AP LANG Lit Devices

Diction

It is word choice or style of language dependent on audience and occasion

Diction Example

His articulation of the problem represented the gravity of the situation.

Syntax

It is how sentences are grammatically constructed.

Syntax example

The dog age his food.

Juxtaposition

It is putting two contrasting things together to create effect.

Juxtaposition example

School is boring and parties are fun.

Repetition

It is repeating words or phrases for effect and emphasis.

Repetition Example

The breeze was too cool. Inside the house it was too hot.

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of 2 or more sentences or phrases in a row.

Anaphora Example

How can you think such an absurd idea? How can you consider even going through with this?

Parallelism

The repetition of grammatical components to create balance or rhythm.

Parallelism Example

I can participate in activities, listen to my parents, and learn new things.

Allusion

An indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or an event from history, pop culture, or literature.

Allusion Example

Her huge bag reminds me of Mary Poppins.

Connotation

The emotions a line create.

Connotation Example

Her mean behavior insulted her superiors (harsh connotation).

Denotation

The literal meaning of a word.

Denotation Example

A cow is a large white animal with brown or black spots.

Mood

The emotional response the writer wants to the reader to feel using the text.

Mood example

My hair flowed in the wind as the sunlight shined brightly. happy mood

Tone

It represents the writer’s attitude toward the subject.

Tone Example

I hate that disgusting cat. (harsh tone)

Analogy

It is explaining something complex by comparing it to something simpler.

Analogy Example

A team is like individual strands of hair who come together to form a hairstyle.

Rhetoric

The use of spoken or written word to persuade an audience or relay ideas.

Rhetoric Example

I’m a politician and in my speech I pushed my agenda but highlighting the dangers of elderly fraud.

Satire

The use of humor, exaggeration, or ridicule to criticize people or social issues.

Satire Example

People complain about animal cruelty while wearing fur coats.

Style

It is how an author writes and is like voice.

Style Example

Flames are the coolest thing ever. (causual style)

Euphemism

A less offensive way of something that is generally unpleasent.

Euphemism Example

Another way of saying “I despise my teacher” is “I am still looking for reasons to like my teacher.”

Verbal Irony

It is the usage of contradictory statements that reveals something different than what seems to be true and it is not mean-spirited.

Verbal Irony Example

My car crashed into the big truck and I said “I am the best driver.”

Situational Irony

It is when an event has an unexpected outcome.

Situational Irony Example

Aliens visited my small and boring town.

Synecdoche

When a part represents the whole

Synecdoche Example

I will not go against the White House.

Anecdote

A short personal story relating to the piece that develops a point or injects humour.

Anecdote Example

I love animals. When I was 4, I traveled to the Amazon and ate with monkeys, so I feel connected with animals.