AP Lit Term to memorize

Situational Irony

When something happens that is opposite of expectations

Lyric

A brief, personal poem that uses many sound devices, as well as rhythm and meter, and is filled with emotion; sonnets, odes and elegies are types of lyrics

Metaphor

A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things by stating one is the other.

ex) Time is money

Metaphysical poetry

A style of poetry characterized by complex imagery and philosophical themes, often exploring love, existence, and the nature of reality.

Meter

The regularized pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry; the intentional arrangement of language in which the accented syllables occur at equal intervals of time

Metonymy

A figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely associated.

ex) They spoke in their native tongue (tongue represents language)

Mood

The reader's state of mind and emotions while reading a text.

Motivation

The reasons behind a character's actions or behavior in a story.

Narration

The act of telling a story, which can be done by a narrator who may be a character in the story or an outside observer.

Ode

A formal, often ceremonious lyric poem that addresses and praises a person, place, thing, or idea.

Onomatopoeia

A word that phonetically imitates or resembles the sound it describes.

ex) boom, crash

Oxymoron

A figure of speech that combines contradictory terms for effect.

ex) bittersweet

Paradox

A statement that appears contradictory or self-refuting but may reveal a deeper truth.

ex) less is more

Parody

A humorous or satirical imitation of a particular writer, genre, or style.

Pastoral poetry

A genre of poetry that idealizes rural life and nature, often contrasting it with urban life.

Pathetic fallacy

A literary device that attributes human emotions and traits to nature or inanimate objects.

Persona

The voice or character that an author adopts in a literary work, distinct from their personal identity.

Personification

A figure of speech in which human qualities are attributed to animals, inanimate objects, or abstract concepts.

ex) the tree waved its branches

Plot

The sequence of events that make up a story, including the conflict, climax, and resolution.

Point of view

The perspective from which a story is narrated, influencing how the audience perceives the events.

Prosody

The study of rhythm, stress, and intonation in poetry and language.

Protagonist

The main character in a literary work, often facing a central conflict.

Pun

A form of wordplay that exploits multiple meanings of a term or similar-sounding words for humorous effect.

Rhyme

The repetition of similar sounds in two or more words, often used in poetry to create rhythm and musicality.

Round character

A complex character who undergoes significant development throughout a story.

Sarcasm

The use of irony to mock or convey contempt.

Satire

A genre that uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize or mock societal norms or individuals.

Setting

The time and place in which the events of a story occur.

Shift or turn

A change in the direction or focus of a narrative, often revealing new insights or developments.

Simile

A figure of speech that compares two different things using 'like' or 'as.'

Soliloquy

A speech in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud, often while alone on stage, revealing inner feelings.

Sonnet

A poetic form consisting of 14 lines, typically written in iambic pentameter, with various rhyme schemes.

Sound devices

Literary techniques that convey meaning or create a particular effect through the use of sound.

Static character

A character who does not undergo significant change throughout the story.

Stock character

A stereotypical character who is easily recognizable and often serves a specific purpose in a narrative.

Style

The distinctive way an author uses language, including word choice, sentence structure, and literary devices.

Suspense

A feeling of excitement or anxiety about what may happen next in a story.

Symbol

An object, character, figure, or color used to represent abstract ideas or concepts.

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole or vice versa.

ex) all hands on deck (hand meaning people)

Syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.

Terza rima

A rhyming verse stanza form consisting of three lines with an interlocking rhyme scheme.

Theme

The central idea or message conveyed in a literary work.

Litotes

A special form of understatement; it affirms something by negating the opposite

ex) its not a bad idea (its a good idea)

Unreliable narrator

A narrator whose credibility is compromised, leading to a distorted or biased perspective of the story.

Allegory

A narrative that serves as an extended metaphor, conveying a deeper moral or political meaning.

Alliteration

The repetition of the same initial consonant sounds in a sequence of words.

ex) sally sells seashells by the seashore

Allusion

A brief reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance.

Antithesis

A rhetorical device that contrasts opposing ideas in a balanced structure.

ex) it was the best of time it was the worst of times

Apostrophe

A figure of speech in which the speaker addresses an absent person, an abstract idea, or a thing.

Archetype

A typical example of a character, theme, or situation that recurs throughout literature.

Aside

A remark made by a character in a play that is intended to be heard by the audience but not by other characters.

(similar to soliloquy but more of a shorter remark)

Assonance

The repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words for poetic effect.

ex) the bear did not share her hair

Atmosphere

The overall feeling or mood created by a literary work, influenced by setting, tone, and style.

Bildungsroman

A coming-of-age story that focuses on the psychological and moral growth of the protagonist.

Blank verse

Unrhymed iambic pentameter, often used in English dramatic and epic poetry.

Cacophony

A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds, often used in poetry to convey chaos or discomfort.

Caesura

A pause or break in a line of poetry, often occurring in the middle of a line.

Canon (literary canon)

A collection of works considered representative or essential in a particular field of literature.

Carpe diem

A Latin phrase meaning 'seize the day,' often used as a theme in literature encouraging the enjoyment of the present.

Catharsis

The emotional release or purification that an audience experiences through art, particularly in tragedy.

Cliché

An overused expression or idea that has lost its originality and impact.

Colloquial (diction)

The use of informal language or slang in writing, reflecting everyday speech.

Connotation

The implied or associative meaning of a word, beyond its literal definition.

Consonance

The repetition of consonant sounds in close proximity, often used for poetic effect.

ex) mike likes his new bike

Couplet

A pair of successive rhyming lines in a poem.

Denotation

The literal or primary meaning of a word, as opposed to its connotation.

Denouement

The final resolution or outcome of a story, where conflicts are resolved and the plot concludes.

Dialect

A particular form of a language that is specific to a region or social group.

Dramatic monologue

A type of poem in which a single speaker addresses a silent listener, revealing their thoughts and feelings.

Dynamic character

A character who undergoes significant internal change throughout the story.

Elegy

A mournful poem, typically written in remembrance of someone who has died.

End-stopped line

A line of poetry that ends with a punctuation mark, creating a pause.

Enjambment

The continuation of a sentence or clause across a line break in poetry, without a pause.

Epic

A long narrative poem that recounts the adventures of heroic figures and significant events.

Epigram

A brief, witty poem or saying that often contains a clever twist.

Epiphany

A moment of sudden revelation or insight experienced by a character.

Euphony

The quality of being pleasing to the ear, often achieved through harmonious sounds in poetry.

Exposition

The introduction of background information in a story, including setting, characters, and events.

Farce

A comedic genre characterized by exaggerated and improbable situations.

Figures of speech

Expressions that convey meanings in imaginative ways, often through metaphors, similes, and other rhetorical devices.

Flashback

A narrative technique that interrupts the chronological flow of a story to depict an event from the past.

Flat character

A simplistic character who does not undergo significant change or development.

Foil character

A character who contrasts with another character, often the protagonist, to highlight particular qualities.

Foot

The basic unit of measurement in poetry, consisting of a combination of stressed and unstressed syllables.

spondaic

stressed, stressed

Pyrrhic

unstressed, unstressed

anapestic

unstressed, unstressed, stressed

Dactylic

stressed, unstressed, unstressed

trochaic

stressed, unstressed

Iambic

unstressed, stressed

Foreshadowing

A literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story.

Free verse

A form of poetry that does not adhere to a specific meter or rhyme scheme.

Heroic couplet

A pair of rhymed lines in iambic pentameter, often used in epic poetry.

Hubris

Excessive pride or self-confidence, often leading to a character's downfall.

Hyperbole

An exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally, used for emphasis or effect.

ex) this bag weighs a ton

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses and creates vivid mental pictures.

Verbal Irony

A statement which is opposite of the speaker's intent.

dramatic irony

when a reader is aware of something that a character isn't

First Person

The narrator is a character in the story; told with "I" and "me", etc.

Third Person Objective

The narrator is not a character in the story; reports only what can be seen and heard