AP Literature

AP Literature Flashcards

Metaphor

A direct comparison between two unlike things without using 'like' or 'as'. Example: 'Time is a thief.'

Simile

A comparison using 'like' or 'as'. Example: 'Her smile was as bright as the sun.'

Allusion

A reference to a well-known work, person, or event. Example: 'He met his Waterloo.'

Personification

Giving human qualities to non-human things. Example: 'The wind whispered through the trees.'

Enjambment

The continuation of a sentence without a pause beyond the end of a line in poetry.

Caesura

A pause in a line of poetry, often marked by punctuation. Example: 'To be, or not to be -- that is the question.'

Apostrophe

Addressing an absent person, abstract idea, or inanimate object. Example: 'O death, where is thy sting?'

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part represents the whole. Example: 'All hands on deck.'

Metonymy

Something is referred to by something closely associated. Example: 'The pen is mightier than the sword.'

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality. Includes verbal, dramatic, and situational irony.

Juxtaposition

Placing two contrasting elements close together for effect.

Symbolism

Using an object or action to represent a deeper meaning. Example: A dove symbolizes peace.

Motif

A recurring element or theme in a literary work.

Tone

The author's attitude toward the subject. Example: sarcastic, joyful, melancholic.

Mood

The emotional atmosphere felt by the reader. Example: gloomy, tense, hopeful.

Diction

The author's word choice, which affects tone and meaning.

Syntax

The arrangement of words and sentence structure.

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses. Example: 'The scent of fresh rain clung to the grass.'

Allegory

A narrative in which characters and events represent abstract ideas. Example: Animal Farm as a political allegory.

Paradox

A statement that seems contradictory but reveals a truth. Example: 'Less is more.'

Oxymoron

Two opposite words placed together. Example: 'Deafening silence.'

Theme

The central idea or underlying message of a literary work.

Sardonic

Grimly mocking or cynical.

Cynical

Believing people are motivated by self-interest; distrustful of sincerity.

Reverent

Showing deep respect and admiration.

Melancholy

A deep, persistent sadness or gloomy state.

Ironic

Saying the opposite of what one means, often for humorous or emphatic effect.

Ambivalent

Having mixed or conflicting feelings about something.

Wistful

Longing or yearning, often with sadness.

Jubilant

Feeling or expressing great happiness and triumph.

Detached

Emotionally uninvolved or indifferent.

Somber

Dark, gloomy, or serious in tone.

Romanticism

18th-19th century movement emphasizing emotion, individualism, and nature.

Gothic

Subgenre of Romanticism featuring horror, death, and the supernatural.

Realism

19th-century movement focused on depicting everyday life accurately.

Modernism

Early 20th-century movement marked by experimentation and disillusionment.

Postmodernism

Late 20th-century movement embracing fragmentation, irony, and metafiction.

Harlem Renaissance

1920s cultural movement celebrating Black art, music, and literature.