AP Lang literary terms

alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring words.

allusion

Direct or indirect reference to commonly known things.

anadiplosis

Repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the next.

analogy

Comparison between two different things to explain a concept.

anaphora

Repetition of the same expression at the beginning of lines or clauses.

antimetabole

Reversal of word order in a repeated phrase.

antithesis

Juxtaposition of opposing elements in parallel structure.

colloquialism

Use of slang or informal language in speech or writing.

connotation

Implied or suggested meaning of a word beyond its literal definition.

denotation

Literal dictionary definition of a word without emotional connotations.

didactic

Works aimed at teaching moral or ethical principles.

epistrophe

Repetition at the end of successive clauses.

euphemism

Agreeable substitute for an unpleasant word or concept.

figurative language

Speech not meant to be taken literally, used for vividness.

homily

Serious talk or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.

hyperbole

Deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or humor.

irony

Contrast between explicit statement and actual meaning.

juxtaposition

Placing things side by side for comparison or contrast.

loose sentence

Sentence where main idea comes first, followed by dependent units.

Metonymy

Substituting the name of one object with another closely associated with it.

Motif

Recurring idea in a piece of literature.

Oxymoron

Figure of speech with contradictory terms suggesting a paradox.

Paradox

Statement appearing self-contradictory but containing truth upon inspection.

Parallelism

Structural similarity in grammar or rhetoric for emphasis and organization.

Parody

Imitates another work for comic effect or ridicule, distorting original features.

Pedantic

Overly scholarly or bookish tone.

Periodic Sentence

Sentence presenting central meaning in the main clause at the end.

Sarcasm

Bitter, caustic language meant to hurt or ridicule.

Satire

Targets human vices or social institutions for reform or ridicule.

Syntax

Author's choice in joining words into phrases, clauses, and sentences.

Tone

Author's attitude toward material, audience, or both.

Understatement

Ironic minimizing of fact, presenting something as less significant.

Wit

Intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights.

Zeugma

One word governing two unrelated words.