AP LIT VOCAB

Allegory

A literary work in which the characters represent abstract ideas; a symbolic representation

Antecedent

The word, phrase, ar clause to which a pronoun refers

Aphorism

A brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life

Archaism

The use of deliberately old fashioned language

Couplet

Two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme

Dramatic Irony

(Theater) Irony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play

Euphony

Any agreeable (pleasing or harmonious) sounds

Foreshadowing

The use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in a plot

Gothic Novel

A novel in which supernatural horrors and an atmosphere of unknown terrors pervades the action

Inversion

The reversal of the normal order of words

Masculine Rhyme

Final syllable of the first word rhymes with final syllable of second word (scald recalled)

Melodrama

a form of cheesy theater in which the hero is very, very good, the villain

mean and rotten, and the heroine oh-so-pure.

Rhetorical Question

a statement that is formulated as a question but that is not

supposed to be answered

Theme

the main idea of the story

Utopia

an imaginary place considered to be perfect or ideal

Abstract (style)

(in writing) this is typically complex, discusses intangible qualities like

good and evil, and seldom uses examples to support its points.

Anticlimax

a disappointing end to an exciting or impressive series of events

Ballad

any popular narrative poem, often with epic subject and usually in lyric form.

Denotation

the dictionary definition of a word

Epic

a long narrative poem written in elevated style which present the adventures of

characters of high position and episodes that are important to the history of a race or

nation

Foot

the basic unit of rhythmic measurement in a line of poetry

Irony

a contrast between what is expected and what actually exists or happens

Nemesis

the protagonists arch enemy or supreme and persistent difficulty.

Paradox

a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in

reality expresses a possible truth.

Pun

a play on words, often achieved through the use of words with similar sounds but

different meanings

Simile

a figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different

kinds (usually formed with like or as)

Symbolism

a device in literature where an object represents an idea.

Travesty

a grotesque or grossly inferior imitation

Hyperbole

a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make

a point, or evoke humor

Personification

the act of attributing human characteristics to abstract ideas etc.

Anachronism

something located at a time when it could not have existed or occured 

Assonance

the repetition of vowel sounds

Burlesque

a theatrical entertainment of broad and earthy humor

Dirge

a song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person

Feminine Rhyme

latter two syllables of first word rhyme with latter two syllables of second word

Interior Monologue

a narrative technique that records internal flow of thoughts memories or ideas; a longish passage of uninterupted thought

Metaphor

a figure of speech comparing two unlike things without using like or as

Parallelism

the use of a series of words, phrases, or sentences that have similar grammatical form

Persona

the speaker, voice, or character assumed by the author of a piece of writing

Stock Characters

standard or chiched character types: the drunk, the miser, the foolish girl etc.

Subjunctive Mood 

a grammatical situation involving “if” and “were” setting up a hypothetical situation

Tragic Flaw

the character flaw or error of a tragic hero that leads to his downfall

Accent

in poetry, refers to the stressed portion of the word

Aesthetic

used as an adjective meaning “appealing to the sense”

Analogy

a comparison of two different things that are similar in some way

Antihero

a protagonist who lacks the characteristics that would make him a hero 

Atmosphere

the emotional tone or background that surrounds a scene

Caricature

drawing, imitation, or description that ridiculously exaggerates peculiarities or defects

Conceit

a fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects

Doggerel

badly written or trivial verse, often with a singsong rhythm

Elegy

a formal poem presenting a meditation on death or another solemn theme 

Enjambment

the continuation of a syntactic unit from one line of verse into the next line without pause

Parable

a simple story that illustrates a moral or religious lesson

Pastoral

a literary work idealizing the rural life especially the life of shepherds

Academic (style)

dry and theoretical writing, when a piece of writing seems to be sucking all the life out of its subjects with analysis

Alliteration

repetition of initial consonant sounds

Bombast

speech or writing that sounds grand or important but has little meaning

Cadence

rhythmic flow of a sequence of sounds or words

Chorus

in greek drama, the group of citizens who stand outside the main action on stage and comment on it 

Euphemism

a mild, indirect, or vague term substituting for a harsh, blunt, or offensive term

Lampoon

ridicule with satire

Objectivity 

an impersonal presentation of events and characters

Onomatopoeia 

the use of words that imitate sounds

Requiem 

a song of prayer for the dead

Subjectivity 

a personal presentation of event and characters influenced by the authors feelings and opinions

Zeugma

when a word is used with two adjacent words in the same construction, but only makes literal sense with one of them

Allusion

a reference to another work of literature, person, or event

Aside

a line spoken by an actor to the audience but not intended for others on the stage

Black Humor

the use of disturbing themes is comedy C

Colloquialism

informal words or expressions not usually acceptable in formal writing

Diction

a writers or speakers choice of words

Free Verse

unrhymed verse without a consistent metrical pattern

Hubris

excessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy

Metonym

a word that is used to stand for something else that it has attributes of or is associated with

Protagonist

the main character in a literary work

Satire

a literary work that ridicules or criticizes a human vice through humor or derision

Thesis

the primary position taken by a writer or speaker 

Cacophony

harsh, jarring, discordant sound; dissonance

Canto

a major division of a long poem

Connotation

the implied or associative meaning of a word

Foil

a characters whose personality and attitude contrast sharply with those of another 

Oxymoron

a figure of speech consisting of two apparently contradictorythe repitition of one or more linesterms

Refrain

the repetition of one or more phrases or lines at definate intervals in a poem, usually at the end of a stanza.

Rhapsody

an intensely passionate verse or section of a verse, usually of love or praise

Summary

a brief statement that presents the main points in a concise form

Anthropomorphism 

the attribution of human characteristics to animals or inanimate objects

Catharsis

an emotional or psychological cleansing that brings relief or renewal

Dramatic Monologue 

when a single speaker in literature says something to a silent audience

Plaint

a poem or speech expressing sorrow

Soliloquy

in drama, a character speaks alone on stage to allow his/her thoughts and ideas to be conveyed to the audience

Anecdote

a short narrative

Apostrophe

address to an absent or imaginary person

Decorum

conformity to accepted standards of conduct; proper behavior

Dissonance

harsh or grating sounds that do not go together

Farce

a comedy that contains an extravagant and nonsensical disregard of seriousness, although it may have a serious, scornful purpose

Lyric

of or relating to a category of poetry that expresses emotion (often in a songlike way)

Parody

a work which imitates another in a ridiculous manner

Stanza

a fixed number of lines of verse forming a unit of a poem

Consonance

repetition of consonant sounds

Epitaph

a brief statement written on a tomb or gravestone