AP Lit Term 6

action

the events represented in a story or play

allegory

a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one (ex: The Lord of the Flies and human nature)

alliteration

the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words

allusion

an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference

ambiguity

the quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness

analogy

a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification

analytical essay

an academic paper that meticulously breaks down a specific topic—such as a literary work, film, or historical event—to interpret its deeper meaning and evaluate its components

antagonist

a person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary

anthropomorphism

the attribution of human characteristics or behavior to a god, animal, or object

aphorism

a pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, “if it ain't broke, don't fix it.”

apostrophe

an exclamatory passage in a speech or poem addressed to a person (typically one who is dead or absent) or thing (typically one that is personified)