

something of humor interrupts an otherwise serious, often tragic, literary work

A metrical foot consisting of two unaccented syllables followed by one accented syllable

verse in which the grammatical structure and the sense reach completion at the end of a line

speech peculiar to a region

a tragic flaw or error in judgment

a narrative constructed so that one or more stories are embedded within another story

an engraving on a tombstone

A metrical foot consisting of one unaccented syllable followed by one accented syllable.

a combination of harsh, unpleasant sounds which create an effect of discordance.

A brief quotation at the beginning of a book or chapter.

an anticlimax which is unintentional

story performed by actors on a stage

an author’s choice of words

poem that reveals a “soul in action” through the speech of a character in a dramatic situation

expression of idea in language which gives more than 1 meaning and leave uncertainty

Aristotle’s word for the pity/fear an audience experiences upon viewing the downfall of a hero

a character who is not fully developed by an author

emotional implications that a word may carry; implied/associated meaning for particular word

a fictional tale, marked by fantasy and magic, often appealing to the imagination

brief statement which expresses an observation on life, usually intended as a wise observation

author's own life story

Latin-"seize the day",theme that emphasize that life is short & to make the best of the present

imaginative writing

a form of rhyme wherein the look rather than the sound is important.

A metrical foot consisting of one accented syllable followed by one unaccented syllable

the comparison of two things

sound device;repetition of initial(beginning) constant sounds

a dominant technique in which the author analyzes reasons for a chain of events.

everything that happens in plot between the climax or crisis and the denouement

conversation between two or more characters

figure of speech which makes brief reference to a historical or literary figure,event,or object

occurs when the final consonants rhyme, but the vowel sounds do not

a narrative constructed so that one or more stories are embedded within another story