English Final Lit Terms

type of drama radically nonrealistic in both content and presentation, emphasizes meaninglessness of life

syllable given more prominence than its neighbors

narrative that has a second meaning beneath the surface

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

repetition of an opening word or phrase in a series of lines

when someone absent or dead is addressed as as if it were alive or present

repetition at close intervals of the vowel sounds of accented syllables or important words

poem about dawn, a morning love song

short narrative poem written in a songlike stanza form

harsh, discordant, unpleasant sound choice

emotional release experienced by the audience at the end of a successful tragedy

minor character whose situation or actions parallel those of a major character, and thus sets off or illuminates the major character

group of actors speaking or chanting in unison, often while dancing

type of comedy whose main purpose is to expose and ridicule human folly

in a tragedy, comic scene that follows a scene of seriousness and contrast intensifies emotions

repetition at close intervals of the final consonant sounds of accented syllables (book, plaque, thicker)

metrical foot consisting of one accented syllable followed by two unaccented syllables (mer-ri-ly)

portion of a plot that reveals the final outcome of its conflicts or solutions to mysteries

poetry, fiction, or drama having a primary purpose to teach or preach

metrical line containing two feet

rhyme in which the repeated vowel is in the second last syllable of the words involved

meter in which a majority of the feet contain two syllables

writing that departs from the narrative or dramatic mode and instructs the reader how to think or feel about the events of a story or behavior of a character

smooth, pleasant sounding choice and arrangement of sounds

type of drama related to comedy but emphasizing improbable situations

when the repeated accented vowel is in either the second or third last syllable of the words involved (hurrying-scurrying)

narrative poem designed to be sung, usually undergone modification through process of oral transmission

criminal act committed in ignorance of some material fact or even for the sake

metrical line containing six feet

meter in which the majority of feet are iambs

rhyme in which one or both of the rhyme words occurs within the line

fixed form consisting of five lines of anapestic meter

fiction written with serious artistic intentions

figure of speech in which some significant aspect or detail of an experience is used for what are sometimes distinguished as two separate figures