AP Lang terms

Allegory

Using characters or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning, often dealing with moral truths or generalizations about human existence.

Alliteration

The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in neighboring words, used to reinforce meaning, unify ideas, or supply a musical sound.

Allusion

A direct or indirect reference to something commonly known, such as an event, book, or myth, to add depth to the text.

Ambiguity

The presence of multiple meanings, intentional or unintentional, within a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.

Analogy

A comparison between two different things to explain something unfamiliar by associating it with something more familiar.

Anecdote

A short narrative detailing an interesting episode or event, often used to illustrate a point.

Antecedent

The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun, which can be crucial in understanding complex sentences.

Aphorism

A concise statement expressing a general truth or moral principle, often attributed to a known author.

Atmosphere

The emotional mood created by a literary work, influenced by setting and descriptive elements to foreshadow events or create a specific mood.

Clause

A grammatical unit containing a subject and a verb, with independent clauses expressing complete thoughts and dependent clauses requiring an independent clause.

Colloquial/Colloquialism

The use of slang or informal language in speech or writing to create a conversational tone.

Coherence

The arrangement of parts in a composition to ensure the immediate clarity and intelligibility of the whole.

Connotation

The nonliteral, associative meaning of a word that involves ideas, emotions, or attitudes beyond the literal definition.

Denotation

The strict, literal definition of a word devoid of any emotional or attitudinal meaning.

Diction

The writer's word choices in terms of correctness, clearness, or effectiveness, contributing to the author's style.

Didactic

Works that aim to teach or instruct, especially in moral or ethical principles.

Euphemism

A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a harsh word or concept, often used for social or political correctness.

Exposition

The explanation of something in essays or the introductory material in drama that sets the tone, introduces characters, and presents the conflict.

Extended Metaphor

A metaphor developed at length and recurring throughout a work to enhance meaning.

Figurative Language

Writing or speech not meant to be taken literally, often used to create vivid imagery or convey abstract ideas.

Figure of Speech

A device used to produce figurative language, such as metaphors, similes, and personification.

Generic Conventions

Traditions specific to each genre that help define and differentiate various types of writing.

Genre

The major category into which a literary work falls, such as prose, poetry, or drama, with further subdivisions like fiction or nonfiction.

Hyperbole

Deliberate exaggeration or overstatement for emphasis or humor.

Imagery

Sensory details or figurative language used to create vivid descriptions, evoke emotions, or represent abstract ideas.

Inference/Infer

Drawing a reasonable conclusion from information presented, especially in analyzing texts.

Invective

An emotionally violent verbal attack or denunciation using strong, abusive language.

Irony/Ironic

The contrast between what is stated and what is meant, with verbal, situational, and dramatic irony being common types.

Loose Sentence

A sentence where the main idea comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units, creating an informal and conversational style.

Metaphor

A figure of speech comparing seemingly unlike things to suggest a similarity and enhance meaning.

Mood

The prevailing emotional atmosphere of a literary work, influenced by setting, tone, and events.

Narrative

The telling of a story or an account of events, often used to convey a message or entertain.

Onomatopoeia

The use of words that imitate natural sounds, adding a sensory element to writing.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech combining contradictory terms to create a paradox, often used for rhetorical effect.

Paradox

A statement that seems contradictory but may reveal some truth upon closer examination.

Parallelism

The structural similarity achieved through the repetition of grammatical elements in writing.

Parody

A work that imitates another for comic effect or ridicule.

Pedantic

Words, phrases, or tone that are overly scholarly or bookish.

Periodic sentence

A sentence that presents its main idea at the end for emphasis.

Personification

Giving human attributes to concepts, animals, or objects.

Point of view

The perspective from which a story is told.

Predicate adjective

An adjective that follows a linking verb and describes the subject.

Predicate nominative

A noun that renames the subject and follows a linking verb.

Prose

Fiction and nonfiction writing that lacks a predetermined line length.

Repetition

The duplication of language elements for emphasis.

Rhetor

The speaker effectively using rhetorical elements in communication.

Rhetoric

Principles governing effective writing and persuasion.

Rhetorical modes

The conventions and purposes of different types of writing.

Sarcasm

Bitter language meant to ridicule or hurt.

Satire

Writing that targets human vices or social institutions for reform or ridicule.

Semantics

The study of word meanings and their relations.

Style

The sum of an author's choices in literary elements.

Subject complement

Words or clauses that follow a linking verb to complete the subject.

Subordinate clause

A clause that cannot stand alone and depends on a main clause.

Symbol/symbolism

Concrete objects representing abstract ideas.

Syntax

The arrangement of words into phrases, clauses, and sentences.

Theme

The central idea or message of a work.

Thesis

The statement expressing the author's opinion or purpose in expository writing.

Tone

The author's attitude toward the subject or audience.

Transition

Words or phrases linking different ideas in writing.

Trope

Artful variations from expected modes of expression.

Understatement

Presenting something as less significant than it is for emphasis.

Undertone

An attitude underlying the apparent tone of a piece.

Unreliable narrator

A narrator whose credibility is questionable.

Wit

Intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights.