ap english lit competition

allusion

A literary device that references a person, event, or work of literature, often to enrich meaning or context.

anecdote

A brief, engaging story used to illustrate a point or introduce a theme. It is often personal or narrative in nature.

anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences, used for emphasis and rhythm in writing.

apostrophe

A figure of speech in which a speaker addresses an absent person, abstract idea, or thing, often to express emotion or create dramatic effect.

catharsis

A literary device that describes the emotional release or purification experienced by the audience or characters in a work, often resulting from intense experiences.

comedy

A genre of literature and performing arts that aims to entertain and amuse, often featuring humorous situations, characters, and dialogues.

conceit

A fanciful expression or metaphor that compares two vastly different things, often elaborated into a complex and surprising comparison.

connotation

The implied or associated meaning of a word, beyond its literal definition. Connotation can evoke emotions and attitudes that influence how a word is perceived.

detail

An individual feature, fact, or item that contributes to the overall meaning or theme in a work of literature.

diction

The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing, which can convey tone, style, and meaning.

drama

A literary work intended for performance, typically involving conflict and emotion, often characterized by dialogue and action.

epiphany

A moment in a literary work when a character achieves a sudden insight or realization, significantly altering their understanding of themselves or their situation.

euphemism

A figure of speech in which a mild or indirect word or expression is substituted for one that may be considered too harsh or blunt.

figurative language

The use of words or expressions that convey meanings beyond the literal interpretation, including metaphors, similes, and imagery, to create more compelling and evocative writing.

foil

A character who contrasts with another, often the protagonist, to highlight particular qualities of the other character.

foreshadowing

A literary device used to give an indication or hint of what is to come later in the story.

hamartia

a tragic flaw or error in judgment that leads to the downfall of a tragic hero.

hubris

Excessive pride or self-confidence, often leading to a character's downfall.

hyperbole

an exaggerated statement or claim not meant to be taken literally, used for emphasis or effect.

imagery

Using vivid and descriptive language to create mental pictures in the reader's mind.

dramatic irony

a literary device where the audience knows more about a situation than the characters, creating a contrast between their understanding and the characters' perspective.

situational irony

a literary device where there is a discrepancy between what is expected to happen and what actually occurs, often leading to a twist in the narrative.

verbal irony

a figure of speech in which the intended meaning is opposite to the literal meaning of the words used.

juxtaposition

the act of placing two or more elements side by side to highlight their contrasts, often enhancing meaning or character development.

metaphor

a figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things by stating one is the other, highlighting similarities between them.

metonymy

a figure of speech in which one thing is represented by another that is commonly and often physically associated with it, such as "the White House" to refer to the President.

motif

a recurring element or theme in a literary work that helps develop its overall meaning.

paradox

a statement that contradicts itself but reveals a deeper truth, often challenging conventional ideas or beliefs.

paraphrase

to restate text or speech in one's own words, typically maintaining the original meaning while simplifying or clarifying the information.

pathetic fallacy

the attribution of human emotions or characteristics to nature or inanimate objects, used to reflect the mood of characters in literature.

peripeteia

a sudden reversal of fortune or change in circumstances in a story, often leading to a dramatic shift in the plot.

personification

the literary technique of giving human traits and attributes to non-human entities, helping to create vivid imagery and emotional connection.

poetry

a literary form that uses aesthetic and rhythmic qualities of language to evoke meanings and emotions. It often employs meter, rhyme, and imagery.

shift

A change in direction or position, often used to describe a transition in a narrative or argument.

soliloquy

a speech in which a character speaks their thoughts aloud, usually while alone on stage, revealing inner feelings and motivations.

syntax

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

symbol

a person, place, thing, or event that represents a deeper meaning or idea beyond its literal sense.

synecdoche

a figure of speech where a part represents the whole or vice versa, often used to create vivid imagery.

theme

the central topic or underlying message in a work of literature, often reflecting universal ideas and insights.

tone

the author's attitude toward the subject or audience, conveyed through word choice, style, and perspective.

tragic hero

a character, often of noble birth, who experiences a downfall due to a personal flaw or fate, evoking pity and fear in the audience.

tragedy

a dramatic work that presents the struggles and downfall of a protagonist, often leading to a somber or catastrophic ending.

blank verse

poetry written in unrhymed iambic pentameter, often used in dramatic and epic poetry.

free verse

a form of poetry that does not conform to regular metrical or rhythmic patterns, allowing poets greater freedom.

rough meter

a type of poetry that maintains a consistent rhythmic pattern but with variations in line length and stress.

sonnet

a 14-line poem typically written in iambic pentameter, usually exploring themes of love, nature, or philosophy.

enjambment

the continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next without a pause or break.

end-stopped

a line of poetry that concludes with a pause at the end, often punctuated, allowing for a natural break in thought.

quatrain

a stanza of four lines, often with alternating rhyme schemes.

iamb

a metrical foot consisting of one unstressed syllable followed by one stressed syllable, commonly used in English poetry.

trochee

a metrical foot consisting of a stressed syllable followed by an unstressed syllable.

anapest

a metrical foot consisting of two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable, frequently found in poetry.

dactyl

a metrical foot consisting of one stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables, often found in poetry.

spondee

a metrical foot composed of two stressed syllables.

pyrhee

a metrical foot consisting of two unstressed syllables.

dimeter

a line of verse consisting of two metrical feet.

alliteration

the repetition of initial consonant sounds in closely positioned words or syllables.

assonance

the repetition of vowel sounds within nearby words.

consonance

the repetition of consonant sounds in close proximity, typically at the end or middle of words.

cacophony

a harsh, discordant mixture of sounds often used to convey a sense of chaos or discomfort in literature.

euphony

the quality of being pleasing to the ear, often achieved through harmonious combinations of words.

near rhyme

a similar sound between words, typically involving similar consonant sounds at the end but differing vowel sounds.

slant rhyme

a type of rhyme formed by similar but not identical sounds, often used to create an informal or unexpected effect in poetry.

onomatopoeia

the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named, such as 'buzz' or 'bang'.

rhyme

a type of poetic device that involves the repetition of similar sounds, typically at the end of lines

elegy

a mournful poem written in honor of someone or something that has died, reflecting on loss and sorrow.

epic

a lengthy narrative poem, often detailing heroic deeds and adventures, typically centered around a legendary figure or significant event.

novel

a long narrative work of fiction that explores human experiences through interconnected characters and events.

parody

a humorous or satirical imitation of a particular work or style, often exaggerating characteristic features for comedic effect.

prose

written or spoken language in its ordinary form, without the structured meter found in poetry.

satire

a genre of literature that uses humor, irony, or ridicule to criticize or mock human folly, vices, or societal norms.

1st person

a narrative perspective where the narrator tells the story from their own viewpoint using "I" or "we."

2nd person

A narrative perspective that addresses the reader directly using the pronoun "you," often giving a sense of participation in the story.

3rd person

A narrative perspective that presents the thoughts and experiences of multiple characters, using 'he,' 'she,' or 'they' instead of 'I' or 'you.'

omniscient narrator

a narrative perspective where the narrator knows all the thoughts and feelings of every character in the story.

limited narrator

A third-person narrator that only knows the thoughts and feelings of one character, providing a limited perspective on the story.

point of view

The perspective from which a story is told, influencing how readers perceive characters and events.

middle ages

A period in European history from the 5th to the late 15th century, characterized by feudalism, the rise of the church, and various cultural developments.

medieval

relating to the Middle Ages, typically characterized by feudalism, the rise of universities, and Gothic architecture.

renaissance

the period of revival in art, literature, and learning in Europe from the 14th to the 17th century, marking the end of the Middle Ages.

enlightenment

an intellectual movement in the 17th and 18th centuries that emphasized reason, individualism, and skepticism towards traditional authority, leading to advancements in science, politics, and philosophy.

romantic

a literary and artistic movement originating in the late 18th century that emphasized emotion, individualism, and nature over classical ideals.

victorian

relating to the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 1837 to 1901, characterized by strict social norms, industrial progress, and a focus on morality in literature.

modern

a literary movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by a break from traditional narrative forms and an exploration of new styles, perspectives, and themes, often reflecting the complexities of modern life.

post-modern

a late 20th-century literary movement characterized by a skeptical, self-aware approach to literature, often questioning traditional narratives and structures.