ap lit

ALLEGORY

A story or poem with characters

ALLITERATION

The repetition of initial consonant sounds in words positioned close together.

AMBIGUITY

The intentional presentation of multiple or conflicting meanings within a work.

ANAPHORA

The repetition of a specific word or phrase at the start of consecutive sentences or clauses.

ANASTROPHE

The reversal of standard word order in a sentence for emphasis or rhythm.

ANTIMETABOLE

The repetition of words in successive clauses using reversed grammatical structure.

ANTITHESIS

A balanced arrangement of contrasting ideas or phrases using structured syntax.

ANTIHERO

A main character who lacks conventional heroic attributes such as morality or courage.

APHORISM

A short statement offering a general truth or observation about life.

APOSTROPHE

Directly addressing an absent figure

APPOSITION

Placing two coordinate elements side by side so the second modifies or explains the first.

ASSONANCE

The repetition of vowel sounds across nearby words without repeating consonants.

ASYNDETON

Omitting conjunctions between coordinate words or clauses in a series.

CHIASMUS

A rhetorical arrangement where the second clause reverses the structure of the first.

COLLOQUIALISM

Informal language or local expressions unsuitable for formal contexts.

COMEDY

A narrative focused on resolving central conflicts happily.

CONCEIT

An elaborate and unexpected metaphor comparing vastly different things.

CONFESSIONAL POETRY

Poetry drawing directly from personal and private life experiences.

CONNOTATION

The emotional or cultural associations attached to a word beyond its literal definition.

COUPLET

Two consecutive rhyming lines of poetry.

DIDACTIC

Works designed primarily to teach a moral lesson or instruct.

ELEGY

A poem expressing grief or mourning for someone who has died.

EPANALEPSIS

Repeating the initial word or phrase of a sentence at its very end.

EPIC

A long narrative poem recounting the grand deeds of a culturally significant hero.

EPIGRAPH

A quote placed at the start of a work to suggest its central theme.

EPISTROPHE

Repeating a word or phrase at the ends of successive clauses or lines.

EPITHET

A descriptive adjective or title frequently attached to a person or thing.

EXPLICATION

Close analysis of a text to uncover its deeper figurative meanings.

FARCE

A highly exaggerated comedy built on absurd situations and stereotyped characters.

FOIL

A character whose traits contrast directly with another to highlight specific qualities.

FREE VERSE

Poetry written without a fixed meter or rhyming pattern.

HYPOTACTIC

A sentence structure relying heavily on subordinating clauses to show logical links.

INVERSION

Reversing conventional word order within a phrase or clause.

DRAMATIC IRONY

A situation where the audience knows vital information a character does not.

JUXTAPOSITION

Placing distinct ideas side by side to highlight contrasts.

LITOTES

Understatement achieved by affirming a point through negating its opposite.

LOCAL COLOR

Details emphasizing specific setting traits like dialect

LOOSE SENTENCE

A main clause followed by subordinate dependent phrases.

LYRIC POEM

A non-narrative poem conveying personal thoughts and emotions.

IMPLIED METAPHOR

A comparison suggested through verbs or descriptive words rather than named explicitly.

EXTENDED METAPHOR

A metaphor developed across an extended portion of a text.

DEAD METAPHOR

An overused metaphor that has lost its vivid visual impact.

MIXED METAPHOR

The incongruous combining of two distinct metaphors.

METONYMY

Referring to a concept by the name of something closely associated with it.

MOTIF

A recurring element or symbol that unifies a work and reinforces its theme.

ONOMATOPOEIA

Words that phonetically imitate the sounds they describe.

OXYMORON

A brief phrase combining two opposing terms.

PARABLE

A short narrative conveying an overarching moral or spiritual lesson.

PARADOX

A statement appearing self-contradictory that reveals an underlying truth.

KOAN

A paradox used in Zen teachings to prompt non-rational insight.

PARATACTIC SENTENCE

Juxtaposing clauses without coordinating or subordinating conjunctions.

PERIODIC SENTENCE

A sentence holding its complete main thought until the very end.

OMNISCIENT POINT OF VIEW

An all-knowing narrator revealing thoughts across multiple characters.

OBJECTIVE POINT OF VIEW

A neutral narrator describing actions without revealing internal thoughts.

POLYSYNDETON

Connecting items in a list using repeated conjunctions without commas.

QUATRAIN

A stanza or poem consisting of four lines.

REFRAIN

A phrase or line repeated at regular intervals throughout a poem.

RHYTHM

The pattern of stressed and unstressed beats in language.

ROMANCE

A narrative centered on an idealized protagonist undergoing a successful quest.

STREAM OF CONSCIOUSNESS

A style mimicking the continuous

SYNECDOCHE

A figure of speech where a part stands for the whole or vice versa.

SYNTACTIC FLUENCY

The skill of creating varied and smooth sentence structures.

SYNTACTIC PERMUTATION

Highly complex and intricate sentence structures.

TALL TALE

A humorous narrative marked by extreme exaggeration.

TELEGRAPHIC SENTENCE

An extremely brief sentence under five words in length.

TRAGEDY

A story depicting serious events leading to an unhappy downfall.

TRICOLON

A sentence composed of three parts of equal length and structure.

VERNACULAR

Everyday spoken language specific to a region or population.

IMPRESSIONISM

A artistic movement capturing personal sensory perceptions rather than exact realism.

MODERNISM

An era marked by experimental forms breaking traditional literary conventions.

NATURALISM

A literary approach depicting life with detached

PLAIN STYLE

Clear

PURITANISM

Early colonial writing emphasizing religious devotion and obedience.

RATIONALISM

A movement prioritizing reason over traditional authority.

REALISM

Writing focused on portraying actual everyday life accurately.

REGIONALISM

Works highlighting regional settings

ROMANTICISM

A movement prioritizing emotion

SURREALISM

An artistic focus on tapping into the unconscious mind and dreams.

TRANSCENDENTALISM

A philosophy asserting individuals gain truth through inner intuition.