AP LIT TERMS

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

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

a totally ridiculous comedy

unable to be touched;not concrete

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

a poem about morning

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

repetition in successive clauses which are usually parallel in syntax

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

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

a tragic flaw or error in judgment

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

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

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

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

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

a unit of meter

an engraving on a tombstone

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

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

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

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

lyrical poem about death

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

imaginative writing

A metrical foot consisting of two unaccented syllables.

conversation between two or more characters

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

the claim that whatever has not been proved

a work which strives to provoke smiles and laughter

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

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

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

a protagonist who is the antithesis of the hero

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

a long narrative

where the actual typeset layout of the poem suggests the topic

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

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

an anticlimax which is unintentional

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

author's own life story

an author’s choice of words

informal, not always grammatically correct expressions

character who provides a contrast to another character

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

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

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

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

the comparison of two things

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

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

the resolution of a plot after the climax

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

speech peculiar to a region

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

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

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

something out of its place in time or history

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

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

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

pertaining to the base side of man

feelings of pity and understanding for a character

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

substitute word(s) that sounds better than another

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

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

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

a witty saying, usually at the end of a poem

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

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

also called assuming the answer

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

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

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

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

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

a character who is not fully developed by an author

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

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

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

The basic foot of dipodic verse

elevated language,often pompous and overdone

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

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

sound device;repetition of initial(beginning) constant sounds

a term for a poem that teaches, almost preaches

story performed by actors on a stage

nickname or appellation

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

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

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

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

a struggle between opposing forces

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

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

two extremes in a continuum of intermediate possibilities

the climax or turning point of a story or play

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

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

the omission of conjunctions that ordinarily join coordinate words and phrases