AP English Literature Terms

Master List

adjectives

words used to modify or describe a noun or pronoun, such as "happy," "sad," or "pretty."

adverbs

words used to describe actions (verbs); often end in -ly

allusion

A reference to another work of literature, person, or event

ambiguity

The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.

analogy

A comparison of two different things that are similar in some way

analysis

A detailed examination of the elements or structure of something.

antagonist

A character or force in conflict with the main character

antecedent

the word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.

antithesis

the direct opposite, a sharp contrast

atmosphere

the emotional tone or background that surrounds a scene

catharsis

the process of releasing, and thereby providing relief from, strong or repressed emotions.

character

any person, animal, or figure represented in a story

claim/thesis

a statement of the author's point of view/main idea of work

climax

the most intense, exciting, or important point of something; a culmination or apex.

conceit

A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects.

conflict: external

a struggle between two forces; can take place between two characters; between a character and a group; between a character and society as a whole; or between a character and an animal or a force of nature

conflict: internal

a struggle that takes place within a character's mind or heart; character might struggle with paralyzing fear or a need for revenge

diction

the writer's/speaker's distinctive vocabulary choices/style of expression

Epiphany

A moment of sudden revelation or insight

evidence

the available body of facts or information indicating whether a belief or proposition is true or valid.

Exposition

Background information presented in a literary work.

extended metaphor

A comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph or lines in a poem.

first-person point of view

a narrator (who is a character within the story) tells the story from the "I" perspective

flashback

A method of narration in which present action is temporarily interrupted so that the reader can witness past events

foil

A character who is in most ways opposite to the main character (protagonist) or one who is nearly the same as the protagonist; is meant to emphasize the traits of the main character by contrast only

foreshadowing

A narrative device that hints at coming events; often builds suspense or anxiety in the reader.

function

the kind of action or activity proper to a person, thing, or institution; the purpose for which something is designed or exists; role

hyperbole

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

imagery

visually descriptive or figurative language

infer

to find out by reasoning; to arrive at a conclusion on the basis of thought; to hint, suggest, imply

in medias res

practice of beginning a narrative by plunging into a crucial situation that is part of a related chain of events; the situation is an extension of previous events and will be developed in later action; literally means "in the middle of"

interpretation

an explicit argument about a text's deeper meanings—its implied themes, values, and assumptions.

irony

the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect.

juxtaposition

Placement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts

line of reasoning

a set of reasons used in order to reach a conclusion

literal vs figurative meaning

- Literal meaning is limited to the simplest, ordinary, most obvious meaning of a word or group of words.

- figurative meaning refers to words not meant to be taken literally. To determine figurative meaning, the reader uses a combination of knowledge about the world and his/her imagination to infer symbolic or metaphorical meaning of a word or group of words.

literary argument

an idea or opinion about literature that is clearly explained and supported with evidence

metaphor

A comparison without using like or as; often contains a form of "to be" (am, is, are, was, were)

mood

Feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader

motif

a pattern of recurring of a subject or idea

narrator bias

author's words influenced by personal opinion, thereby compromising the narrator's reliability

narrator reliability

the trustworthiness of the narrator

nuance

a slight or subtle degree of difference

paradox

A statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.

parallel structure

the repetition of words or phrases that have similar grammatical structures

personification

the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form.

plot

the sequence of events in a literary work

poetry: closed-form

consists of poems that follow patterns of lines, meter, rhymes, and stanzas

poetry: open-form

is very free - it doesn't have to follow traditional or specific patterns. It is divided into stanzas and includes some rhyme and rhythm but not in a regular pattern.

protagonist

the main character in a literary work

reasoning

the action of thinking about something in a logical, sensible way.

referent

a person or thing to which a name - a linguistic expression or other symbol - refers

repetition

Repeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for a specific purpose

resolution

the part of the story where the main conflict is resolved (can occur in any part of a story)

setting

The context in time and place in which the action of a story occurs.

shift

when speakers or writers alter their style or tone in a piece

simile

a comparison using "like" or "as"

stanza

A group of lines in a poem

Stream of Consciousness

method of narration that describes happenings in the flow of thoughts in the minds of the characters

structure

the arrangement of literary elements according to purpose, style, and genre

symbol

a concrete object (or person) represents an abstract concept

syntax

refers to the way in which words and sentences are placed together

verb tense

The aspect of the conjugation of a verb which indicates the time in which an action or state was performed or experienced (hint: always write about literature in the present tense)

Theme

Central idea of a work of literature

third-person objective point of view

the narrator (outside the story) can only report what he or she sees and hears; this narrator can tell us what is happening, but he can't tell us the thoughts of the characters.

Tone

Attitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character

Understatement

the presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.

use of evidence, to: amplify

tool that embellishes an argument/statement in writing by making something stronger, bigger, louder, or more important. (emphasis/exaggerate)

use of evidence, to: associate

writing associated with other things in the text such as, objects, tone, color associated with, trait, idea

use of evidence, to: clarify

in writing use evidence to deeply explain something even further

use of evidence, to: exemplify

in writing using evidence that exemplifies claim that supports thesis

use of evidence, to: qualify

using evidence to align with the thesis in writing, therefore supporting

formal diction

sophisticated language

informal diction

conversational language

pedantic diction

highly detailed language

colloquial diction

language representative of region/time

slang (diction)

language of a certain culture/subgroup

abstract diction

words expressing intangible ideas

concrete diction

literal meanings of words (denotative)

poetic diction

lyrical words related to a theme

connotation

the implied or emotional associative meaning of a word

antihero

a protagonist who lacks the characteristics that would make him a hero (or her a heroine)

archaic diction

old-fashioned or outdated language

"Be" verbs

conjugation of the verb "be": am, is, are, was, were

third-person limited point of view

the narrator (outside the story) focuses on the thoughts and feelings of only one character

third-person omniscient point of view

an all-knowing narrator (from outside the story) is privy to the thoughts and actions of any or all characters.

pacing

the relative speed or slowness with which a story is told or an idea is presented

thematic statement

an interpretive statement articulating the central meaning or message of a text but written as a general statement not secific to the text

active voice

the subject of the sentence performs the action

passive voice

the subject of the sentence receives the action.

nemesis

the protagonist's arch enemy or supreme and persistent difficulty

apostrophe

speech directed toward an absent or imaginary person

anticlimax

a disappointing end to an exciting or impressive series of events

dénouement

takes place at the end of a story and answers all remaining questions

characterization

the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character

alliteration

repetition of initial consonant sounds

cacophony

A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds

caesura

a strong pause within a line of verse

Consonance

Repetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity