AP English: Literature and Composition - YELLOW Term List

"Important literary terms"

Allusion

A reference to something literary, mythological, or historical

Connotation

The implied or associative meaning of a word

Denotation

The literal meaning of a word

Diction

Having to do with the word choices made by a writer

Syntax

The manner in which words are arranged by a writer into sentences

Tone

The attitude of a writer, usually implied, toward the subject or audience

Colloquialism

Informal words or expressions not usually acceptable in formal writing

Euphemism

An indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant

Analogy

A comparison between two different things which are similar in some way

Anaphora

The repetition of words and phrases at the beginning of consecutive lines or sentences

Invective

An intensely vehement, highly emotional verbal attack

Paradox

An apparently contradictory statement which actually contains some truth

Parody

A humorous imitation of a serious work

Aphorism

A concise statement, which expresses succinctly a general truth or idea, often using rhyme or balance

Hyperbole

Intentional exaggeration to create an effect

Apostrophe

The act of speaking directly to an absent or imaginary person, or to some abstraction

Metonymy

Substitution the name of one object for another object closely associated with it

Didactic

Something, which has as its primary purpose to teach or instruct

Litotes

A type of understatement in which something affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite