Ap literature terms

Anti hero

A protagonist who lacks the characteristics that would make him a hero (or her a heroine). Ex. Rorschach

Allusion

A reference to another work of literature, person, or event. Ex. Pandora’s box

Nemesis

The protagonist’s arch enemy or supreme and persistent difficulty. Ex. Joker to Batman.

Tragic flaw

The character flaw or error of a tragic hero that leads to his downfall. Ex Walter white’s ego.

Theme

A main idea or moral lesson of the story. Ex coming of age.

Dramatic irony

(Theater) irony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play. Example: remeo thinking Juliet is dead

Melodrama

A form of cheesy theater in which the hero is very, very good, the villain mean and rotten and the heroine oh-so-pure. Ex: titanic

Gothic novel

A novel in which supernatural horrors and an atmosphere of unknown terrors pervades the action. Ex: Frankenstein

Foreshadowing

The use of hints and clue to suggest what will happen later in a plot. Ex: Lenny keeps killing animals then a person

Allegory

A literary work in which the attached represent abstract ideals; a symbolic representation. Ex: animal farm-Soviet revolution.

Symbolism

A device in literature where an object represents an idea. Ex: rabbits in mice in men represent lennies dream

Motif

A recurring element in a literary work-such as an image, symbol, phrase ,situation, or idea-that helps develop or reinforce the themes of the story. Ex: red represents love

Hyperbole

A figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor. Ex: I’m so hungry I can eat a horse

Irony

A contrast between what is expected and what actually exists or happens. Ex butcher shop worker didn’t have meat for dinner.

Juxtaposition

The placement of two or more ideas, characters, actions, or images side by side (or close together) to highlight their contrasts or sometimes unexpected similarities. Ex: good and evil against each other

Foil

a character whose personality and attitude contrast sharply with those of another (cheery sales guy, grumpy hunter)

Hubris

excessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy(bunny racing the tortoise falling asleep)

Parody

a work which imitates another in a ridiculous (scary movie movies)

Satire

a literary work that ridicules or criticizes a human vice through humor or derision( video joking about politics being paid)

Stock character

standard or clichéd character types: the drunk, the mise foolish girl, etc.

Analogy

A comparison of two different things that are similar in some way. (Cats and dogs both are pets to humans)

Connotation

The implied or associative meaning of a word. (House vs Home)

Diction

A writer’s or speaker’s choice of words.

(Romeo’s description of love, cold fire, oxymoron)

Dynamic character

A character who undergoes significant internal change throughout the course of a story. This change typically involves their personality, beliefs, values, attitudes, or understanding of themselves or the world around them.

Flat character

A character who is relatively simple and one-dimensional, typically defined by a single trait, quality, or idea. Flat characters lack complexity and psychological depth. (Doodlebob)

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds

Aphorism

A brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life

Colloquialism

Informal words or expressions not usually acceptable in formal writing

Assonance

The repetition of vowel sounds

Denotation

The dictionary definition of a word ex.

Anecdote

A short narrative ex: friend telling a short story

Metaphor

A figure of speech comparing to unlike things without using like or as ex: she has a heart of gold

Pathos

A quality that evoked emotions (especially pity or sorrow)

Onomatopoeia

The use of words that imitate sounds

Dissonance

Harsh or grating sounds that do not go together.

Conceit

A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects. (Man comparing his wife to a rose)

Anaphora

A type of repetition device where the first word or phrase is a repressed in a series of lines.

Consonance

The repetition of final consonant sounds

Enjambment

The continuation of a syntactic unit from one line of verse into the line without a pause

Caesure

Refers to a pause within a line of verse

Couplet

Two consecutive lines of poem that rhyme. Ex: "Double, double toil and trouble; / Fire burn and cauldron bubble"

Inversion

The reversal of the normal order of words ex: "Green were my jealous eyes"

Imagery

The representation through language of sense experience. It occurs when the words of a poem relate to one of the five senses or a sense of a feeling. Ex:"I saw a crowd, a host of golden daffodils / Beside the lake, beneath the trees..."

Tone

Tone refers to the emotional meaning behind lines of poetry. Ex: Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven" (melancholy and dark)

Pun

A play on words, where an author employs a word that has a second meaning of that sound similar to a word, and both meanings can be applied. Ex: "Said Hamlet to Ophelia, / I'll draw a sketch of thee, / What kind of pencil shall I use? / 2B or not 2B?"

Epiphany

A moment of sudden revelation or insight experienced by a character Ex: Hank discovers Walter is Heisenberg

Subplot

A secondary plot that runs alongside the main plot, often involving minor character Ex: Ned learns how to magic portals (Spider-Man)

Internal conflict

Psychological struggle within a characters mind. Ex: James from silent hill trauma from his wife

External conflict

Struggle between a character and an outside force (another character, society, nature). Ex: aang being shunned by society for “abandoning” them.

Social commentary

Critique or observation about society’s values, norms, or issues. Ex: politics critiquing society’s issues and how they’ll fix them.

Aside

A like spoken by an actor to the audience but not intended for others on the stage. Ex: Hamilton play a character talks to the crowd quietly.

Soliloquy

In drama a character speaks alone in stage to allow his/her thoughts and ideas to be conveyed to the audience. Ex: Macbeth thinking he is insane

Dramatic monologue

When a single speaker in literature delivers a long speech to the audience or other characters (a soliloquy is a type of monologue) Ex: villain explaining their entire plan and how they did it as they’re about to win.

Atmosphere

The emotional tone or background that surrounds a scene. Ex: tense atmosphere when heathcliff returns

Rhapsody

An intensely passionate verse or section of verse, usually of love or praise. Ex Macbeth talks about Ophelia With Rhapsody

Sonnet

A 14 line poem written in iambic pentameter with a specific rhyme scheme. The two main types are the Italian (Petrarchan) sonnet and the English (Shakespearean) Sonnet. Ex: sonnet 18

Iambic Pentameter

A metrical pattern in poetry consisting of iambs (unstressed-stressed syllable pairs) per line, creating a rhythmic pattern that sounds like a heartbeat: da-DUM-da-DUM-da-DUM-da-DUM-da-DUM. EX: ABAB

Rhyme scheme

The pattern of rhymes at the end of each line of a poem, typically expressed using letters (ABAB,AABB, etc.) where lines with the same letter rhyme with each other.

Machiavellian

Describing a character who is cunning, scheming, and willing to use deceit and manipulation to achieve their goals; named after the political philosopher Niccolò Michiavelli.

Quatrain

A stanza or group of four lines in a poem, often with a specific rhyme scheme such as ABAB or AABB.