Ap Lit Vocab 4

Front 1

Epistolary Novel

Back 1

A novel written in the form of letters between two or more characters, or in the form of diary
entries. were particularly popular in the eighteenth century.

Front 2

Explication

Back 2

A close reading of any text where the goal is to logically analyze details within the text itself to
uncover deeper meanings or contradictions.

Front 3

Farce

Back 3

A work of drama or literature that uses broad, often physical comedy, exaggerated characters, absurd
situations, and improbably plot twists to evoke laughter without intending social criticism.

Front 4

Foil

Back 4

A character who contrasts with the central character, often with the purpose of emphasizing some trait in the
central character. For example, a cruel sister emphasizes the other sister’s kindness.

Front 5

Foot

Back 5

The smallest unit of measure in poetic meter. usually contains a stressed syllable and one or two
unstressed syllables. Meter is formed when the same ____ repeats more than once. For example, in iambic
pentameter, iambic refers to the type (an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable) while
pentameter tells us that there are five (pent) iambic ___ on each line.

Front 6

Fourth Wall

Back 6

The invisible wall of the stage, through which the audience views the action.

Front 7

Free Verse

Back 7

Poetry in which the poet does not adhere to a preset metrical or rhyme scheme. has
become increasingly prevalent since the nineteenth century, when it was first used.

Front 8

Groundlings

Back 8

“Standing room only” spectators in Elizabethan theater who paid a penny to stand on the ground
surrounding the stage.

Front 9

Haiku

Back 9

A poetic form containing seventeen syllables in three lines of five, seven, and five syllables each.
traditionally contain a natural-world reference or central image.

Front 10

Hamartia

Back 10

A tragic flaw or weakness in a tragic character that leads to his or her downfall. Hubris is a type