AP Lit Terms

Absurd

acting irrationally, like the consequences are meaningless

Aesthetics

the branch of philosophy dealing with beauty and taste

Affective Fallacy

error of judging literary works by its emotional effect on readers; confusion between work and results

Allegory

uses fictional characters and events to symbolize some subject by suggestive resemblances

Alliteration

use of the same consonant at the beginning of each stressed syllable in a line of verse

Allusion

passing reference or indirect mention

Ambiguity

doubtfulness about the intention or meaning of something

Anachronism

something located at a time when it could not have existed or occurred

Analogy

an inference that if things agree in some respects they probably agree in others

Antagonist

the character that refutes against the main character

Anticlimax

sudden drop from an important idea/situation to a trivial or ridiculous one

Antithesis

contrary ideas expressed in a balanced sentence

Aphorism

brief, concise statement/observation of doctrine, principle, truth

Apocalyptic

connected with revelation

Apology

defense/justification for some belief, doctrine, cause, etc without any admission of blame

Archetype

the original model or pattern form from which copies are made or something is developed

Arbitrary

lacking any natural basis or substantial justification

Ballad

short, narrative folk song that fixes on the most dramatic part of the story, moving to its conclusion in terms of dialogue and a series of incidences

Bard

highly trained composer who recited heroic and adventurous poems

Bibliography

list of readings on a particular subject

Black Comedy

depicts tragic situations as humorous

Blank Verse

unrhymed lines of ten syllables each with even-numbered syllables bearing the accents

Bombast

exaggerated ranting

Canon

a standard for judgment; commonly referred to as a standard for literature

Canto

larger, singing section of a poem

Catharsis

therapeutic; emotional release of tension

Character

combination of traits/features that make up a person/animal; refers to ethical standard; person represented in a story

Characterization

creation of image on imaginary persons

Chorus

group of singers distinct from principal performers

Chronicle

detailed, continuous record of events

Climax

crisis comes to greatest intensity and is resolved

Closure

sense of resolution at end of literary work

Colloquialism

phrase used in informal speaking; slang

Comedy

humorous event or series of events

Comic Relief

humorous situation in the midst of a serious one

Conceit

describing idea/person by use of an analogy

Connotation

suggestions surrounding the literal meaning of a word

Content

things, substances, topics, ideas in an enclosed space

Context

background meaning of something

Couplet

pair of successive lines of verse that are the same metrical length

Denouement

outcome of complex sequence of events

Device

literary technique purposely employed to acheive a specific effect

Dialect

language of a particular group of people (ex: social class)

Dialogue

conversation

Digression

section of writing that departs from the central theme

Drama

narrative involving conflict designed for presentation on a stage

Elegy

mournful, melancholy poem usually for a funeral

Ellipsis

“…” or omission of words that a reader must supply for full understanding

Epic

lengthy narrative poem in which action, characters, and language are on a heroic level

Epigram

witty saying that is tersely expressed

Epilogue

concluding part added to a literary work

Epithet

quality that is considered a characteristic of a person or thing

Essay

short literary composition used to expressed opinions and ideas

Euphemism

kind or vague way to say something rude

Exegesis

critical interpretation and explanation of a literary work

Fable

short story designed to teach a moral truth

Exposition

form of discourse that explains, defines, and interprets; context for character/setting

Fantasy

extravagant and unrestrained imagination

Farce

foolish show or ridiculous sham

Fiction

imaginary and invented literary composition

Figure of Speech

expressive way of language where words are used in other ways than their literal sense

First-Person Narrative

personal point of view

Folklore

traditional beliefs, customs, and legends of a people

Folktale

traditional legend or narrative among a people; part of folklore

Formula

fixed and conventional method of developing a plot

Free Verse

verse that relies upon natural rhythms

Genre

catergory of artistic endeavor having a particular form, technique, style, or content

Hagiography

subtype of biographies dealing with legends of saints and the critical study of such

Haiku

575 poem

Hero

the principal character of a play, novel, etc

Homily

moralizing sermon explaining some part of the Bible with accompanying instruction for the congregation

Hubris

arrogance and excessive self-pride

Hyperbole

obvious over-exaggeration

Idiom

style of speaking; common sayings

Imagery

forming of mental images

In media res

beginning a narrative well along in a sequence of events; “in the middle of things”

Interior monologue

represents the inner thoughts of a character

Irony

dryly humorous figure of speech; saying the opposite of what is meant

Lampoon

prose that seriously ridicules a character

Legend

tradition or story handed down to younger generations

Limerick

verse consisting of five line stanza with an aabba rhyme scheme

Litany

prayer consisting of a series of invocations with identical responses in succession

Literal

what is actually being expressed

Literature

writing where expression and form are essential features

Malapropism

misusing words for comic effect

Melodrama

intensified and exaggerated…usually a play

Metaphor

figure of speech where a word is applied to a topic but it is not the literal meaning

Monologue

speech by one person

Morality Play

allegory in dramatic form

Muse

subject inspiring an artist or writer

Myth

traditional story that is not real and fantasy-like

Narrative

spoken or written account of connected events

Nemesis

rival or opponent

Noh

classic drama in Japan; no female performers

Nom de Plume

pseudonym

Novel

fictitious literature

Ode

lyrical poem

Onomatopoeia

sound words; “bang”

Oral Tradition

word of mouth

Oratory

formal speech delivered on a special occasion