AP Lit #2 Words Defintions

AP lit

Euphony

The use of harmonious, pleasing sounds in poetry or prose

Foot

A unit of meter in poetry, consisting of a combination of stressed and unstressed syllables

Foot iambic (iamb)

An unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable (e.g., "away")

Foot trochaic (trochee)

A stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable (e.g., "garden")

Foot dactylic (dactyl)

A stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables (e.g., "beautiful")

Foot anapestic (anapest)

Two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed syllable (e.g., "understand")

Form

The structure or organization of a poem, including rhyme scheme, meter, and line length

Free verse

Poetry without a regular meter or rhyme scheme

Hyperbole

An exaggerated statement not meant to be taken literally

Iambic pentameter

A line of verse with five iambs (unstressed

Image (Imagery)

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses, creating mental images

Lyric

A short poem expressing personal emotions or thoughts, often in the first person

Metaphor

A figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unrelated things by stating one is the other

Meter

The rhythmic pattern of a poem, based on the arrangement of stressed and unstressed syllables

Metonymy

A figure of speech where one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it's closely associated

Narrative poem

A poem that tells a story, often with a plot, characters, and a setting

Octave

An eight line poem

Ode

A lyrical poem expressing admiration, often written in a formal, elevated style

Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates the sound it represents (e.g., "buzz" or "click")

Oxymoron

A figure of speech in which two contradictory terms appear together

Paradox

A statement that appears contradictory but reveals a truth upon closer examination

Parody

A humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing