AP Language and Composition Literary Terms: Definitions and Examples

Allegory

A narrative that uses symbolic figures and actions to convey a deeper moral or political meaning.

Alliteration

The repetition of initial consonant sounds in a sequence of words.

Allusion

An indirect reference to a person, place, event, or literary work.

Ambiguity

The presence of two or more possible meanings within a single word or phrase.

Anadiplosis

The repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the next clause.

Analogy

A comparison between two different things that highlights some form of similarity.

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.

Anecdote

A short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.

Antecedent

A word, phrase, or clause that is referred to by a pronoun.

Antithesis

A rhetorical device that contrasts opposing ideas in a balanced manner.

Aphorism

A concise statement that expresses a general truth or principle.

Apostrophe

A figure of speech in which the speaker addresses an absent person, an abstract idea, or a thing.

Asyndeton

The omission of conjunctions between parts of a sentence.

Atmosphere

The emotional tone or background that surrounds a scene.

Chiasmus

A rhetorical device in which words or concepts are repeated in reverse order.

Clause

A group of words containing a subject and a predicate.

Conduplicatio

The repetition of a key word over successive phrases or clauses.

Colloquialism

A word or phrase that is not formal and is used in ordinary conversation.

Coherence

The logical connections that readers or listeners perceive in a written or spoken text.

Conceit

An elaborate metaphor that compares two very dissimilar things.

Connotation

The implied or associative meaning of a word.

Denotation

The literal or primary meaning of a word.

Diction

The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing.

Didactic

Intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction.

Enumeratio

The listing of details or a process in a sequence.

Expletive

A word or phrase that serves to fill a sentence but adds no meaning.

Euphemism

A mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh.

Exposition

A comprehensive description and explanation of an idea or theory.

Extended metaphor

A metaphor that is extended over several lines or throughout an entire work.

Figurative language

Language that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation.

Figure of speech

A rhetorical device that achieves a special effect by using words in distinctive ways.

Generic conventions

Features that help to define a genre.

Genre

A category of artistic composition characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.

Homily

A religious discourse that is intended primarily for spiritual edification.

Hyperbole

Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

Hypophora

A figure of speech in which the speaker poses a question and then answers it.

Imagery

Visually descriptive or figurative language.

Inference

A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning.

Invective

An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality.

Juxtaposition

The act of placing two elements close together to highlight their differences.

Litotes

A form of understatement that uses negation to express a positive.

Loose sentence

A sentence that is grammatically complete before its end.

Metaphor

A figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things.

Metonymy

A figure of speech in which one thing is referred to by the name of something closely associated with it.

Mood

The emotional atmosphere of a piece of writing.

Narrative

A spoken or written account of connected events; a story.

Onomatopoeia

The formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction.

Paradox

A statement that contradicts itself but may nonetheless be true.

Parallelism

The use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same.

Parody

An imitation of a particular writer, artist, or genre, exaggerating it deliberately for comic effect.

Pedantic

Excessively concerned with minor details and rules.

Periodic sentence

A sentence that is not grammatically complete until it has reached its final phrase.

Personification

Attribution of human qualities to non-human entities.

Polysyndeton

The use of several conjunctions in close succession.

Point of view

The angle of considering things, which shows us the opinion or feelings of the individuals involved.

Predicate adjective

An adjective that follows a linking verb and modifies the subject.

Predicate nominative

A noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb and renames the subject.

Prose

Written or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure.

Repetition

The action of repeating something that has already been said or written.

Rhetoric

The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing.

Rhetorical question

A question asked for effect, not requiring an answer.

Sarcasm

The use of irony to mock or convey contempt.

Satire

The use of humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize or mock.

Semantics

The study of meaning in language.

Style

The way in which an author expresses their thoughts through word choice, sentence structure, and literary devices.

Subject complement

A word or phrase that follows a linking verb and renames or describes the subject.

Subordinate clause

A clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence and depends on a main clause.

Syllogism

A form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn from two given or assumed propositions.

Symbolism

The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole.

Syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences.

Theme

The central topic, subject, or message within a narrative.

Thesis

A statement or theory that is put forward as a premise to be maintained or proved.

Tone

The general character or attitude of a piece of writing.

Transition

Words or phrases that provide a connection between ideas, sentences, and paragraphs.

Understatement

The presentation of something as being smaller or less important than it actually is.

Undertone

An underlying quality or feeling that is not immediately obvious.

Wit

The ability to use words and ideas in a quick and inventive way to create humor.