AP Lit Midterm Review

flashback

A narrative device that interrupts the chronological order of a story to depict events that happened in the past. It provides context and background information to enhance the understanding of the present events.

Foreshadowing

A narrative technique that hints or suggests future events in a story, creating anticipation and suspense for the reader.

Juxtaposition

A literary technique that involves placing two contrasting elements side by side to highlight their differences.

Frame Story

Narrative structure where a main story encompasses smaller stories within it, providing context and framing. Helps to connect different narratives and add depth to the overall plot.

Tone

The author's attitude or emotional expression towards the subject matter of a piece of writing. It sets the overall mood and helps convey the intended message to the reader.

mood

The emotional atmosphere of a literary work that evokes certain feelings in the reader. It sets the tone and influences the overall experience of the story.

Metaphor

A figure of speech that compares two unrelated things, highlighting their similarities without using "like" or "as".

Simile

A figure of speech that compares two things using "like" or "as" to create a vivid and imaginative description.

Personification

Figure of speech where human qualities are attributed to non-human things or abstract ideas. It adds depth and emotion to writing.

Hyperbole

An exaggerated statement or claim used for emphasis or dramatic effect in writing or speech. Often not meant to be taken literally.

Alliteration

Repetition of initial sounds in a sequence of words or phrases. Used to create rhythm, emphasize key points, or enhance the overall impact of a text.

Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate sounds; used to create vivid and sensory descriptions in writing and poetry. Examples: buzz, sizzle, splash, hiss.

Irony

A literary device where the intended meaning is different from the actual words used. Often used to create humor or emphasize a contrast between expectations and reality.

Imagery

The use of vivid language to create sensory experiences and evoke emotions in a reader or listener. It appeals to the five senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, smell) to paint a vivid picture in the mind. Used in literature, poetry, and storytelling to enhance the reader's understanding and engagement with the text.

Soliloquy

A dramatic monologue where a character expresses their thoughts and feelings aloud, often revealing their innermost emotions and motivations. It is usually delivered when the character is alone on stage, unaware of other characters listening.

Monologue

A dramatic speech by one character in a play, revealing their thoughts and feelings to the audience. It is typically delivered alone on stage but does not have to be.

Point of view

The perspective from which a story is told, determining the narrator's knowledge, bias, and connection to the events and characters. It can be first person (narrator is a character), second person (narrator addresses the reader), or third person (narrator is an outside observer).

Narrative Poetry

A form of poetry that tells a story, often with characters, plot, and setting. It combines elements of both poetry and storytelling, using poetic techniques like rhyme, meter, and imagery to convey the narrative. Examples include epics, ballads, and folktales.

Lyric poetry

A type of poetry that expresses personal emotions and feelings in a musical and imaginative way, often written in first person. It focuses on the individual experience and uses vivid imagery and descriptive language to create an emotional impact on the reader. Examples include sonnets and odes.

Ode

A poem that praises or celebrates a person, object, or idea. It often has a formal structure and elevated language. It expresses deep emotions and admiration.

Elegy

A poem that mourns the loss of someone or something. Typically written in a formal and reflective tone, expressing feelings of sorrow, grief, and remembrance. Often explores themes of mortality and the passage of time. Commonly found in literature and used as a means of expressing personal emotions and paying tribute.

Sonnet

A 14-line poem with a specific rhyme scheme and meter, often expressing love or deep emotions.

Petrarchan

Italian sonnet form consisting of an octave and a sestet, with a volta (turn) between them. The octave presents a problem or question, while the sestet provides a resolution or answer. Often follows an ABBAABBA CDECDE rhyme scheme.

Shakespearean

It also called an English Sonnet. Contains 3 “Sicilian” quatrains: abab cdcd efef. Ends with one heroic couplet: gg. It usually has a question or issue in the first quatrains answered in the later part.

Spenserian

A poetic form developed in the late 16th century. It consists of nine-line stanzas with a rhyme scheme of abab bcbc cdcd ee. Known for its rich imagery, intricate language, and use of allegory. Notable example: "The Faerie Queene" by Spenser.