Literary Terms for AP Language and Composition Exam (IWA)

Allegory

A narrative with characters, behavior, and setting demonstrating multiple levels of meaning and significance, often a universal symbol or personified abstraction

Alliteration

Sequential repetition of a similar initial sound, usually consonants, in closely proximate stressed syllables

Allusion

A reference in a literary work to literary, historical, religious, or mythological elements

Anaphora

Regular repetition of the same words or phrases at the beginning of successive phrases or clauses

Antithesis

Juxtaposition of sharply contrasting ideas in balanced or parallel words, phrases, or ideas

Aphorism

A concise statement illustrating a commonly held belief or making a point

Apostrophe

An address or invocation to something inanimate

Assonance

Repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds in successive or proximate words

Asyndeton

Syntactical structure omitting conjunctions in a series, often producing more rapid prose

Attitude

The tone or mood expressed in a piece of writing, reflecting the author's feelings towards the subject, characters, events, or theme

Begging the question

An argumentative ploy where the arguer sidesteps the question or conflict, evading the real issue

Canon

That which has been accepted as authentic

Chiasmus

A figure of speech where the order of terms in the first half of a clause is reversed in the second

Colloquial

Diction of common, ordinary folks, especially in a specific region

Conceit

Comparison of two unlikely things drawn out within a piece of literature, often an extended metaphor

Connotation

Implied or underlying meaning of a word or phrase

Consonance

Repetition of two or more consonants with a change in intervening vowels

Critique

An assessment or analysis of something, such as a passage of writing, to determine its limitations and conformity to genre standards

Deductive reasoning

Method of argument drawing specific conclusions from general principles, moving from general to specific

Dialect

Language and speech idiosyncrasies of a specific area, region, or group

Diction

Specific word choice an author uses to persuade, convey tone, purpose, or effect

Didactic

Writing or speech with an instructive purpose or lesson, often presented in a dry, pompous manner

Elegy

A poem or prose lamenting or meditating upon the death of a person

Epistrophe

Repetition of a phrase at the end of successive sentences in rhetoric

Epitaph

Writing in praise of a dead person, often inscribed on a headstone

Ethos

Rhetorical appeal to the credibility and character of the speaker, writer, or narrator

Eulogy

Speech or written passage praising a person, especially in honor of a deceased individual

Euphemism

Indirect, kinder, or less harsh way of expressing unpleasant information

Exposition

Interpretation or analysis of a text, also the opening section of a narrative or dramatic structure revealing characters, setting, theme, and conflict

Extended metaphor

Series of comparisons within a piece of writing, also known as a conceit if consistently one concept

Figurative Language

Language expressing levels of meaning through figures of speech like personification, metaphor, litote, etc.

Flashback

Insertion of an earlier event into the normal chronology of narration

Genre

Type or class of literature, such as epic, narrative, poetry, biography, or history

Homily

Sermon or serious talk involving moral or spiritual life

Hyperbole

Overstatement characterized by exaggerated language to make a point or draw attention

Imagery

Sensory detail in a work evoking feelings, ideas, or describing an object through the five senses

Inductive reasoning

Reasoning drawing general statements from specific principles, moving from specific to general

Inference

Conclusion arrived at by considering facts, observations, or specific data

Irony

Contrast between explicit statement and intended meaning, often suggesting sarcasm

Isocolon

Parallel structure where elements are similar not only in grammatical structure but also in length

Jargon

Specialized or technical language of a trade, profession, or group

Appeals to...authority, emotion, or logic

rhetorical arguments in which the speaker claims to be an authority or expert in a field, attempts to play upon the emotions, or appeals to the use of reason.

Power verbs: instead of "says" (13 words)

Acknowledges
Argues
Asserts
Claims
Clarifies
Contests
Implies
Implores
Justifies
Notes
References
Rejects
Suggests

Power verbs: instead of "shows" (11 words)

Conveys
Demonstrates
Depicts
Exemplifies
Highlights
Illustrates
Implies
Portrays
Represents
Signifies
Suggests

Power verbs: instead of "uses" ( 3 words)

Employs
Incorporates
Utilizes

Other verbs (6 words)

Develops
Expands
Furthers
Bolsters
Strengthens
Supports