AP Lit terms EXAMPLES

ALLEGORY

"Animal Farm" symbolizes the Russian Revolution; "Lord of the Flies" reflects human nature.

ALLITERATION

"Regiment and remnant" in Stephen Crane's work highlight contrast through repeated sounds.

ALLUSION

"He was a real Romeo with the ladies" alludes to Shakespeare's Romeo.

AMBIGUITY

The ending of "The Giver" leaves readers uncertain if Jonas survives or not.

ANALOGY

"Just as a sword is the weapon of a warrior, a pen is the weapon of a writer."

ANAPHORA

Martin Luther King Jr.: "I have a dream... I have a dream...".

ANASTROPHE

"Sure I am of this, that you have only to endure to conquer." - Churchill.

ANECDOTE

A teacher sharing a story about a past student to explain a concept.

ANTAGONIST

Voldemort in "Harry Potter."

ANTIMETABOLE

"One should eat to live, not live to eat." - Molière.

ANTITHESIS

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." - Dickens.

ANTIHERO

Walter White in "Breaking Bad."

ANTHROPOMORPHISM

The talking animals in "Beauty and the Beast."

APHORISM

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it."

APOSTROPHE

"O Death, where is thy sting?"

APPOSITION

"These are the times that try men's souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot..." - Paine.

ASSONANCE

"The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain."

ASYNDETON

"I came, I saw, I conquered."

BALANCE

"Light is faster, but we are safer."

CHARACTERIZATION

Scout's narration in "To Kill a Mockingbird" shows her growth and values.