AP Littyyyy

alliteration

the repetition of initial consonant sounds of several words in a group

allusion

a reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art (types?)

ambiguity

the intentional or unintentional expression of a word or idea that implies more than one meaning and usually leaves uncertainty in the reader

anachronism

anything out of its proper time

anaphora

the deliberate repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of several successive verses, clauses, or paragraphs

antagonist

a character or force in conflict with the main character (protagonist) in a literary work

apostrophe

where a speaker directly addresses an absent person or a personified quality, object, or idea

archetype

an image, a descriptive detail, a plot pattern, or a character type that occurs frequently in literature, myth, religion, or folklore

asyndeton

the omission of conjunctions from constructions in which they would normally be used; speeds up the rhythm of the sentence

Byronic hero

an antihero who is a romanticized but wicked character; a young, attractive male with a bad reputation; defies authority and conventional morality; destructive passions, selfish brooding, loneliness, intense introspection, and fiery rebellion

colloquial

a word or phrase used every day in plain and relaxed speech but rarely found in formal writing, usually pertinent to a given area

conceit

an unusual and surprising comparison between two very different things. This special kind of metaphor or complicated analogy is often the basis for a whole poem.

denouement

in a literary work, anything that happens after the resolution of the plot

dialect

a variety of speech characterized by its own particular grammar or pronunciation, often associated with a particular geographical region

diction

word choice

dramatic irony

when there is a contradiction between what a character thinks and what the reader or audience knows to be true

dynamic character

one who has undergone changes and has matured greatly, usually learning harsh lessons along the way

elegy

a solemn and formal lyric poem about death—often in tribute to a person who has died recently

epic

a long, narrative poem about the adventures of gods or of a hero

epigram

a brief, pointed statement in prose or in verse. It developed from simple inscriptions on monuments into a literary genre—short poems or sayings characterized by conciseness, balance, clarity, and wit.

epilogue

the final part of a work of literature (except a play) completing and rounding it off

epiphany

a moment of sudden revelation or insight

euphemism

a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing

flat character

one who embodies a single quality and who does not develop in the course of the story

foil

a character who provides a contrast to another character, thus intensifying the impact of that other character

hubris

Greek for excessive pride

imagery

descriptive language used in literature to recreate sensory experiences relating to sight, taste, touch, hearing, and smell

in medias res

Latin for in the middle of things

situational irony

when a character or the reader expects one thing to happen but something else actually happens

verbal irony

when a writer or character says one thing but means another

jargon

the special language of a profession or group

juxtaposition

two contrasting elements side by side

metonymy

a figure of speech that substitutes something closely related for the thing actually meant

motif

a recurring literary convention or element that is repeated within a literary work

paradox

a statement that seems to be contradictory but that actually reveals some element of truth

parallelism

the repetition of a grammatical pattern to express ideas that are related or equal in importance

personification

when a nonhuman object is given human characteristics

point of view

the perspective from which a story is told (types?)

protagonist

the central character in a story, novel, or play

round character

one who demonstrates some complexity and who develops or changes in the course of a work

simile

a figure of speech that compares two things that are basically unlike yet have something in common with the use of "like" or "as"

stereotype

simplified character who conforms to a fixed pattern or is defined by a single trait

structure

the way in which the parts of a literary work are put together

style

the particular way in which a piece of literature is written; not what is said but how it is said; the writer's uniquely individual way of communicating ideas

symbol

a person, place, object, or activity that stands for something beyond itself

synecdoche

a figure of speech in which the name of a part is used to refer to a whole

synesthesia

a form of imagery where one sensation is described in terms of another

syntax

the arrangement of words and phrases as they create sentences

theme

a central idea or message in a work of literature; should not be confused with subject or what the work is about

tone

expression of a writer's attitude toward a subject

mood

shapes the reader's emotional response

tragic hero

a dignified character who experiences a fall due to a fault

voice

the personality and uniqueness of the writer coming through on the page

hamartia

criminal act committed in ignorance or for the greater good

anagnorisis

the moment when a character makes a critical discovery

kenning

a metaphorical phrase used in Anglo-Saxon poetry to replace a concrete noun

static character

one who does not change

catharsis

process by which an unhealthy emotional state produced by an imbalance of feelings is corrected and emotional health is restored

blazon

praise of a lover's body part(s)

understatement

saying less than is actually meant, usually in an ironic way

deus ex machina

divine intervention

tragic flaw

quality that leads to a character's destruction

tragedy

dramatic work that presents the downfall of a dignified character who is involved in historically or socially significant events

shift

change in style, language, tone, mood, etc. within a literary work

rhetorical

kind of question that does not need to be answered; used for persuasion or for bringing to light a truth

peripetia

sudden change of events or reversal of fortune