AP Lit Vocab Quiz 1

Abstract

typically complex, discusses intangible qualities like good and evil, and seldom uses examples to support its points

Academic

Dry and theoretical writing

Accent

the stressed portion of a word. Often a matter of opinion in poetry

Aesthetic

an adjective meaning "appealing to the senses"
a noun meaning a coherent sense of taste
a plural noun meaning the study of beauty

Allegory

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

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds

Allusion

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

Anachronism

something out of place in time

Analogy

A comparison between two pairs of symbols

anecdote

a short narrative

antecedent

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

Anthropomorphism

When inanimate objects are given human characteristics. Often confused with personification.

anticlimax

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

Antihero

A protagonist (main character) who is markedly unheroic: morally weak, cowardly, dishonest, or any number of other unsavory qualities.

Aphorism

A short and usually witty saying

Apostrophe

A figure of speech wherein the speaker talks directly to something that is nonhuman

Archaism

The use of deliberately old-fashioned language. Used to give feeling of antiquity

Aside

A speech (usually just a short comment) made by an actor to the audience

aspect

A trait or characteristic

Assonance

The repeated use of vowel sounds

Atmosphere

The emotional tone or background that surrounds a scene

Ballad

a long, narrative poem, usually in very regular meter and rhyme. Has a naive folksy quality which separates it from epic poetry

Pathos

evokes feelings of dignified pity and sympathy

Black Humor

The use of disturbing themes in comedy.

Bombast

This is pretentious, exaggeratedly learned language.

Burlesque

a broad parody, one that takes a style or a form such as tragic drama and exaggerates it into ridiculousness. Interchangeable with parody.

cacophony

deliberately harsh, awkward sounds

Cadence

the beat or rhythm of poetry in a general sense

Canto

A section division in a long work of poetry, divides poetry similar to how chapters divide a book.

caricature

A portrait (verbal or otherwise) that exaggerates a facet of personality.

Catharsis

A term used by Aristotle to describe some sort of emotional release experienced by the audience at the end of a successful tragedy

Chorus

the group of citizens who stand outside the main action on stage and comment on it

Classic

Typical, or an accepted masterpiece

coinage

A new word, usually one invented on the spot.

Colloquialism

A word or phrase used in everyday conversational English that isn't a part of accepted "school-book" English.

Complex/Dense

Suggesting that there is more than one possible meaning of words; multiple layers of interpretation; both explicit and implicit meaning

Conceit

Refers to a startling or unusual metaphor, or a metaphor developed and expanded over several lines

Denotation

Literal meaning of a word

Consonance

Repetition of a consonant sound within words.

couplet

A pair of lines that end in rhyme

Bathos

strains for grandeur it can't support and tries to jerk tears from every little hiccup

Controlling Image

A conceit that dominates and shapes the entire work

Connotation

Everything else a word implies