List of AP Literary Terms

1. Abstract - refers to language that describes concepts rather than concrete images. 2. Ad Hominem - In an argument, this is an attack on the person rather than on the opponent’s ideas. It comes from the Latin meaning “against the man.” 3. Allegory - a work that functions on a symbolic level. 4. Alliteration - the repetition of initial consonant sounds, such as “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.” 5. Allusion - a reference contained in a work. 6. Ambiguity - the multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage. 7. Analogy- a literary device employed to serve as a basis for comparison. It is assumed that what applies to the parallel situation also applies to the original circumstance. In other words, it is the comparison between two different items. 8. Anaphora- the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or lines. 9. Anastrophe - transposition of normal word order; most often found in Latin in the case of prepositions and the words they control. (a form of hyperbaton) 10. Anecdote- a story or brief episode told by the writer or a character to illustrate to a point. 11. Antiphrasis - one word irony, established by context. 12. Antistrophe- repetition of the same word or phrase at the end of successive clauses. 13. Antithesis - the presentation of two contrasting images. The ideas are balanced by word, phrase, clause, or paragraphs. “To be or not to be…” “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country…” 14. Aphorism- a terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or moral principle. (If the authorship is unknown, the statement is generally considered to be a folk proverb.) An aphorism can be a memorable summation of the author’s point. 15. Apostrophe- a figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. The effect may add familiarity or emotional intensity. William Wordsworth addresses John Milton as he writes, “Milton, thou shouldst be living at this hour: England hath need of thee.” 16. Archaism- use of an older or obsolete form. 17. Assonance- repetition of the same sound in words close together. 18. Atmosphere - the emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the author’s choice of objects that are described. Even such elements as a description of the weather can contribute to the atmosphere. Frequently, atmosphere foreshadows events. 19. Attitude - the relationship an author has toward his or her subject, and/or his or her audience. 20. Cacophony - harsh and discordant sounds in a line or passage in a literary work. 21. Chiasmus - two corresponding pairs arranged not in parallels (a-b-a-b) but in inverted order (a-b-b-a) 22. Cliché- an overused common expression. The term is derived from a French word for a stereotype printing block. Just as many identical copies can be made from such a block, so clichés are typically words and phrases used so frequently that they become stale and ineffective. Everyone uses clichés in speech: “in less than no time” they “spring to mind,” but “in the last analysis,” a writer ought to “avoid them like the plague,” even though they always seem “to hit the nail on the head.” 23. Climax- arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in an order of ascending power. 24. Colloquial - the use of slang in writing, often to create local color and to provide an informal tone. Huckleberry Finn is written in a colloquial style. 25. Comic Relief- the inclusion of a humorous character or scene to contrast with the tragic elements of a work, thereby intensifying the next tragic event. 26. Conceit- a fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects. A conceit displays intellectual cleverness due to the unusual comparison being made. 27. Concrete –words describe things that exist and can be experienced through the senses. Abstractions are rendered understandable and specific through concrete examples. 28. Connotation- the interpretive level of a word based on its associated images rather than its literal meaning. 29. Denotation - the literal or dictionary meaning of a word. 30. Dialect- the recreation of regional spoken language, such as a Southern dialect. Zora Neale Hurston uses this in such works as Their Eyes Were Watching God. 31. Diction - is the choice of words used in speaking or writing. It is frequently divided into four levels: formal, informal, colloquial, and slang. Formal diction is found in traditional academic writing, such as books and scholarly articles; informal diction, generally characterized by words common in conversation contexts, by contractions, and by the use of the first person (I), is found in articles in popular magazines. Bernard R. Berelson’s essay “The Value of Children” (p.231) uses formal diction; Judy Brady’s “I Want a Wife” (p.441) is informal.

List of AP Literary Terms 1 32. Didactic- From the Greek, didactic literally means “teaching.” Didactic works have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles. 33. Ellipsis- indicated by a series of three periods, the ellipsis indicates that some material has been omitted from a given text. It could be a word, a phrase, a sentence, a paragraph, or a whole section. Be wary of the ellipsis; it could obscure the real meaning of the piece of writing. 34. Epigraph- the use of a quotation at the beginning of a work that hints at its theme. Hemingway begins The Sun Also Rises with two epigraphs. One of them is “You are all a lost generation” by Gertrude Stein. 35. Epithet- is an adjective or adjective phrase appropriately qualifying a subject (noun) by naming a key or important characteristic of the subject. 36. Eponym- substitutes for a particular attribute the name of a famous person recognized for that attribute. 37. Euphemism- a more acceptable and usually more pleasant way of saying something that might be inappropriate or uncomfortable. “He went to his final reward” is a common euphemism for “he died.” Euphemisms are also often used to obscure the reality of a situation. The military uses “collateral damage” to indicate civilian deaths in a military operation. 38. Euphony- the pleasant, mellifluous presentation of sounds in a literary work. 39. Exposition- background information presented in a literary work. 40. Extended Metaphor- a sustained comparison, often referred to as a conceit. The extended metaphor is developed throughout a piece of writing 41. Figurative Language - the body of devices that enables the writer to operate on levels other than the literal one. It includes metaphor, simile, symbol, motif, and hyperbole, etc. 42. Figures of speech - are deliberate departures from the ordinary and literal meanings of words in order to provide fresh, insightful perspectives or emphasis. Figures of speech are most commonly used in descriptive passages and include the following: Simile, Metaphor, Personification, Hyperbole, Etc... 43. Form- the shape or structure of a literary work. 44. Homily - this term literally means “sermon,” but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice. 45. Hyperbaton- separation of words which belong together, often to emphasize the first of the separated words or to create a certain image. 46. Hyperbole - extreme exaggeration, often humorous, it can also be ironic; the opposite of understatement. 47. Image - a verbal approximation of a sensory impression, concept, or emotion. 48. Imagery- the total effect of related sensory images in a work of literature. 49. Induction - the process that moves from a given series of specifics to a generalization. 50. Inference- a conclusion one can draw from the presented details. 51. Invective- a verbally abusive attack. 52. Irony-an unexpected twist or contrast between what happens and what was intended or expected to happen. It involves dialog and situation, and can be intentional or unplanned. Dramatic irony centers around the ignorance of those involved; whereas, the audience is aware of the circumstance. 53. Litotes- understatement, for intensification, by denying the contrary of the thing being affirmed. (Sometimes used synonymously with meiosis.) 54. Loose sentence- A type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses. If a period were placed at the end of the independent clause, the clause would be a complete sentence. A work containing many loose sentences often seems informal, relaxed, and conversational. 55. Metaphor -a direct comparison between dissimilar things. “Your eyes are stars” is an example. 56. Metonymy- a figure of speech in which a representative term is used for a larger idea (The pen is mightier than the sword). 57. Monologue- a speech given by one character (Hamlet’s “To be or not to be…”). 58. Mood- this term has two distinct technical meanings in English writing. The first meaning is grammatical and deals with verbal units and a speaker’s attitude. The indicative mood is used for only factual sentences. For example, “Joe eats too quickly.” The subjunctive mood is used for a doubtful or conditional attitude. For example, “If I were you, I’d get another job.” The imperative mood is used for commands. For example, “Shut the door!” the second meaning of mood is literary, meaning the prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work. Setting, tone, and events can affect the mood. In this usage, mood is similar to tone and atmosphere. 59. Motif- the repetition or variations of an image or idea in a work used to develop theme or characters. 60. Narrator- the speaker of a literary work. 61. Onomatopoeia- words that sound like the sound they represent (hiss, gurgle, pop). 62. Oxymoron- an image of contradictory term (bittersweet, pretty ugly, jumbo shrimp). 63. Parable- a story that operates on more than one level and usually teaches a moral lesson. ( The Pearl by John Steinbeck is a fine example.).

List of AP Literary Terms 2 64. Paradox - A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense, but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity. The first scene of Macbeth, for example, closes with the witches’ cryptic remark “Fair is foul, and foul is fair….” 65. Parallelism- also referred to as parallel construction or parallel structure, this term comes from Greek roots meaning “beside one another.” It refers to the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity. This can involve, but is not limited to, repetition of a grammatical element such as a preposition or verbal phrase. A famous example of parallelism begins Charles Dickens’s novel A Tale of Two Cities : “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity…” The effects of parallelism are numerous, but frequently, they act as an organizing force to attract the reader’s attention, add emphasis and organization, or simply provide a musical rhythm. 66. Parody- a comic imitation of a work that ridicules the original. It can be utterly mocking or gently humorous. It depends on allusion and exaggerates and distorts the original style and content. 67. Pathos- the aspects of a literary work that elicit pity from the audience. An appeal to emotion that can be used as a means to persuade. 68. Pedantic- a term used to describe writing that borders on lecturing. It is scholarly and academic and often overly difficult and distant. 69. Periodic Sentence- a sentence that places the main idea or central complete thought at the end of the sentence, after all introductory elements. The effect of the periodic sentence is to add emphasis and structural variety. 70. Person- is a grammatical term used to refer to a speaker, the individual being addressed, or an individual being referred to. English has three persons: first (I or we), second (you), and third (he, she, it, or they). 71. Personification- the assigning of human qualities to inanimate objects or concepts (Wordsworth personifies “the sea that bares her bosom to the moon” in the poem London 1802 .). 72. Persuasion- a type of argument that has as its goal an action on the part of the audience. 73. Plot - a sequence of events in a literary work. 74. Point-of-View- the method of narration in a literary work. 75. Premise- in logic is a proposition-a statement of a truth-that is used to support or help support a conclusion. 76. Pun- a play on words that often has a comic effect. Associated with wit and cleverness. A writer who speaks of the “grave topic of American funerals” maybe be employing an intentional or unintentional pun. 77. Purpose- involves intent, the reason why a writer writes. Three purposes are fundamental: to entertain, to inform, or to persuade. These are not necessarily separate or discrete; they can be combined. An effective piece of writing has a well-defined purpose. 78. Repetition - the duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern. When repetition is poorly done, it bores, but when it’s well done, it links and emphasizes ideas while allowing the reader the comfort of recognizing something familiar. 79. Rhetorical Question - one that does not expect an explicit answer. It is used to pose an idea to be considered by the speaker or audience. (Ernest Dowson asks, “Where are they now, the days of wine and roses?”) 80. Sarcasm - a comic technique that ridicules through caustic language. Tone and attitude may both be described as sarcastic in a given text if the writer employs language, irony, and wit to mock or scorn. 81. Satire - a mode of writing based on ridicule, that criticizes the foibles and follies of society without necessarily offering a solution. 82. Sentence structure - when an essay question asks you to analyze sentence structure, look at the type of sentences the author uses. Remember that the basic sentence structures are simple, compound, and complex, and variations created with sentence combining. Also consider variation or lack of it in sentence length, any unusual devices in sentence construction, such as repetition or inverted word order, and any unusual word or phrase placement. As with all devices, be prepared to discuss the effect of the sentence structure. For example, a series of short, simple sentences or phrases can produce a feeling of speed and choppiness, which may suit the author’s purpose. 83. Setting - the time and place of a literary work. 84. Simile - an indirect comparison that uses the words like or as to link the differing items in the comparison. (“Your eyes are like the stars.”) 85. Slang- is common, casual, conversational language that is inappropriate in forma speaking or writing. Slang often serves to define social groups by virtue of being a private, shared language not understood by outsiders. Slang changes constantly and is therefore always dated. For that reason alone, it is wise to avoid using slang in serious writing. 86. Stanza- a unit of a poem, similar in rhyme, meter, and length to other units in the poem. 87. Structure- the organization and form of a work. 88. Style- the unique way an author presents his ideas. Diction, syntax, imagery, structure, and content all contribute to a particular style. 89. Subject- is what a piece of writing is about. 90. Symbol- something in a literary work that stands for something else. (Plato has the light of the sun symbolize truth in “The Allegory of the Cave.”) List of AP Literary Terms 3 91. Synecdoche- a figure of speech that utilizes a part as representative of the whole. (“All hands on deck” is an example.) 92. Syntax - the grammatical structure of prose and poetry. 93. Theme- the underlying ideas the author illustrates through characterization, motifs, language, plot, etc. 94. Thesis- simply, the main idea of a piece of writing. It presents the author’s assertion or claim. The effectiveness of a presentation is often based on how well the writer presents, develops, and supports the thesis. 95. Tone - the author’s attitude toward his subject. 96. Understatement – is the opposite of hyperbole; it is a deliberate minimizing done to provide emphasis or humor. In William Least Heat Moon’s “Nameless, Tennessee” (p. 164), Miss Ginny Watts explains how she asked her husband to call the doctor unless he wanted to be “shut of” (rid of) her. Her husband, Thurmond, humorously uses understatement in his reply: “I studied on it.” 97. Voice - can refer to two different areas of writing. One refers to the relationship between a sentence’s subject and verb (active voice and passive voice). The second refers to the total “sound” of a writer’s style. 98. Wit - in modern usage, wit is intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights. A witty statement is humorous, while suggesting the speaker’s verbal power in creating ingenious and perceptive remarks. Wit usually uses terse language that makes a pointed statement. Historically, wit originally meant basic understanding. Its meaning evolved to include speed of understanding, and finally (in the early seventeenth century), it grew to mean quick perception including creative fancy.

List of AP Literary Terms 4