AP Lit: Literary Terminology

Adjective

A word or phrase naming an attribute, added to or grammatically related to a noun to modify or describe it

Adverb

A word or phrase that modifies or qualifies or a word group, expressing a relation of place, time, circumstance, manner, cause, degree, etc.

Alliteration

The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of an adjacent or closely connected words

Allusion

To call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference

Alternative Interpretations

Analyses of a text that are different from your own

Ambiguity

The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness

Analogy

A comparison in which an idea or a thing is compared to another thing that is quite different from it

Antagonist

The character or force which stands in opposition to the protagonist

Antecdent

An earlier, clause, phrase, or which to which a pronoun, noun, or another word refers

Antithesis

Putting together two opposite ideas using parallel structure in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect

Archetypal (character)

A typical, common, or recurring character in literature who represents a universal pattern of human nature

Archetypes (“universal symbols”)

A character, theme, symbol, or setting that has a recurring representation in a particular human culture or race

Associations

A connection between ideas or things

Attribution

Ascribing a work or remark to a particular author, artist, or person

Body Paragraph

A paragraph that comes between the introduction and the conclusion

Alliteration

“Sweet birds sang”

Allusion

“Don’t be a Scrooge.”

Analogy

“She’s as blind as a bat.”

Antecedent

Chelsey finished her presentation.

Adverb

“She spoke softly.”

Adjective

“He is a fast driver.”

Antithesis

“My only love sprung from my only hate.”

Archetypal (character)

The hero, the mother figure, the mentor, the scapegoat, the innocent youth, etc.