AP Lit Final MCQ

Run-On Sentence

incorrectly joins two or more independent clauses (complete sentences) without proper punctuation or conjunctions

Sentence Fragment

a group of words that looks like a sentence but is grammatically incomplete because it's missing a subject, a verb, or a complete thought

Comma Splice

a grammatical error where two complete sentences (independent clauses) are incorrectly joined by only a comma

Misplaced Modifier

a word, phrase, or clause that's positioned in a sentence so it seems to modify the wrong element, causing confusion or unintended meaning

Personification

the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman

Simile

comparison using like or as

Metaphor

comparison not using like or as; a thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else, especially something abstract

Symbolism

using objects, people, places, or actions to represent deeper, abstract ideas or concepts

Onomatopoeia

the use of a word whose sound imitates the act or thing it names

Alliteration

repetition of initial sounds

Subjective Pronouns

a word that acts as the subject of a sentence, performing the action of the verb

Objective Pronouns

a word that receives the action of a verb or follows a preposition in a sentence, rather than performing the action

That

introduces essential (restrictive) information needed to identify a noun

Which

introduces extra, non-essential (non-restrictive) information, set off by commas

TPCASTT - Title

the meaning of the title without reference to the poem (at the beginning) and with reference (towards the end)

TPCASTT - Paraphrase

put the poem, line by line, in your own words (do not read it, just skim it)

TPCASTT - Connotation

looking for deeper meaning

TPCASTT - Attitude

looking for the author’s tone and diction

TPCASTT - Shifts

looking for shifts in tone, action, and rhythm

TPCASTT - Theme

what does the poem mean, how does it relate to life?

Passive Voice

a grammatical construction where the subject receives the action rather than performing it

Active Voice

a grammatical structure where the subject performs the action of the verb, creating clear, direct, and strong sentences

Relative Pronouns

who, whom, whose, which, that, whoever, etc

Demonstrative Pronouns

this, that, these, those

Irony

when the literal meaning is opposite the actual meaning

Ethos

the persuasive appeal of a speaker or writer's credibility, character, and authority, establishing trust with the audience

Pathos

the persuasive technique of appealing to the audience's emotions to create a connection and sway their feelings or actions

Logos

a persuasive appeal to an audience's intellect using logic, facts, statistics, and clear reasoning, making an argument credible and rational

Subordinate Clause

forms part of and is dependent on a main clause

Independent Clause

a group of words containing a subject and a verb that expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a full sentence

Prepositional Clause

a group of words starting with a preposition and ending with a noun/pronoun or clause

Subordinate Conjunctions

words that connect a dependent (or subordinate) clause to an independent clause

Coordinate Conjunctions

connect words, phrases, or independent clauses of equal grammatical rank