Pre AP terms

Allegory

Device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning

Allusion

A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly know, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art

Ambiguity

The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentance, or passage

Analogy

A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them

apostrophe

a figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imagery person or personified abstraction, such as liberty or love

conceit

a fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects

connotation

the non-literal, associative meaning of a word; implied, suggested meaning

denotation

the strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color

diction

referring to style, refers to the writer’s word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, and/or effectiveness

didactic text

from greek, literally means teaching

equivocation

falsification by means of vague or ambiguous language

euphemism

from the greek for “good speech” a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept

foil

a person or thing that makes another seem better by contrast

foreshadowing

to present an indication or a suggestion of beforehand; presage

Homily

literally “sermon” or any serious talk, speech, or lecture providing moral or spiritual advice

hyperbole

a figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement

Imagery

the sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions

irony

the contrast between what is said and what it really means

Juxtaposition

an act or instance of placing close together or side by side, esp for comparison or contrast

metaphor

a figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity

metonymy

from the greek “changed label”, the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it

moral

the lesson to be learned from something that happens, or from story

motif

a recurrent element or dominant idea in a literary work

oxymoron

from the greek “pointedly foolish” author groups apparently contradicting terns to suggest a paradox

Paradox

a statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to a common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity

personification

a figure of speech in which the author presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions

repetition

the duplication, either exact or approximate, or any element of language

sarcasm

from the greek “to tear flesh” involves butter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule something or someone

satire

a work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule

syllogism

from the greek for “reckonging together” a deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion

Symbolism

Something literal standing for an abstract idea or concept

synecdoche

the use of a part for the whole

syntax

the way the author choses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences

theme

the universal idea or central purpose of a work. No one way of stating it, there are many for one work

understatement

the ironic minimalization of a fact, presents something as less significant than it is