Andracki AP Lit Terms 101-120

anaphora

the deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect

trochee (trochaic)

a metrical foot, or a beat in a line, containing two syllables in which first one is accented followed by a second unaccented syllable (accented/unaccented)

conceit

a figure of speech in which two vastly different objects are likened together with the help of similes or metaphors; it is often surprising because the comparison made is much less conventional than that of a simile or metaphor

diction

the kinds of words, phrases, sentence structures, and figurative language that constitute any work of literature

ellipsis

a literary device that is used in narratives to omit some parts of a sentence or event, which gives the reader a chance to fill the gaps while acting or reading it out. It is usually written between the sentences as "...". The part of a sentence or an event that is left out is often used to either save time or use it as a stylistic element by allowing the reader to fill in the gaps by using their imagination.

epigram

a rhetorical device that is a memorable, brief, interesting and surprising satirical statement, commonly used in poetry where it appears as a short satirical poem with a single subject ending in an ingenious or witty thought

euphony

a term applied to language which strikes the ear as smooth, pleasant, and musical

metonymy

a figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with the name of something else with which it is closely associated (e.g., "The Oval Office" to refer to the people who work in the oval office; "the crown" to refer to a king)

metaphor

a figure of speech which makes an implicit, implied or hidden comparison between two things or objects that are poles apart from each other but have some characteristics common between them

motif

a recurrent image, idea or a symbol that develops or explains a theme

oxymoron

a consecutive set of words that have contradictory meanings (e.g., "act natural," "slumber party," "jumbo shrimp")

parody

imitates the serious manner and character features of a particular literary work, or the distinctive style of a particular author, or the typical stylistic and other features of a serious literary genre, and applies the imitation to a lowly or comically inappropriate subject

spondee (spondaic)

a metrical foot, or a beat in a line, containing two syllables in which both are accented/stressed

sarcasm

the literal meaning is different than what the speaker intends to say; a literary and rhetorical device that is meant to mock with often satirical or ironic remarks with a purpose to amuse and hurt someone or some section of society simultaneously; a form of irony which uses the crude and taunting use of apparent praise for dispraise

style

the manner of linguistic expression in prose or verse; that is, HOW speakers or writers say whatever it is that they say

syllespis

A figure of speech in which a word is applied to two others in different senses (e.g., "caught the train and a bad cold, " or"when I address Fred I never have to raise either my voice or my hopes")

synaesthesia

descriptions of one kind of sensation in terms of another; color is attributed to sounds, odor to colors, sounds to odors, etc. (e.g. "loud wallpaper," "the region where the sun is silent")

synecdoche

a literary device in which a part of something represents the whole or it may use a whole to represent a part (e.g., "I like your new wheels" to mean "I like your new car.")

syntax

the study of the way that sequences of words are ordered into phrases, clauses, and sentences (that is, how words are used to form a sentence (hint: Yoda's is unusual: "Powerful you have become")

tone

an attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience, generally conveyed through the choice of words or the viewpoint of a writer on a particular subject