AP lit term #1

Colloquialism

an expression or language construction appropriate only for casual, informal speaking or writing

Apostrophe

a figure of speech in which a speaker or narrator directly addresses an absent, dead, or imaginary person, an inanimate object, or an abstract concept as if it were present and capable of responding

Allegory

a literary work that portrays abstract ideas concretely. Characters frequently are personifications of abstract with representative names.

Anaphora

repetition of an initial word or words or add emphasis

Direct Characterization

the author tells us directly what a character is ex. sneaky, generous

Indirect Characterization

the author describes the characters looks, says, thoughts, effect on others, and in action

Archetype

a cultural symbol that has become universally understood & recognized

Archaic Language

words that were once common but that are no longer used

Static Character

is one who does not change much in the course of a story

Bildungsroman

a novel that explores that maturation of the protagonist, with the narrative usually moving the main character from childhood into adulthood, also called a coming of age story

Flat Character

has only one or two personality traits, they are one dimensional like a piece of cardboard, they can be summed up in one phrase

Cadence

quality of spoken text formed from combining the text’s rhythm with the rise and fall of the inflection of the speakers voice

Allusion

a reference to author work of literature or art, history, or current events

Formalist Lens

also called new criticism, an interpretation of a text that treats it as an independent and self-sufficient entity, focusing on style feature

Gendered Lens

an interpretation of a text that explores its treatment of gender stereotypes, social morals, and values based on gender, and the overall representation of the genders