ap lang terms

Allegory

Story that reveals hidden meaning.

Alliteration

Event of same letter beginning.

Illusion

Something likely interpreted incorrectly.

Analogy

A comparison between two things.

Anaphora

Repetition from clauses beginning.

Aphorism

Observation that contains general truth.

Antithesis

Opposing view of initial view.

Colloquialism

Informal word or phrase.

Dictation

Words spoken, typed, written, recorded.

Didactic

Teaching intention with ulterior motives.

Extended metaphor

Metaphor developed over multiple lines.

Euphemism

Mild word replacing blunt word.

Genre

Category of artistic work.

Homily

Serious speech offering spiritual advice.

Hyperbole

Exaggerated statements.

Idiom

Meaning different from literal meaning.

Imagery

Visually descriptive language.

Invective

Insulting or highly critical language.

Irony

Verbal: words that convey opposite meaning, Situational: outcome contrary to what is expected, Dramatic: audience is aware, characters aren’t.

Juxtaposition

Two things together, contrasting effect.

Litotes

Ironic understatement, usually expressed negatively.

Metaphor

Comparison between two unrelated things.

Metonymy

Attribute used as substitute.

Mood

Atmosphere felt by reader.

Onomatopoeia

Words used to describe sound.

Parody

Imitation of writer's style.

Parallelism

Same grammar and same meaning.

Pedantic

Overly concerned with literal accuracy.

Personification

Making something nonhuman, human.

POV

1st: story told from character's perspective, 3rd Narrative: narrator tells story with no 'I', 3rd omniscient: narrator is all knowing, 3rd limited omniscient: narration through a single character.

Competition

Contest between two or more characters.

Rhetoric

Use of language to persuade.

Satire

The use of exaggerated humor.

Simile

Like or as, as comparison.

Sarcasm

Opposite words for humorous effect.

Semantics

Interpretation of words and signs.

Symbolism

Things that represent other things.

Synecdoche

Substitution of whole or part.

Synesthesia

Human senses used to describe an object.

Syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases.

Tone

The attitude of the writer towards the subject.