ap lang lit devices

alliteration

repetition of initial consonant sounds

allusion

reference to history, myths, literature, or the Bible

analepsis

a flashback; to restore or do over

anaphora

repetition of word(s) at the beginning of clauses/phrases/sentences

anecdote

a short story, usually for emphasis or as an example

antistrophe

repetition of word(s) at the end of clauses/phrases/sentences

antithesis

opposition or contrast of ideas expressed by parallelism of words that contrast each other

apotheosize

to glorify or exalt; to raise to the heavens

chiasmus (antimetabole)

writing a series of words twice, reversing the order the second time

connotation

the attitude evoked in a word beyond its literal meaning

consonance

repetition of consonant sounds (but not at the beginning)

dichotomy

a division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different

hyperbole

over-exaggeration

hypophora

a figure of speech in which a speaker poses a question and then answers it

meiosis

understatement dealing with a significant issue

(extended) metaphor

comparison of two unlike things that continues throughout a sentence, paragraph, stanza

onomatopoeia

words that actually sound like the thing or action they describe

oxymoron

two words with opposite meaning combined into one phrase

paradox

self-contradictory statement that presents a truth

personification

to provide human qualities to something nonhuman

prolepsis

flash forward; to anticipate the future

pun

a play on words

simile

a comparison that uses "like" or "as"

symbol

a thing that represents or stands for something else

synesthesia

to present ideas, characters or places in such a manner that they appeal to more than one senses

voice (speaker)

a distinctive tone or style established by the writer