Glossary of Literary Terms - AP English Language and Composition

Flashcards created from the Glossary of Literary Terms for AP English Language and Composition students.

allegory

The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. In some allegories, for example, an author may intend the characters to personify an abstraction like hope or freedom. The allegorical meaning usually deals with moral truth or a generalization about human existence.

alliteration

The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words (as in “she sells sea shells”). Although the term is not frequently in the multiple choice section, you can look for alliteration in any essay passage. The repetition can reinforce meaning, unify ideas, supply a musical sound, and/or echo the sense of the passage.

allusion

A direct or indirect reference to something commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art.

ambiguity

The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.

ambiguity –

The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.

analogy

A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them.

antecedent

The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.

antithesis

The opposition or contrast of ideas; the direct opposite.

aphorism

A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or moral principle.

apostrophe

A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction.

atmosphere

The emotional nod created by the entirety of a literary work, including setting and descriptive choices.

caricature

A verbal description that exaggerates or distorts a person’s distinctive physical features or characteristics.

clause

A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb.

colloquial

The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.

conceit

A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy.

connotation

The non-literal, associative meaning of a word; the implied or suggested meaning.

denotation

The strict, literal dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion or attitude.

diction

The writer’s word choices, especially in relation to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness.

didactic

Literally means 'teaching'; didactic words aim to instruct, especially in moral or ethical principles.

euphemism

A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for an unpleasant word or concept.

extended metaphor

A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently throughout a work.

figurative language

Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning, often imaginative and vivid.

figure of speech

A device used to produce figurative language, including apostrophe, hyperbole, and metaphor.

generic conventions

Traditions for each genre that help to define it.

genre

The major category into which a literary work fits, such as prose, poetry, and drama.

homily

A serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.

hyperbole

A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement.

imagery

The sensory details or figurative language used to describe and represent abstractions.

inference/infer

To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented.

invective

An emotionally violent verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.

irony/ironic

The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is meant.

litotes

A form of understatement that makes an affirmative point by denying its opposite.

loose sentence/non-periodic sentence

A type of sentence where the main idea comes first, followed by dependent units.

metaphor

A figure of speech using implied comparison between unlike things.

metonymy

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

mood

The prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work.

narrative

The telling of a story or account of events.

onomatopoeia

A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.

oxymoron

A figure of speech wherein apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction.

paradox

A statement that appears self-contradictory but upon closer inspection contains some truth.

parallelism

The grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, or sentences to give structural similarity.

anaphora

A sub-type of parallelism involving the exact repetition of words at the beginning of successive lines.

parody

A work that imitates the style of another for comic effect or ridicule.

pedantic

Describes language that is overly scholarly or bookish.

periodic sentence

A sentence that presents its central meaning at the end.

personification

A figure of speech in which the author describes concepts or objects by endowing them with human attributes.

point of view

The perspective from which a story is told.

prose

Fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms.

repetition

The duplication of any element of language, such as a sound, word, or phrase.

rhetoric

The principles governing the art of writing effectively and persuasively.

rhetorical modes

The variety, conventions, and purposes of the major kinds of writing.

The purpose of exposition (or expository writing) is to explain and analyze information by presenting an idea,

relevant evidence, and appropriate discussion.

(2) The purpose of argumentation is to prove the validity of an idea, or point of view, by presenting sound reasoning,

discussion, and argument that thoroughly convince the reader. Persuasive writing is a type of argumentation having

an additional aim of urging some form of action.

(3) The purpose of description is to recreate, invent, or visually present a person, place, event or action so that the reader

can picture that being described. Sometimes an author engages all five senses in description; good descriptive

writing can be sensuous and picturesque. Descriptive writing may be straightforward and objective or highly emotional an subjective.

(4) The purpose of narration is to tell a story or narrate an event or series of events. This writing mode frequently uses the tools of descriptive writing.

sarcasm

Bitter, caustic language meant to ridicule or hurt.

satire

A work that targets human vices or social conventions for reform or ridicule.

semantics

The branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words and their interrelations.

style

The sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, and literary devices.

(1) An evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other

literary devices. Some authors’ styles are so idiosyncratic that we can quickly recognize works by the same author.

We can analyze and describe an author’s personal style and make judgments on how appropriate it is to the author’s purpose. Styles can be called flowery, explicit, succinct, rambling, bombastic, commonplace, incisive, laconic, etc.

(2) Classification of authors to a group and comparison of an author to similar authors. By means of such classification and comparison, we can see how an author’s style reflects and helps to define a historical period, such as the

Renaissance or the Victorian period, or a literary movement, such as the romantic, transcendental, or realistic movement.

subject complement

The word or clause that follows a linking verb and complements the subject of the sentence.

subordinate clause

A clause that cannot stand alone and depends on an independent clause.

syllogism

A deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises leading to a conclusion.

symbol/symbolism

Anything that represents itself and stands for something else.

synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part represents the whole.

synesthesia

When one sensory stimulus evokes the subjective experience of another.

syntax

The way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences.

theme

The central idea or message of a work.

thesis

The sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author’s opinion or position.

tone

The author’s attitude toward his material, the audience, or both.

transition

A word or phrase that links different ideas.

understatement

The ironic minimalizing of fact; presents something as less significant than it is.

wit

Intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights.