AP Lit VocaB

abstract

a short version

adage

a saying or proverb of truth; common saying

allegory

a story where each thing represents some other thing

alliteration

the repetition of consonants at the beginning of words

allusion

a reference to other literature, history, or mythology

ambiguity

a vagueness of meaning or clarity

anachronism

a time period error (Ex. People saw the Kennedy assassination on their smartphones)

analogy

a comparison

annotation

brief explanations, summaries

antagonist

a character or force in literature that produces tension and opposes the protagonist.

antithesis

an opposite

aphorism

a short pithy statement of a generally accepted truth or sentiment

apollonium

refers to the most noble and godlike quality in human nature.

apostrophe -

archetype

ideal conception of a type; common symbols that have some meaning

assonance

similar vowel sounds; repetition of two or more vowel sounds

ballad

A poem that tells a story; short, narrative poem

bard

a poet

bathos

use of insincere or overdone sentimentality

bibliography

includes every source you consult

classic -

classical, classicion -

climax

high point or turning point in the story

coming of age story/novel

when somebody becomes of age; when someone goes through an experience that alters their development

conceit

a witty or ingenious thought

connotation

the suggested or implied meaning of a phrase

consonance

repetition of consonants or sounds

couplet

two rhyming lines of poetry

denotation

the literal meaning of a word

denouement

the resolution of a conflict after the climax; the falling action

deus ex machina

god from the machine

diction

the style of words

Dionysion (vs. Apollonium)

the dark, hidden pleasure-seeking motives of humans

dramatic irony

the audience knows more about the situation than the characters

elegy

laments or meditates on the passing of someone

ellipsis (...)

something is left out; indicating the omission of words

elliptical construction

when you deliberately leave out some words

empathy

to feel for somebody or something

end-stopped

when a line of poetry ends with the line

enjonbrent -

epic

an extended narrative poem about the extended exploits of a hero

epigram

when somebody says something super intelligent

epithet

common adjective used to express a striking quality in a person or thing

eponymous

when the work is named for the title character

euphemism

when something is bad and so you say it in a nice way

euphony

when things sound pleasing

explication

when you make things very explicit

exposé

when you expose something

exposition

the beginning of the story

extended metaphor

a long, drawn out metaphor

fable

a short story often featuring nonhuman characters that teaches a lesson

falling action

aftermath of the climax; when everything gets sort of concluded or resolved

fantasy

a story that has unreal or imaginative features or elements

farce

a comedy that contains an extravagant and nonsensical regard for seriousness; a comedy that is absurd

figure of speech/figurative language

symbolism or implied meaning

first-person narrative

a narrative told in the first person (“I”)

flashback

going back to a previous event in the story

foil

a minor character whose personality or attitude contrasts with that of the main character

foot

a measurement in poetry

foreshadowing

hints of things to come

frame

a frame narrative; structure that provides a premise for the narrative.

free verse

poetry with no rules; no rhyme, meter, or any fixed pattern.

genre

literary forms, like novel, play, essay; category of literature

Gothic novel

a novel with supernatural horrors and unknown terrors

harangue

a forceful sermon, lecture, or tirade

heroic couplet

two rhymed lines written in iambic pentameter and is a complete thought

hubris

audacity; excessive pride

humanism

a belief that exercises faith and optimism in human potential

hyperbole

an exaggeration

idyll

idyllic; a lyric poem or passage that describes an ideal life or place

image

a word or phrase that can be seen, touched, sensed, or smelled. A figurative word or description

in media res

when an action is already going on; starting in the middle of the action

indirect quotation

when you quote something indirectly. Saying what they mean but not what they said

irony

the opposite of your expectations

kenning

a device employed where the name of a thing is replaced by its function or quality

lampoon -

light verse

poetry that’s not about death; variety of poetry meant to entertain or amuse

litotes

when the contrast is used to achieve emphasis

loose sentence

when the main idea of the sentence is provided first, then supported by clauses

lyric poetry

personal reflective poetry that reveals the speaker’s thoughts and feelings about the subject

maxim

a saying or proverb about a common wisdom or truth

melodrama

a literary form in which events are exaggerated to create an extreme emotional response; over dramatic

metaphor

comparison with figurative language between two dissimilar or unlike things

metaphysical poetry

a type of poetry that uses elaborate and intellectual metaphors, etc to appeal to an educated audience

meter

timing and rhythm having to do with poetry

metonymy

a figure of speech that uses the name of something to represent something else in which it associates

Middle English

The transitionary period between Old and Modern English

mock epic

an epic about a subject that isn’t as worthy for an epic; pathetic

mode

The general or form or manner that something occurs

montage

a quick succession of images or impressions used to express an emotion or response

mood

emotional tone in a work of literature

moral

a brief and simple lesson inferred from a work of literature

motif

something repeated a bunch of times throughout a work

muse

the inspiration behind a work

myth

story that has become a part of a culture or group

narration

a story

naturalism -

non sequitur

when something doesn’t follow

novella

a small novel

novel of manners

pride and prejudice; a story about a group of people and the social customs and habits of those people