AP Language and Composition - Literary and Rhetorical Devices

Active Voice

The subject of the sentence performs the action. The more direct and preferred style of writing.

Allusion

An indirect reference to something that the reader is familiar with.

Alter Ego

A character that is used by the author to speak the author's own thoughts; when an author speaks directly to the audience through a character.

Anecdote

A brief recounting of a relevant episode.

Antecedent

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

Classicism

Art or literature characterized by a realistic view of people and the world; sticks to traditional themes and structures.

Comic Relief

A humorous scene or speech intended to lighten the mood.

Diction

A writer's or speaker's choice of words. Use formal, informal, ornate, or plain when describing the type of diction.

Colloquial

Ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing.

Connotation

The implied or associative meaning of a word.

Denotation

Dictionary definition of a word; literal meaning.

Jargon

Special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand.

Vernacular

The language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region.

Didactic

Used to describe literature which teaches a lesson on correct behavior.

Adage

A wise saying.

Allegory

A literary work in which characters, objects, or actions represent ideas and concepts.

Aphorism

A statement which teaches a principle of life which contains a general truth.

Ellipsis

The omission of a word or phrase which is grammatically necessary but can be removed from the sentence.

Euphemism

An indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant.

Figurative Language

Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning.

Analogy

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

Hyperbole

An exaggeration.

Idiom

A common, often used expression that doesn't make sense if you take it literally.

Metaphor

A comparison without using like or as

Conceit (Extended Metaphor)

A metaphor introduced and then further developed throughout all or part of a literary work.

Metonymy

Replacing the name of one object for another object closely associated with it.

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole.

Similie

A comparison using "like" or "as".

Synesthesia

Describing one kind of sensation in terms of another.

Personification

Giving an inanimate object human characteristics.

Genre

The major category into which the literary work fits.

Gothic

Of the middle ages; of or relating to a mysterious, grotesque, and mysterious style.

Imagery

Word or words used to create an image in the readers mind.

Invective

An emotionally violent attack using strong, abusive language.

Irony

The opposite of what you expect to happen.

Verbal Irony

A figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant. If it's said in a negative/bitter way it is sarcasm.

Dramatic Irony

When a reader/audience is aware of something that a character isn't.

Situational Irony

The actual outcome is the opposite of what is expected.

Juxtaposition

Placement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts.

Mood

Feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader.

Motif

A recurring theme, subject or idea.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.

Pacing

The speed of an author's writing.

Paradox

A statement that seems contradictory but is actually true.

Parallelism

Similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.

Chiasmus

A statement consisting of two parts in which the second part is reversed.

Antithesis

Two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses.

Zeugma (Syllepsis)

A word is applied to two phrases in different senses.

Paranthetical

A comment that interrupts (in parentheses) the immediate subject, often to qualify or explain.

Parody

A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule..

Persona

The narrator which tells the story.

Rhetoric

The art of using effective communication.

Rhetorical Question

A question asked merely for effect with no answer expected.

Romanticism

Art or literature characterized by an idealistic point of view.

Sarcasm

A generally bitter comment that is ironically or satirically worded.

Satire

A work that reveals a critical attitude toward some element of human behavior.

Sentance

A group of words with a subject and a verb that is a complete thought.

Appositive

A word or phrase that renames a nearby noun or pronoun.

Clause

A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb. Can be independent or dependent.

Balanced Structure

A sentence in which words, phrases, or clauses are set off against each other to emphasize a contrast

Aristotle Rhetorical Triangle

The relationships, in any piece of writing, between the writer, the audience, and the subject.

Compound Sentance

Contains at least two independent clauses, but no dependent clauses.

Complex Sentance

Contains ONLY one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

Cumulative Sentence (loose sentence)

A sentence in which the main independent clause is elaborated by the addition of clauses or phrases

Periodic Sentance

A sentence which has been structured so the main idea is not completed until the end of the sentence.

Simple Sentance

Contains only one independent clause.

Declarative Sentance

Sentence which states an idea.

Imperative Sentance

Gives a command.

Interrogative Sentance

Sentence that incorporates integrative pronouns. (What, Which, Who, Whom, and Whose)

Style

The choices in tone, diction, and syntax that the author makes.

Symbol

Anything that stands for or represents something else.

Syntax

The sentence structure. Don't confuse with diction which is the individual selection of words, whereas syntax refers to the overall grouping of words.

Theme

The central idea or message of a work.

Thesis

The sentence that expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or proposition.

Tone

A writer's attitude towards his subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization.

Understatement

The minimizing of a fact.

Litotes

A form of understatement that involves making a point by denying its opposite.