AP Lit Terms- Semester One

simile

simile

a comparison between two things using the words “like” or “as.” remember, a comparison has the ability to set a specific mood.

metaphor

form of figurative language in which a direct comparison is made between two things, but it does not use “like” or “as.”

personification

the attribution of a human characteristic and emotion to inanimate objects, animals, or abstract ideas.

hyperbole

sometimes has overlap with metaphors. an exaggeration for the sake of emphasis and is not to be taken literally.

ex. my feud with mr. elliott will go on until the day that beavers stop building dams.

oxymoron

a contradictory phrase that is used to either create drama for the reader, add humor to the passage, or force the reader to pause and ponder.

ex. no matter what happens, act naturally.

metonymy

figure of speech (type of metaphor) in which something is called by a new name that is related in meaning to the original thing or concept. ex. celebrity culture in the U.S.= hollywood.

synecdoche

figure of speech in which a word or phrase that refers to a part of something is substituted to stand in for the whole, or vice versa. ex. the phrase “all hands on deck” is a demand for all of the crew to help, yet the word “hands”—just a part of the crew—stands in for the whole crew.

imagery

visual, tactile (touch), auditory, gustatory (taste), olfactory (smell)

connotation

What a word suggests beyond its basic definition; a word’s overtones of meaning.

denotation

basic definition or dictionary meaning of a word.

diction

author’s word choice- look for patterns with type of words used.

consider good adjective and look for contrast.

tone

mood or attitude of the speaker/writer toward a subject or audience.

overlaps with character’s state of mind, and can alter in response to this.

look at specific language that conveys mood or attitude.

allusion

a reference in one work to another significant work, event, person, or place.

often alludes to bible, roman/greek mythology, dante’s divine comedy, shakespeare

make sure not to confuse with a simile.

symbol

objects, events, or people that represent an idea or topic. this idea or topic can relate directly to the book, or relate to something greater.

ex. green light in gatsby symbolizes american dream.

symbolism

the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualitiessymbolic meaning attributed to natural objects or facts.

irony

a mode of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is stated; a state of affairs or events that is the reverse of what might have been expected. ex. fire station burns down.

paradox

an apparent contradiction that is nevertheless somehow true. It can be a situation or a statement. forces you to pause and ponder. ex. i can resist anything except temptation.

paradoxical characters/plot developments: the fool as a speaker of wisdom and truth. blindness leads to true realizations. nothingness leads to everything.

motif

any distinctive feature or idea that recurs across a story; often, it helps develop other narrative elements such as theme or mood.

can be created through the use of imagery, structural components, language, and other elements throughout literature.

theme

an articulation of the author’s ultimate message about this topic – this has to be written out in a complete sentence. not to be confused with topic or motif.

first person narrator

told from the point of view of a character.

we get to know the narrator really well, but everything we know about other characters is through the narrator’s own perspective.

third person omniscient narrator

the narrator is still that fly on the wall, explaining the story through an outsider’s point of view.

this time the narrator knows the thoughts and feelings of all of the characters in the story.

all the characters’ thoughts and feeling are revealed through the narrator

third person limited narrator

the narrator is a third party and not an actual character in the story (think of it like a fly on the wall).

“third person limited” means that this narrator will sometimes give insight as to what one character might be feeling or thinking, but none of the other characters:

focal character’s thoughts and feelings are revealed through the narrator.

third person editorial narrator

omniscient, narrator reveals some personal opinions or biases.

third person neutral narrator

omniscient, narrator does not reveal any personal opinions or biases

third person objective narrator

narrator is again a “fly on the wall” and reports the events and story from an outside perspective.

the narrator does not share any of the feelings or thoughts that pass through a character’s mind.

reader must come to their own conclusions based on the objective information that is being revealed to them.

narrative voice

the manner in which the narrator is telling the story.

study the manner in which narrators tell the story and the range and completeness of their knowledge of characters and events.

tragic hero

character who experiences misfortune through error of judgment or a tragic flaw. often recognizes the flaw at the end of story and gains self-knowledge, but character has already experienced their downfall. evokes feelings of pity and fear among the audience.

soliloquy

when an actor speaks their inner thoughts to the audience.

not dialogue since the actor is speaking to themself.

allows audience to know what is going on in the character’s mind and conscience.

monologue

speech given by one character with the intention of addressing others on stage.

foil

side characters who possess traits that emphasize the distinctive characteristics and qualities of a main character.

ex. ideas or behavior of a minor character might be used to highlight the weaknesses or strengths of the main character.

direct characterization

happens when the author explicitly tells the reader what they want us to learn about the character.

indirect characterization

occurs when the author shows the reader parts of the character that helps them understand the character's personality and the effect they have on other characters.

syntax

declarative- states an idea (.)

interrogative- asks questions (?)

imperative- gives orders or directions (. or !)

exclamatory- states an idea with emotion (!)

hamartia

a flawed characteristic that instigates a character’s ultimate downfall.

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).