AP English Literary Terms Review

Flashcards of literary terms and concepts discussed in a lecture.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech containing words that seem to contradict each other.

Archetype

A typical character, action, or situation that seems to represent universal patterns of human nature.

Metaphor

A figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things.

Double entendre

A phrase or saying with two meanings.

Understatement

The presentation of something as being smaller or less important than it actually is.

Epic

A long narrative poem celebrating the adventures and achievements of a hero.

Anachronism

Something or someone that is not in its correct historical or chronological time, especially a thing or person that belongs to an earlier time.

Denotation

The literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests.

Connotation

An idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning.

Onomatopoeia

The formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named.

Colloquial diction

Informal words, phrases, or use of language.

Jargon

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

Passive voice

The noun or pronoun that performs the action of the verb.

Persona

The narrator or speaker of the poem

Syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.

Flat character

A character who is simple and does not change much during the course of a story.

Foil

A character who contrasts with another character (usually the protagonist) in order to highlight particular qualities of the other character.

Intertextuality

The relationship between texts, especially literary ones.

Hubris

Excessive pride or self-confidence.

Hamartia

A fatal flaw leading to the downfall of a tragic hero or heroine.

Anaphora

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

Apostrophe

An exclamatory passage in a speech or poem addressed to a person (typically one who is dead or absent) or thing (typically one that is personified).

Simile

A figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid.

Situational irony

Irony involving a situation in which actions have an effect that is opposite from what was intended, so that the outcome is contrary to what was expected.

Dramatic irony

Irony that occurs when the audience knows something the actors do not.

Cosmic irony

Irony in which events seem to be influenced by fate or destiny. some higher power is toying with the characters.

Hyperbole

Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

Litotes

An understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary.

Alliteration

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

Consonance

The recurrence of similar sounds, especially consonants, in close proximity.

Sibilance

The repetition of the 's' sound.

Epigraph

A short quotation or saying at the beginning of a book or chapter, intended to suggest its theme.

Second-person point of view

A piece of writing from the point of view of 'you'.

First-person point of view

A piece of writing from the point of view of 'I'.

Third person omniscient

Point of view in which narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all of the characters in the story.

Third person objective

Point of view in which narrator only knows what is said, seen, and done by characters.

Exposition

The beginning of the story, in which the reader is introduced to the characters, setting, and basic situation.

Loose (or cumulative) sentence

A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the beginning.

Periodic sentence

A sentence that withholds its main idea until the end.

Inversion

A change in the usual word order.

Pathetic fallacy

The attribution of human feelings and responses to inanimate things or animals. (Sun is beaming - shining. The sky is crying - raining)

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa.

Paradox

A statement that appears to be self-contradictory but contains a degree of truth.

In medias res

Beginning a story in the middle of the action.

Flashback/frame story

An interruption of chronological sequence by interjection of events of earlier occurrence.

Imperative/Command

A sentence that expresses a command.

Exclamatory

A sentence expresses strong feelings or emotions.

Interrogative

A sentence that asks a question.

Rhetorical

A question asked for effect and that does not require an answer.

Participles

A word or phrase that describes or renames a noun or pronoun; they act as adjectives.

Allegory

A story in which characters and events are symbols that stand for ideas about human life or for a political or historical situation.

Interior monologue

The awareness of one's own thoughts, feelings, and inner states.

Soliloquy

An act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially in a play.

Stream of consciousness

A literary style in which a character's thoughts, feelings, and reactions are depicted in a continuous flow, uninterrupted by objective description or conventional dialogue.

Vehement

Feel deeply or strongly; show great anger, indignation, or resentment.

Gloomsome

Looking or feeling dejected; sad and dispirited.

Exhausted

Drained of energy or effectiveness; exhausted.

Worrisome

Feeling or expressing anxiety and uncertainty; doubtful.

Amiable

Having or displaying a friendly and pleasant manner.

Nimble/diligent

Having or showing great energy or enthusiasm.

Outraged

Filled with anger or resentment.

Exuberant

Feeling or showing great pleasure or excitement.

Irritated

Slightly annoyed; irritated.

Melancholy

Having a feeling of profound sadness.