ap lit literary devices

anacoluthon

A term for a disruption in the expected grammar or syntax of a sentence. It involves a deliberate subversion of expectations to make a point

example of anacoluthon

“I will have such revenges on you both, That all the world shall—I will do such things, What they are, yet I know not…”

anadiplosis

the repetition of a word or phrase that ends one clause or sentence at the beginning of the next clause or sentence

example of anadiplosis

“If you can’t be with the one you love, love the one you’re with”

antanagoge

The rhetorical balancing of a negative with a positive

antanagoge example

 “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade”

anthimeria

the intentional misuse of one word’s part of speech, such as using a noun for a verb

antimeria example

“Adulting is difficult”

antithesis

Contrast of ideas or words in a parallel construction

antithesis example

“It was the best of time, it was the worst of times”

aphorism

a pithy observation that contains a general truth

aphorism example

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”

aporia

The rhetorical expression of doubt, often feigned, in order to later provide the solution to that doubt.

aporia example

Take Steve Jobs’ introduction of touchscreen technology. “Now, how are we gonna communicate this? We don’t wanna carry around a mouse, right? What are we gonna do?”

aposiopesis

The rhetorical version of trailing off at the end of your sentence, leaving your listener (or reader) hanging

asyndeton

The practice of omitting conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses. In a list, it gives a more extemporaneous effect and suggests the list may be incomplete

asyndeton example

"He was brave, fearless, afraid of nothing”

bildungsroman

A novel of coming-of-age, formation, growth, change. The story follows a young protagonist as they grow and develop.

catharsis

A Greek word translated as “a cleansing,” this is the emotional release of the audience by experiencing vicariously the suffering of the characters. First theorized by Aristotle in 335 BCE.

chiasmus

A figure of speech in which the order of the terms in the first of parallel clauses is reversed in the second

chiasmus example

“Has the Church failed mankind, or has mankind failed the Church?”

denotation

The dictionary definition of a word; the direct and specific meaning (contrast with connotation)

denouement

The final resolution or clarification of a dramatic or narrative plot. This is not always but often immediately follows the climax and falling action

deux ex machina

As in Greek theater, use of an artificial device or contrived solution to solve a difficult situation, usually introduced suddenly and unexpectedly

dysphemism

the opposite of a euphemism, it is harsh wording that is deliberately offensive to its subject or audience

enjambment

The continuation of reading one line of a poem to the next with no pause, a run-on line. Used for great effect in poetry to emphasize a word at the end of the line without ending the thought there, also used to find the appropriate rhyme.

epigraph

A quote set at the beginning of a literary work or at its divisions to set the tone or suggest a theme

epistolary

(Of a literary work) written in the form of letters

epistrophe

Regular repetition of the same word or phrase at the end of successive phrases or clauses

example of epistrophe

“Wherever they's a fight so hungry people can eat, I'll be there. Wherever they's a cop beaten' up a guy, I'll be there”

epithet

An adjective or adjective phrase applied to a person or thing that is frequently used to emphasize a characteristic quality.

epithet example

“Father of our country” and “the great emancipator”

homeric epithet

A compound adjective used with a person or thing

homeric epithet example

“swift-footed Achilles”; “rosy-fingered dawn.

farce

A type of comedy in which ridiculous and often stereotyped characters are involved in silly, far-fetched situations.

foil

a character that by contrast underscores or enhances the distinctive characteristics of another

hamartia

A Greek word describing the “tragic flaw” of a character. Based on Aristotle’s Poetics, it literally means “to miss the mark” or “an error in judgment”. It’s all about a noble or good person who makes a mistake and fails because of their decision or choice. It is an internal character/personality trait that directly causes the downfall of the person

hypophora

The act of proposing a question and following it up with a clear answer. This is different from a rhetorical question—another rhetorical device—because there is an expected answer, one that the writer or speaker will immediately give to you

hypophora example

“But why, some say, the moon? Why choose this as our goal? [...] We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is one that we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win, and the others, too.”

in medias res

Opening a story in the middle of the action, requiring the filling in of past details by exposition or flashback

litotes

A form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis and intensity.

litotes example

“She is not a bad cook” for a 5-star chef

metonymy

A figure of speech in which a person, place, or thing, is referred to by something closely associated with it.

metonymy example

“We requested from the crown support for our petition.” The crown is used to represent the monarch

difference between elegy and ode

elegy is specifically for mourning; ode is a generally long poem

oxymoron

An example of figurative language that contains two seemingly contradictory elements in close proximity to each other

oxymoron example

"wise fool” or “cold fire”

paralipsis

(Also called “Apophasis” or “Paralepsis”): When you call attention to an idea or topic by denying that it should be brought up. This is one of many rhetorical devices to stem from irony.

paralipsis example

“Why would Kim Jong-un insult me by calling me 'old,' when I would NEVER call him 'short and fat?’”

parallelism

Recurrent syntactical similarity where several parts of a sentence or several sentences are expressed alike to show that the ideas in the parts or sentences are equal in importance. It also adds balance, rhythm, and clarity to the sentence.

parallelism example

"I have always searched for, but never found the perfect painting for that wall”

polysyndeton

A sentence which uses many conjunctions to separate the items in a series or description.

polysyndeton examples

Instead of X, Y, and Z... Polysyndeton results in X and Y and Z…

syllepsis

A figure of speech in which a term is applied in two different senses

syllepsis example

“He caught the train and a bad cold”

synecdoche

A rhetorical device that uses a part of something to stand in for the whole. Often this means that we use a small piece of something to represent a whole thing

synecdoche example

saying ‘let’s grab a slice’ when we in fact mean getting a whole pizza

tautology

Refers to using redundant speaking or writing where you effectively repeat the same idea with different wording.