Unit 2 AP Literature: Analyzing Poetry

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key literary elements, structural devices, and analytical steps for studying poetry according to Unit 2 AP Literature standards.

Persona

A character or voice created by the poet to communicate ideas or emotions, distinct from the poet themselves.

Diction

The conscious word choices made by a writer, created through the combination of denotation and connotation.

Denotation

The literal, dictionary definition of a word choice.

Connotation

The added layers of meaning or emotional associations that a word carries beyond its literal definition.

Juxtaposition

The act of placing two words or concepts side by side, often to emphasize their incongruity and reveal the speaker's attitude.

Antithesis

The revelation of contradictory ideas, often achieved through the use of parallel grammatical construction.

Paradox

A statement or idea that appears contradictory at first but ultimately reveals a deeper meaning.

Oxymoron

A specific type of paradox made of two seemingly contradictory words, such as "deafening silence" or "sweet sorrow."

Shift

A change in a text's dramatic situation, perspective, tone, point of view, setting, or imagery that indicates new understandings or a conflict of values.

Tone

The emotional coloring of a work and a direct reflection of the speaker's attitude toward the subject.

Mood

The specific feeling or emotional atmosphere that the reader experiences as a result of the tone.

Verbal Irony

A discrepancy or difference between what the speaker says and what he or she actually means.

Situational Irony

A discrepancy between what seems fitting or expected to happen and what actually occurs.

Dramatic Irony

A contrast between what a character or speaker says or thinks and what the audience knows to be true.

Antecedent

The noun, phrase, or clause that a pronoun replaces and refers back to.

Referent

A word, pronoun, or symbol that stands for or points back to an earlier noun or phrase.

Alliteration

A type of repetition involving consonant sounds at the beginning of multiple consecutive or closely placed words.

Simile

A figurative comparison that uses the words "like" or "as" to liken two objects or concepts to each other.

Metaphor

A comparison between two objects or ideas where the interpretation may depend on the specific context of its use within the text.