AP Lang Lit Terms

Diction

the choice of words or phrases in a speech or writing

Connotation

the extra feeling or vibe a word gives

Concrete

involves nouns rather than general ideas/feelings

Abstract

an idea or feeling

Euphemism

a pleasant word that is used instead of an offensive one.

Understatement

making something big sound small (opposite hyperbole)

Tone

the author’s attitude

Mood

how the reader feels

Qualifier

words that limit/boost meaning

Syntax

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

Juxtaposition

putting opposites or very different things side by side so the difference stands out.

Anaphora

repeating the same word/phrase at the start of sentences for emphasis.

Parallelism

using the same structure for rhythm and clarity

Paradox

a statement that looks wrong but actually makes sense.

Antithesis

directly putting opposite ideas together in the same structure.

Repetition

repeating any word, sound, or phrase for effect (broader than anaphora).

Rhetorical Question

a question asked to make a point, not to get an actual answer.

Figurative Language

phrasing that goes beyond the literal meaning of words

Hyperbole

exaggeration on purpose

Irony (general)

the opposite of what is expected

Verbal Irony

when you say the opposite of what you mean

Dramatic Irony

the audience knows something the character doesn’t

Situational Irony

a situation that unfolds in a unexpected way

Metaphor

compares two unrelated things without using “like” or “as.”

Personification

giving human traits to non-human things.

Imagery

words that appeal to the senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell)

Point of View

perspective of the narrator

Style

the author’s unique way of writing (word choice, sentence style, etc.)

Motif

a repeated image, object, or phrase that supports the theme.

Symbolism

when something stands for something deeper.