1-43 AP Language and Composition Glossary of Literary and Rhetorical Devices

Words 1-43

Active Voice

The subject of the sentence performs the action. This is a more direct and preferred style of writing in most cases. “Anthony drove while Toni searched for the house.”

Passive voice

when the subject of the sentence receives the action. “The car was driven by Anthony.” Often overused, resulting in lifeless writing.

Allusion

An indirect reference to something (usually a literary text, although it can be other things commonly known, such as plays, songs, historical events) with which the reader is supposed to be familiar.

Alter-ego

A character that is used by the author to speak the author’s own thoughts; when an author speaks directly to the audience through a character. In Shakespeare’s last play, The Tempest, Shakespeare talks to his audience about his own upcoming retirement, through the main character in the play, Prospero. Do not confuse with persona.

Anecdote

A brief recounting of a relevant episode. Often inserted into fictional or nonfictional texts as a way of developing a point or injecting humor.

Antecedent

The word, phrase, or clause is referred to by a pronoun. The AP language exam occasionally asks for a given pronoun in a long, complex sentence or in a group of sentences. “If I could command the wealth of all the world by lifting my finger, I would not pay such a price for it.” An AP question might read: "What is the ___ for "it"?

Classicism

Art or literature characterized by a realistic view of people and the world; sticks to traditional themes and structures (see romanticism).

Comic relief

when a humorous scene is inserted into a serious story, in order to lighten the mood somewhat.

Diction

Word choice, particularly as an element of style.

Colloquial

Ordinary or familiar type of conversation. A common or familiar type of saying, similar to an adage or an aphorism.

Connotation

The associations are suggested by a word. Implied meaning rather than literal meaning.

Denotation

The literal, explicit meaning of a word, without its connotations.

Jargon

The diction used by a group that practices a similar profession or activity.

Vernacular

1. Language or dialect of a particular country. 2. Language or dialect of a regional clan or group. 3. Plain everyday speech

Didactic

A term used to describe fiction, nonfiction or poetry that teaches a specific lesson or moral or provides a model of correct behavior or thinking.

Adage

A folk saying with a lesson. “A rolling stone gathers no moss.” Similar to aphorism and colloquialism.

Allegory

A story, fictional or non fictional, in which characters, things, and events represent qualities or concepts. The interaction of these characters, things, and events is meant to reveal an abstraction or a truth.

Aphorism

A terse statement which expresses a general truth or moral principle. Can be a memorable summation of the author's point. Ben Franklin wrote many of these in Poor Richard's Almanac, such as “God helps them that help themselves,” and “A watched pot never boils.”

Ellipsis

The deliberate omission of a word or phrase from prose done for effect by the author. “The whole day, rain, torrents of rain”

Euphemism

A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for generally unpleasant words or concepts. Sometimes they are used for political correctness. “Physically challenged,” in place of “crippled.” Can be used to exaggerate correctness to add humor. “Vertically challenged” in place of “short.”

Figurative Language

“Figurative Language” is the opposite of “Literal Language.” Literal language is writing that makes complete sense when you take it at face value. “Figurative Language” is the opposite: writing that is not meant to be taken literally.

Analogy

Comparison of one pair of variables to a parallel set of variables. He or she argues that the relationship between the first pair of variables is the same as the relationship between the second pair of variables. “America is to the world as the hippo is to the jungle.”

Hyperbole

Exaggeration. “My mother will kill me if I am late.”

Idiom

A common, often used expression that doesn’t make sense if you take it literally. “I got chewed out by my coach.”

Metaphor

Making an implied comparison, not using “like,” as,” or other such words. “My feet are popsicles.”

Metonymy

Replacing an actual word or idea, with a related word or concept. “Relations between London and Washington have been strained,” does not literally mean relations between the two cities, but between the leaders of The United States and England. Often used with body parts: “I could not understand his tongue,” means his language or his speech.

Synecdoche

A kind of metonymy when a whole is represented by naming one of its parts, or vice versa. “The cattle rancher owned 500 head.” “Check out my new wheels.”

Simile

Using words such as “like” or “as” to make a direct comparison between two very different things. “My feet are so cold they feel like popsicles.”

Synesthesia

a description involving a “crossing of the senses.” Examples: “A purplish scent filled the room.” “I was deafened by his brightly colored clothing.”

Personification

Giving human-like qualities to something that is not human. “The tired old truck groaned as it inched up the hill.”

Foreshadowing

When an author gives hints about what will occur later in a story.

Genre

The major category into which a literary work fits.

Gothic

Writing characterized by gloom, mystery, fear and/or death. Also refers to an architectural style of the middle ages, often seen in cathedrals of this period.

Imagery

Word or words that create a picture in the reader's mind. Usually this involves the five senses. Authors often use imagery in conjunction with metaphors, similes, or figures of speech.

Invective

A long, emotionally violent, attack using strong, abusive language.

Irony

When the opposite of what you expect to happen does.

Verbal irony

When you say something and mean the opposite/something different. For example, if your gym teacher wants you to run a mile in eight minutes or faster, but calls it a "walk in the park". If your voice tone is bitter, it's called sarcasm.

Dramatic irony

When the audience of a drama, play, movie, etc. knows something that the character doesn't and would be surprised to find out. For example, in many horror movies, we (the audience) know who the killer is, which the victim

Situational irony

Found in the plot (or story line) of a book, story, or movie. Sometimes it makes you laugh because it's funny how things turn out. (For example, Johnny spent two hours planning on sneaking into the movie theater and missed the movie. When he finally did manage to sneak inside he found out that kids were admitted free that day).

Juxtaposition

Placing things side by side for the purposes of comparison.(For example, an author may say the average day of a typical American with that of someone in the third world in order to make a point of social commentary).

Mood

The atmosphere created by the literature and accomplished through word choice (diction). The syntax is often a creator since word order, sentence length, and strength and complexity affect the pacing. Setting, tone, and events can all affect.

Motif

a recurring idea in a piece of literature. In To Kill a Mockingbird, the idea that “you never really understand another person until you consider things from his or her point of view”, because the idea is brought up several times over the course of the novel.

Oxymoron

When apparently contradictory terms are grouped together and suggest a paradox – “wise fool,” “eloquent silence,” “jumbo shrimp.”

Pacing

The speed or tempo of an author’s writing. Writers can use a variety of devices (syntax, polysyndeton, anaphora, meter) to change the pacing of their words. An author’s pacing can be fast, sluggish, stabbing, vibrato, staccato, measured, etc.