AP English Literature - Glossary Terms

abstract (style)

a style (in writing) that is typically complex, discusses intangible qualities like good and evil, and seldom uses examples to support its points

academic (style)

dry and theoretical writing. When a piece of writing seems to be sucking all the life out of its subject through analysis

accent

refers to the stressed portion of a word

aesthetics

an adjective meaning "appealing to the senses

allegory

a story in which each aspect of the story has a symbolic meaning outside the tale itself

alliteration

the repetition of initial consonant sounds

allusion

reference to another work or famous figure

anachronism

derived from Greek, It means, "misplaced in time"

analogy

a comparison involving two or more symbolic parts, and are employed to clarify an action or a relationship

anecdote

a short narrative, story

antecedent

te word, phrase, or clause that determines what a pronoun refers to

anthropomorphism

when inanimate objects are given human characteristics

anticlimax

occurs when an action produces far smaller results than one had been led to expect

antihero

a protagonist who is markedly unheroic: morally weak, cowardly, dishonest, or any number of unsavory qualities. The character lacks the qualities of the hero: skill, grace, honesty, courage, truth

aphorism

short and usually witty saying

apostrophe

a figure of speech wherein the speaker talks directly to something that is nonhuman, or absent

archaism

the use of deliberately old-fashioned language

aside

a speech (usually just a short comment) made by an actor to the audience, as though momentarily stepping outside of the action on stage

assonance

repetition of similar vowel sounds

atmosphere

the overall feeling or vibe created within a literary work

ballad

type of poem that tells a story

black humor

a literary device that uses humor to address serious, taboo, or morbid subjects

bombast

pretentious, hyperbolic, and full of extravagant language

burlesque

a style that mocks or imitates a subject by representing it in an ironic or ludicrous way; resulting in comedy

cacophony

harsh, discordant mixture of sounds that creates an unpleasant or chaotic atmosphere