AP LIT Vocab words summer

Anaphora

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

Sonnet

A 14-line poem written in iambic pentameter following a strict rhyme scheme

Epigram

A brief, witty, and often paradoxical statement or poem designed to make a sharp point

Epic

A long narrative poem recounting the heroic deeds and grand adventures of a legendary or cultural figure.

Meter

he rhythmic pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry.

Couplet

A pair of consecutive lines of poetry that usually rhyme and share the same meter.

Quatrain

A stanza or poem consisting of four lines, often with an alternating rhyme scheme (ABAB or ABCB).

Allegory

A story, poem, or picture where characters, settings, and events represent abstract ideas or historical lessons on a literal and symbolic level

Diction

An author’s intentional choice and style of words (e.g., formal, colloquial, pedantic, elevated).

Connotation

The emotional, cultural, or implied associations attached to a word beyond its literal meaning.

Denotation

The strict, objective, literal dictionary definition of a word

Tone

The author’s or speaker's attitude toward their subject matter, characters, or audience.

Mood

The emotional atmosphere or feeling created within the reader by a literary work.

Prose

Written language in its ordinary, non-poetic form without metrical structure or line breaks.

Figurative Language

Words or expressions used with a non-literal meaning to create vivid imagery or deeper significance.

Double Entendre

A word or phrase open to two interpretations, where one meaning is usually subtle, suggestive, or ironic.

Anastophe

The inversion of natural or standard word order (syntax) for emphasis or poetic meter.

Simile

An explicit comparison between two distinct things using "like" or "as."

Metaphor

A direct comparison between two unlike things stating that one thing is another (without using "like" or "as").

Personification

Attributing human traits, feelings, or actions to non-human objects, animals, or abstract concepts.

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part of something represents the whole (or vice versa).

Metonymy

A figure of speech in which something is called by the name of a closely related object or concept.

Hyperbole

An intentional, dramatic exaggeration not meant to be taken literally.

Polysyndeton

The deliberate repetition of multiple conjunctions (and, or, but) in close succession without punctuation.

Paradox

A self-contradictory statement that, upon closer inspection, reveals a deeper truth.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech pairing two contradictory or opposite terms side-by-side.

Foreshadow

Hints or clues early in a narrative that signal events that will occur later in the plot.

Onomatopoeia

A word that phonetically imitates or suggests the sound it describes.

Parallelism

The use of matching grammatical structures or phrasing in a series of related clauses or sentences.

Apostrophe

A direct address to an absent person, dead figure, or personified abstract concept/object.

Juxtaposition

Placing two ideas, characters, or places side-by-side to emphasize their contrasts.

Understatement

Intentionally presenting a situation as far less important, severe, or intense than it actually is

Constrast Imagery

Descriptive language using opposing sensory elements (light vs. dark, hot vs. cold) to highlight differences.

Sensory Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals directly to the five senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell).

Pun

A play on words relying on words with multiple meanings or similar-sounding words for humorous effect.

Allusion

An indirect reference to a well-known person, historical event, literary work, or myth.

Exposition

The opening portion of a narrative that introduces background info, setting, characters, and basic conflict.

Rising Action

A series of escalating events and complications that build conflict toward the climax.

Falling Action

The events immediately following the climax, where the main conflict begins resolving and tension eases.

Denouement

The final resolution of a narrative where loose ends are tied up and order is restored.

Characterization

The methods an author uses to reveal a character's personality, motivation, and traits (direct vs. indirect).

Foil character

A character designed to contrast sharply with another character (usually the protagonist) to highlight specific traits.

Dynamic Character

A character who undergoes a major internal transformation, growth, or realization throughout a story.

Static Character

A character who remains essentially unchanged in personality, values, or outlook from start to finish.

Flat character

A simplified, one-dimensional character defined by a single dominant trait without complex depth.

Round Character

A complex, multi-faceted character with realistic depth, conflicting motivations, and distinct traits.