AP literature

Vocabulary

Rhyming Couplet

Two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme and usually have the same meter.

Free Verse

Poetry that does not follow a regular rhyme scheme or meter, but still uses rhyme, imagery, and line breaks for effect

Allegory

A story, poem, or work in which characters and events represent abstract ideas or moral qualities, often teaching a lesson: Ex/ Animal farm, The Allegory of the Cave

Metonymy

Referring to something by the name of something closely linked to it. Ex/ "the crown" for a monarchy, "the White House" for the U.S. administration.

Apostrophe

When a writer speaks directly to someone or something that isn’t present like a person, idea, or object: Expresses inner thoughts or give ideas human qualities

Masculine Rhyme

A rhyme on the final stressed syllable of two words to create strong, clear sound at the end of lines: Ex/ stand/land; day/play

Paradox

A statement that seems impossible or contradictory, but reveals a deeper truth to make readers think deeply and highlight complex truths: “Less is more” ; “I know one thing, that I know nothing”

Synecdoche

A figure of speech where a part represents the whole or the whole represents the part: Ex/ “All hands on deck” —> hands = people ; “The crown will decide” —> crown = king/queen

Ode

A poem that praises or celebrates a person, object, or idea to express deep admiration or emotion (elevates the subject)

Ballad

A storytelling poem, usually set to music, with simple language and a regular rhythm to tell a story in a memorable, musical way and makes the narrative easy to follow and more emotionally engaging.

Feminine Rhyme

A rhyme where two or more syllables match, with the final syllable unstressed to create a softer, flowing sound than masculine rhyme: Ex/ motion/ocean ; lightning/fighting

End rhyme

When the last words of two or more lines rhyme in a poem: Ex/ “Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are”

Alliteration

The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of nearby words to create a sense of rhythm and musicality that enhance mood and make lines memorable (highlights key words and ideas): Ex/ Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers

Personification

Giving human qualities or actions to non-human things to make descriptions vivid and relatable to help readers connect emotionally and add symbolism

Symbolism

When an object, person, or event represents a bigger idea or concept to add deeper meaning, allowing writers to express complex ideas and to help readers interpret themes beyond the literal level

Parody

A work that imitates another work in a funny or exaggerated way to critique or mock original work, often highlighting flaws or cultural ideas in a humorous way.

Enjambment****

When a sentence or phrase continues past the end of a line in a poetry without a pause to create flow and momentum, emphasizing words or ideas which can mirror natural speech or thought (bring poem to life and make more emotionally engaging)

Elegy

A poem that mourns or honors someone who has died to help the writer express grief and to explore themes of mortality, memory, and life’s meaning

Oxymoron

A figure of speech that combines two contradictory or opposite words to highlight a paradox or add humor

Satire

Writing that uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to critique or make fun of people, society, or ideas to expose flaws or absurdities, provoke thought, and encourage social or political change through humor or critique

Irony

When the opposite of what is expected occurs or is meant, creating a contrast between appearance and reality to add surprise and highlight contradictions: Ex/ A fire station burns down ; “Oh, great! another homework assignment”

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive lines or sentences to create rhythm, emphasis, and emotional impact: Ex/ Martin Luther King Jr — “I have a dream…”

Comic Relief

A funny scene, character, or dialogue in a serious story or play to relieve tension and highlight the seriousness of other scenes by contrast: Ex/ The Weasley twins in Harry Potter

Metaphysical poetry

A form of poetry that exhibits deep, philosophical ideas like love, death, existence, often using clever comparisons and unusual imagery (blend of emotion and logic to convey intellectual ideas): Ex/ “The Flea” by John Donne —> uses a flea as a logical proof for intimacy

Parallel Plot

A story that is structured by two or more separate storylines happening at the same time, often connected by theme

Narrative poem

A poem with a narrator that follows a story with characters and a plot to convey a story in a poetic manner to combine a story with rhythm

Rhyming couplet

Two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme and often have the same meter — usually the last word of a line

Euphony

The use of pleasant, harmonious sounds to create pleasing musical qualities that enhance the mood and emotion of the poem — engages reader:

Hyperbole

Exaggeration used to emphasize a point or create a strong effect: Ex/ I told you a “million” times ; Im so hungry I could eat a “horse”

Internal Rhyme

When a word within the same line of poetry rhymes with another word in that line to add musicality and rhythm to emphasize the meanings of words and create a memorable effect

Soliloquy

A speech typically in a play where a character emphasizes their thoughts out loud in order to reveal internal feelings and provide insight on the story as a whole and the character themselves

Refrain

A repeated line or phrase/word at the end of lines or stanzas to emphasize key ideas/emotions/words and promote memorability: Ex/ Opposite of an anaphora

Allusion

A brief reference to a person, place, event, or work of literature that the reader is expected to recognize: Ex/ He is a real Romeo* with the ladies

Caesura

A brief pause or break in a line of poetry usually marked by punctuation or a natural speech pause to control rhythm and emphasize ideas/ words. It can also mirror natural speech/dialogue

Didactic Poetry

Poetry that is intended to teach a lesson often about moral, ethical, or practical reasons: Ex/ Paradise Lost —> explores religious and moral lessons