Ap Lit Terms: Allegory, Antecedent, Aphorism, Archaism, Couplet, Dramatic Irony, Euphony, Foreshadowing, Gothic Novel, Inversion, Masculine Rhyme, Melodrama, Rhetorical Question, Theme, Utopia

Allegory

A narrative with a hidden meaning, often moral or political.

Antecedent

The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.

Aphorism

A concise statement expressing a general truth or principle.

Archaism

The use of outdated language or expressions.

Couplet

Two consecutive rhyming lines of poetry.

Dramatic Irony

When the audience knows something the characters do not.

Euphony

Pleasant, harmonious sound in language.

Foreshadowing

Hints about what will happen later in the story.

Gothic Novel

A genre characterized by mystery, horror, and the supernatural.

Inversion

Reversal of the normal order of words.

Masculine Rhyme

A rhyme that ends on a stressed syllable.

Melodrama

A dramatic work emphasizing sensational events and strong emotions.

Rhetorical Question

A question asked for effect, not requiring an answer.

Theme

The central idea or message in a literary work.

Utopia

An imagined perfect society or place.