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AP English Literary Terms Carson High School
Significant terms
67
English
12th Grade
10/13/2011

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Term
The word "dreary" exhibits what type of metrical foot?
Definition
Trochaic
Term
The word "home" suggests family, comfort, and security, though the definition is really "the place where one resides." This is an example of what?
Definition
Connotation
Term
The word "pondering" exhibits what type of metrical foot?
Definition
Dactylic
Term
The word-pairs "laughter/slaughter," "dive/give," and "laid/said" are all examples of what?
Definition
Eye-rhyme
Term
The words "deafening silence" are an example of what?
Definition
Oxymoron
Term
The words "sizzle," "buzz," and "zoom" are examples of what?
Definition
Onomatopoeia
Term
When the dying Mercutio says, "Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man," the word "grave" is an example of a what?
Definition
A pun
Term
When one character despairingly refers to another as a "knave," a "rascal," or an "eater of broken meats," he is using a what?
Definition
An invective
Term
When Hamlet is alone on stage contemplating suicide, he speaks uninterrupted and at length. This is an example of what?
Definition
A soliloquy
Term
What type of literary criticism focuses on female characters, such as Dounia and Sonia in Crime and Punishment?
Definition
Feminist Criticism
Term
What type of criticism would argue that our understanding of relationships and the contemporary conflicts between social classes affect our appreciation and understanding of War and Peace?
Definition
New Historical
Term
What type of criticism would argue that an analysis of plot, character development, setting, tone, diction, images, and themes would ultimately reveal the meaning of the novel Atonement?
Definition
Formalists (New Critics)
Term
Walt Whitman's O Captain, My Captain" is about the death of Abraham Lincoln. This is an example of what type of poem?
Definition
An elegy
Term
Unaware that she was involved, Macduff doesn't want to tell Lady Macbeth about the king's murder. He states, "The repetition, in a woman's ear/Would murder as it fell." This is an example of what?
Definition
Dramatic Irony
Term
Throughout Macbeth, there are images of blood, darkness, disease, violence, and weather. These are all examples of what?
Definition
Motifs
Term
The words "twanging," "clanging," and "jangling" exhibit which two literary characteristics?
Definition
Onomatopoeia and double rhyme
Term
Willy Loman is the protagonist in Death of a Salesman, but as a character he is a failure; therefore he is an example of what?
Definition
An antihero
Term
Who are the important minor characters in Wuthering Heights?
Definition
Isabella; Lockwood; Joseph; Zillah: Mr. and Mrs. Earnshaw; and Mr. and Mrs. Linton
Term
Who are the main characters in Wuthering Heights?
Definition
Catherine; Heathcliff; Edgar; Hindley; young Cathy; Linton; Hareton; and Nelly Dean
Term
What role does social class play in Wuthering Heights?
Definition
Catherine, being a member of a lower class, uses social status as major criteria for establishing a marriage, which is why she refuses to marry Heathcliff. Isabella is just the opposite. She is drawn to the wild, mysterious Heathcliff, even though he is beneath her social class.
Term
Explain the significance of, "I am Heathcliff" in Wuthering Heights.
Definition
Catherine says this to Nelly Dean as she discusses her connection with Heathcliff. Heathcliff does not overhear this line, and thus, he leaves to seek his fortune and make himself worthy of Catherine. She married Edgar and bears him a child, but Heathcliff is the only one for her. Her ghost returns to haunt Heathcliff after her death.
Term
What are conventions?
Definition
Conventions are widely used literary devices, styles, or forms.
Term
What are literary devices?
Definition
Literary devices refer to the specific aspects of literary texts that can be recognized, interpreted, and analyzed.
Term
What are resources of language?
Definition
Resources of language are another way to refer to literary devices.
Term
What are rhetorical strategies?
Definition
Rhetorical strategies are the organizational strategies that a writer uses in a text. For example: Essays are typically organized with specific patterns such as narration, definition, exemplification. Narratives can be organized linearly or circularly or by shifts in points of view.
Term
What is a close reading?
Definition
A close reading, also known as an explication, is a thorough analysis of a literary text, paying particular attention to its elements.
Term
Are there alternate strategies for answering a question if there is not a complete understanding of the entire passage?
Definition
The passage's meaning may not need to be stated in its entirety; rather focus on areas of the passage that are understood and demonstrate how the resources of language create meaning in those parts.
Term
Can an alternative title be used for the open free=-response prompt if it is not listed as one of the suggested titles?
Definition
Provided that the chosen text adequately addresses the prompt and is of sufficient literary merit, it can be used. However, choosing a more literary text, such as Hamlet, that doesn't fit the prompt is a mistake, as is choosing young adult novels, popular fiction, and most religious fiction.
Term
Explain how remembering the abbreviation for A.P. English - APE - will help on the free response questions?
Definition
APE stands for Assert - Prove - Explain. Essays should have a thesis supported with specifics from the text. Using APE ensures that the thesis (assertion) is supported using apt, specific references to text (to prove the claim); and commentary is used to specify how items relate to the thesis (explanation of chosen support).
Term
How much of the passage should be directly quoted?
Definition
It's important to use specifics from the passage to support your generalizations. Follow APE; or assert, prove, explain (introduce your idea, specify a passage from text, comment on its relation to the theme). Three independent paragraphs on literary techniques will not be as effective as three paragraphs will not be as effective as three paragraphs, one after another, that work together to develop an argument.
Term
How much time should be spent on each multiple choice question?
Definition
You will typically have 55 questions to answer in one hour. Therefore, a good rule of thumb is to allow as many minutes per passage as there are questions for that passage. If the passage has 15 questions, then allow 15 minutes to read the passage and answer the questions related to that passage.
Term
Is guessing a good strategy if the answer is unknown?
Definition
Yes, if one or more of the distractions can be eliminated. Statistically speaking, one out of every 5 guesses should be answered correctly in order to break even. When leaving all five answers blank nets you a score of 0, and guessing at least provides a chance to break even - ore even earn some points - guessing makes sense.
Term
Is paraphrasing or summarizing a text proof enough that the content of the text is understood?
Definition
No, paraphrase and summary are not the same as analysis. An understanding of the passage should be the starting point; it is not the whole picture. With a particularly difficult passage, every part of it may not be understood. Write about what is known and understood.
Term
Is there only one correct interpretation of a passage?
Definition
No. Prompts are designed to foster discussion. Passages selected are usually open to a variety of interpretations.
Term
Is writing a five-paragraph essay recommended?
Definition
Not if the five-paragraph essay has a meaningless introduction and a repetitious conclusion. It's far better to simply have three body paragraphs; but, if an essay develops organically from the prompt, has an interesting introduction, three body paragraphs that lead one to another, and a thought-provoking conclusion, having five paragraphs will not incur penalties.
Term
On the free-response question, should the question be rephrased or repeated in the answer's introduction?
Definition
Only rephrase or repeat the prompt if you cannot think of any other way to begin your essay. This is an unnecessary waste of time and does not demonstrate higher-level thinking.
Term
Should a lot of time be spent on multiple-choice questions?
Definition
No, each question is worth only one point; the difficult and/or confusing questions are not worth more, so they do not merit more time.
Term
Should questions be mentally answered by the test-taker prior to looking at the answers?
Definition
Yes, if the mental answer matches one of the choices, then that choice should be selected.
Term
Should the night before the exam be spent studying anything in particular?
Definition
No, getting a good night's sleep is the best thing to do to prepare for the next day's test. If something must be done, then a review of the names of characters and thematic topics in prepared literary texts is recommended.
Term
What is a distractor?
Definition
A distractor is an incorrect response. If part of the answer is incorrect, the entire choice is incorrect.
Term
What is the best way to prepare for the analytical free-response questions?
Definition
The best way to prepare for the two analytical free-response prompts is to practice creating practical responses to some variation of the question. "How is the writer using the resources of language to create meaning?" Avoid creating a laundry list of literary terms without being able to analyze how the writer is using these tools to create meaning.
Term
What is the first step in answering a free=response question?
Definition
First, read and mark the prompt, making sure there is a thorough understanding of what is expected.
Term
What is the intent behind the two analytical prompts?
Definition
The two analytical prompts (one poetry, one prose) are designed to assess your ability to closely read a literary text. Each prompt is derived from the specific passage, so it's impossible to know exactly what you are going to write about before you read both the prompt and the passage.
Term
What is the most important thing to do to prepare for the analytical free-response questions?
Definition
Pay attention to the details within the passage. Each prompt will provide some reference to literary devices, resources of language, or some other synonym. Not every device is used or is as effective in every passage.
Term
What is the most important thing to remember about free-response (essay) questions?
Definition
The most important thing to remember to do is to address the prompt (or, AP). If an outstanding essay is written but does not respond directly to the question asked, a high score will not be earned.
Term
What is to be avoided when addressing a technique on the analytical free-response question?
Definition
Avoid asserting that the writer (poet, novelist, dramatist, etc.) "uses diction." If there is not distinction between "concrete and abstract diction," or among the levels of diction, the obvious is merely being stated. Also avoid the assertion that the imagery is "vivid."
Term
What should be remembered about the free-response questions?
Definition
Two of the three free-response questions will be analytical in nature, and one will allow you to choose a text (novel or play) about which to write. But, all three questions are weighted equally, so it is important to do well on all of them.
Term
What texts should be prepared for the open free-response question/
Definition
Test-takers should re-read texts that they like. Ideally, a variety of texts will be prepared - including at least one pre-20th century text and one play. The prompt will be unknown, so it's best to prepare for anything, to include discussions on minority groups, religious/spiritual themes, female topics, mysteries, humor, and magical realism.
Term
Which literary techniques are most important to understand and apply?
Definition
The most important resources of language for a particular passage are the ones used by the writer. Without knowing the passage, it's impossible to know which to prepare, but a familiarity and comfort level with connotation, poetic form, metaphor, irony, and tone should work for most prompts. The passage must be your guide; do not pick resources of language first.
Term
Will a list of literary devices always be given in the analytical free-response questions?
Definition
No, sometimes a list of suggested devices will be provided; sometimes none are suggested. If the prompt uses the phrase "such as," then you do not have to address that technique. However, if the prompt asks you to analyze the metaphor, then you must address the metaphor. Always address the prompt.
Term
"Although the Pittsburgh Panthers upset the West Virginia Mountaineers, the Pitt team didn't get to play in a bowl game, and the Mountaineers lost a chance to play in the title game" is an example of what type of sentence?
Definition
Compound-complex
Term
"AP English students have a great thirst for hearing about new literary theories" is an example of what?
Definition
Synaesthesia
Term
"Coral is far more red than her lips' red" is an example of what?
Definition
A simile
Term
"Erik studied extremely hard for the exam, but he failed; Krista didn't prepare for it at all and aced it." This is an example of what type of irony?
Definition
Situational irony
Term
"Fortune smiled upon him" is an example of what?
Definition
Personification
Term
"Heard melodies are sweet" is an example of what?
Definition
Synaesthesia
Term
"His hand dropt he" is an example of what?
Definition
Anastrophe
Term
"Icy hot" and "bittersweet" are examples of what?
Definition
Oxymorons
Term
"Imagination is your staircase to adventure" is an example of what?
Definition
Analogy
Term
At the end of the tragedy, Othello has a sudden understanding that Iago tricked him, and his wife Desdemona did not cheat on him. This is an example of what?
Definition
An epiphany
Term
Beowulf and The Odyssey are long narrative poems about legendary heroes. They are both examples of what?
Definition
An epic
Term
Beowulf is an epic poem; The Awakening is a novella; Atonement is a novel; and "Young Goodman Brown" is a short story. Each of these is an example of what?
Definition
A genre
Term
Characters in Julius Caesar mention a clock, which didn't exist at that point in time. This is an example of what?
Definition
An anachronism
Term
Chaucer's "The Nun's Priest's Tale" has animals as central characters. This is an example of what?
Definition
A beast fable
Term
Chaucer's passage, "He feathered Pertelote in wanton play / And trod her her twenty times ere prime of day," nicely describes a rooster's sexual relations with a hen. This is an example of a what?
Definition
A euphemism
Term
"Cheap" and "Inexpensive" can be considered synonyms, but they are often not interchangeable. The definition that the reader associates with each word is an example of what?
Definition
Connotation
Term
David Copperfield, Song of Solomon, and A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man are all novels that follow a pattern of personal growth for their protagonist. This type of novel is known as a what?
Definition
Bildungsroman
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