Normal Words I Need to Know

AP Lit Midterm Stuff

abstract (style)

(in writing) this is typically complex, discusses intangible qualities like good and evil, and seldom uses examples to support its points

academic (style)

dry and theoretical writing. When a piece of writing seems to be sucking all the life out of its subject with analysis

accent

in poetry, this refers to the stressed portion of a word

aesthetic

used as an adjective meaning “appealing to the senses”

anachronism

something located at a time when it could not have existed or occurred

anthropomorphism

the attribution of human characteristics to animals or inanimate objects

anticlimax

a disappointing end to an exciting or impressive series of events

antihero

a protagonist who lacks the characteristics that would make him a hero (or her a heroine)

aphorism

a brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life

ballad

any popular narrative poem, often with epic subject and usually in lyric form

black humor

the use of disturbing themes in comedy

cacophony

harsh, jarring, discordant sound; dissonance

cadence

rhythmic flow of a sequence of sounds or words

caricature

drawing, imitation, or description that ridiculously exaggerates peculiarities or defects

catharsis

an emotional or psychological cleansing that brings relief or renewal

chorus

in Greek drama, the group of citizens who stand outside the main action on stage and comment on it

conceit

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

couplet

two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme

decorum

conformity to accepted standards of conduct; proper behavior

dirge

a song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person

dissonance

harsh or grating sounds that do not go together

dramatic monologue

when a single speaker in literature says something to a silent audience

elegy

a formal poem presenting a meditation on death or another solemn theme

epic

a long narrative poem written in elevated style which present the adventures of characters of high position and episodes that are important to the history of a race or nation

epitaph

a brief statement written on a tomb or gravestone

euphemism

a mild, indirect, or vague term substituting for a harsh, blunt, or offensive term

farce

a comedy that contains an extravagant and nonsensical disregard of seriousness, although it may have a serious, scornful purpose

foot

the basic unit of rhythmic measurement in a line of poetry

gothic novel

a novel in which supernatural horrors and an atmosphere of unknown terrors pervades the action

interior monologue

a narrative technique that records a character's internal flow of thoughts, memories, and ideas; a longish passage of uninterrupted thought

inversion

the reversal of the normal order of words

lampoon

ridicule with satire

lyric

 of or relating to a category of poetry that expresses emotion (often in a songlike way)

melodrama

a form of cheesy theater in which the hero is very, very good, the villain mean and rotten, and the heroine oh-so-pure.

onomatopoeia

the use of words that imitate sounds

oxymoron

a figure of speech consisting of two apparently contradictory terms

parable

a simple story that illustrates a moral or religious lesson

parody

a work which imitates another in a ridiculous manner

pastoral

a literary work idealizing the rural life (especially the life of shepherds)

refrain

the repetition of one or more phrases or lines at definite intervals in a poem, usually at the end of a stanza

requiem

a song of prayer for the dead

soliloquy

in drama, a character speaks alone on stage to allow his/her thoughts and ideas to be conveyed to the audience

subjunctive mood

a grammatical situation involving the words "if" and "were," setting up a hypothetical situation

summary

a brief statement that presents the main points in a concise form

tragic flaw

the character flaw or error of a tragic hero that leads to his downfall

utopia

an imaginary place considered to be perfect or ideal