AP English Literature Terms

abstract

an abbreviated synopsis of a longer work of scholarship or research

adage

a saying/proverb containing a truth based on experience and often couched in metaphorical language

allegory

a story in which the narrative/characters carry an underlying symbolic, metaphorical or possibly an ethical meaning

alliteration

the repetition of one or more initial consonant in a group of words or lines of poetry or prose. writers use this for ornament or for emphasis

allusion

a reference to a person, place, or event meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of an idea

ambiguity

a vagueness of meaning; a conscious lack of clarity meant to evoke multiple meanings and interpretation

anachronism

a person, scene, event, or other element in literature that fails to correspond with the time/era in which the work is set

analogy

a comparison that points out similarities between two dissimilar things

annotation

a brief explanation,summary, or evaluation of a text or work of literature

antagonist

a character or force in a work of literature that, by opposing the protagonist produces tension or conflict

antithesis

a rhetorical opposition or contrast of ideas by means of a grammatical arrangement of words, clauses, or sentences

aphorism

a short, pithy statement of a generally accepted truth or sentiment

Apollonian

in contrast to Dionysian, it refers to the most noble, godlike qualities of human nature and behavior

apostrophe

a locution that addresses a person/personified thing not present

archetype

an abstract or ideal conception of a type; a perfectly typical example; an original model/form

assonance

the repetition of two or more vowel sounds in a group of words or lines in poetry and prose

ballad

a simple narrative verse that tells a story that is sung or recited; a long narrative poem, usually in very regular meter and rhyme, typically has a naive folksy quality

bard

a poet, in olden times, a performer who told heroic stories to musical accompaniment

bathos

the use of insincere or overdone sentimentality

belle-lettres

the French term for the world of books, criticism, and literature in general

bibliography

a list of works cited or otherwise relevant to a subject or other work

Bildungsroman

a German word referring to a novel structured as a series of events that take place as the hero travels in quest of a goal

blank verse

poetry written in iambic pentameter, the primary meter used in English poetry and the works of Shakespeare and Milton. its lines generally do not rhyme

bombast

inflated, pretentious language used for trivial subjects

burlesque

a work of literature meant to ridicule a subject; a grotesque imitation; a broad parody and exaggerates it into ridiculousness

cacophony

grating, inharmonious sounds

caesura

a pause somewhere in the middle of a verse, often (but not always marked by punctuation)

canon

the works considered most important in national literature or period; works widely read and studied

caricature

a grotesque likeness of striking qualities in persons and things; a portrait that exaggerates a facet of personality

carpe diem

"seize the day"

catharsis

a cleansing of the spirit brought about by the pity and terror of a dramatic tragedy

classic

a highly regarded work of literature or other art form that has withstood the test of time, similar to canon

classicism

deriving from the orderly qualities of ancient Greek and Roman culture; implies formality, objectivity, simplicity and restraint

climax

the high point, or turning point, of a story/play

novel

a tale in which a young protagonist experiences an introduction to adulthood. the character may develop understanding via disillusionment, education, doses of reality, or any other experiences that alter his/her emotional/intellectual maturity. e.g. Invisible Man

conceit

a witty or ingenious thought; a diverting or highly fanciful idea, often stated in figurative language; a startling or unusual metaphor, or a metaphor developed and expanded upon several lines

anticlimax

this occurs when an action produces far smaller results than one had been led to expect, it is frequently comic in effect

antihero

a protagonist who is markedly unheroic: morally weak, cowardly, dishonest, or any number of other unsavory qualities

aside

a speech (usually just a short comment) made by an actor to the audience, as though momentarily stepping outside of the action on stage

aspect

a trait of characteristic, as in "an aspect of the dew drop"

atmosphere

the emotional tone or background that surrounds a scene

black humor

this is the use of disturbing themes in comedy. e.g. two tramps comically debating over which should commit suicide first, and whether the branches of a tree will support their weight

cadence

the beat or rhythm of poetry in a general sense

canto

is a divider in long poems, much like chapters in a novel

coinage

a.k.a. neologism, inventing a word

colloquialism

this is a word or phrase used in everyday conversational English that isn't a part of accepted "schoolbook" English

controlling image

when an image dominates and shapes the entire work

metaphysical conceit

a type of conceit that occurs only in metaphysical poetry

connotation

the suggest or implied meaning of a word/phrase

consonance

the repetition of two or more consonant sounds within a group of words or a line of poetry

couplet

a pair of lines that end in rhyme

heroic couplet

two rhyming lines in iambic pentameter are called this

denotation

the literal, dictionary definition of a word

denouement

the resolution that occurs at the end of a play or work or fiction

deus ex machina

in literature, the use of an artificial device or gimmick to solve a problem

Dionysian

as distinguished from Apollonian, the word refers to sensual, pleasure seeking impulses

diction

the choice of words in oral and written discourse

syntax

the ordering and structuring of the words in a sentence

dirge

a song for the dead, its tone is typically slow, heavy, and melancholy

dissonance

the grating of incompatible sounds

doggerel

crude, simplistic verse, often in sing-song rhyme

dramatic irony

when the audience knows something that the characters in the drama do not

dramatic monologue

when a single speaker in literature says something to a silent audience

elegy

a poem or prose selection that laments or meditates on the passing/death of something/someone of value

elements

the basic techniques of each genre of literature. IN SHORT STORY: characters, irony, theme, symbol, plot, setting. IN POETRY: figurative language, symbol, imagery, rhythm, rhyme. IN DRAMA: conflict, characters, climax, conclusion, exposition, rising action, falling action, props. IN NONFICTION: argument, evidence, reason, appeals, fallacies, thesis.

ellipsis

three periods (...) indicating the omission of words in a thought or quotation

empathy

a feeling of association or identification with an object/person

end stopped

a term that describes a line of poetry that ends with a natural pause often indicated by a mark of punctuation

enjambment

the continuation of a syntactic unit from one line or couplet of a poem to the next with no pause

epic

an extended narrative poem that tells of the adventures and exploits of a hero that is generally larger than life and is often considered a legendary figure

mock epic

a parody form that deals with mundane events and ironically treats them as worthy of epic poetry

epitaph

lines that commemorate the dead at their burial place. usually a line or handful of lines, often serious or religious, but sometimes witty and even irreverent

epigram

a concise but ingenious, witty and thoughtful statement

euphony

when sounds blend harmoniously; pleasing, harmonious sounds

epithet

an adjective or phrase that expresses a striking quality of a person or thing

eponymous

a term for the title character of a work of literature

euphemism

a mild or less negative usage for a harsh or blunt term

exegesis

a detailed analysis or interpretation of a work of literature

expose

a piece of writing that reveals weaknesses, faults, frailties, or other short comings

explicit

to say or write something directly and clearly

explication

the interpretation/analysis of a text

extended metaphor

a series of comparisons between two unlike objects that occur over a number of lines

fable

a short tale often featuring nonhuman character that act as people whose actions enable the author to make observations or draw useful lessons about human behavior. i.e Orwell's "Animal Farm"

falling action

the action in a play or story that occurs after the climax and that leads to the conclusion and often to the resolution of the conflict

fantasy

a story containing unreal, imaginary features

farce

a comedy that contains an extravagant and nonsensical disregard of seriousness, although it may have a serious, scornful purpose

figurative language

in contrast to literal language, this implies meanings. It includes devices such as metaphors, similes, and personification, etc.

foil

a secondary character whose purpose is to highlight the characteristics of a main character, usually by contrast

first person narrative

a narrative told by a character involved in the story, using first-person pronouns such as "I" and "we"

flashback

a return to an earlier time in a story or play in order to clarify present actions or circumstances i.e. Invisible Man

foreshadowing

an event or statement in a narrative that suggests, in miniature, a larger event that comes later

foot

the basic rhythmic unit of a line in poetry. it is formed by a combination of two or three syllables, either stressed or unstressed

frame

a structure that provides premise or setting for a narrative

free verse

a kind of poetry without rhymed lines, rhythm or fixed metrical feet

genre

a term used to describe literary forms, such as novel, play, and essay

Gothic novel

a novel in which supernatural horrors and an atmosphere of unknown terror pervades the action. i.e. "Frankenstein"

harangue

a forceful sermon, lecture, or tirade

hubris

the excessive pride/ambition that leads to the main character's downfall

hyperbole

exaggeration/deliberate overstatement

humanism

a belief that emphasizes faith and optimism in human potential and creativity