ap lit

Adage

A short statement, expressing a general truth out ex “ sight out of mind “

Allegory

A work that conveys a hidden meaning usually moral, spiritual, or political- using symbolic characters in events with two or more levels of meaning ex. orwells animal farm

alliteration

The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of several words

“ A city set on a hill cannot be hidden”

allusion

an indirect or passing reference not a quotation to some event person place or artistic work, Which is not explained, but relies on the readers familiarity with what is mentioned “she has a Mona Lisa smile”

american dream

The idea that independence, industriousness and integrity equals success ex the great gatsby

Ambiguity

Language which gives more than one meeting and leaves uncertainty as to the meaning example Hamlet's true thoughts, and feelings

anachronism

The inclusion of an object or event not an existence during the time of the setting, and sometimes used on purpose

analogy

The comparison of two things which are like in several respects to explain or Clarify some unfamiliar or difficult ideas by showing the idea or object is similar to some familiar one while similes and has a purpose of explaining or line of reason

anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses or sentences Example we cannot dedicate. We cannot consecrate. We cannot hollow this ground.

anecdote

A short story or a joke told that the beginning of a speech or a character in a literary work

anthropomorphism

non-human things displaying literal human traits and being capable of human behavior, such as human language, or are represented as possessing human form example giving animals the ability to speak, feel emotion or wear clothes

anti hero

protagonist who has negative attributes from a traditional hero this character could be bewildered in effectual, deluded, stupid dishonest, or pathetic for example

antiphrasis

A figure of speech that is concerned with the use of a word or a phrase to imply the exact opposite it is connected to irony and humor “this giant of 3 feet”

antithesis

Antithesis junk poses two Contrasting or opposing ideas usually within parallel grammatical structures example new Armstrong when he stepped on the moon in 1969 and said that's one small step for a man one giant leap for mankind

apocalyptic

Literature marked by predictions of ultimate destruction To its characters

apostrophe

A character speaks to a character object that is not present or is unable to respond such as a dead idea or an abstract “death be not proud”

arabesque

Characters or setting marked by the strange other worldly or magical

archetype

In literature, characters, images and theme symbolically embody, universal meaning, and basic human experiences

aside

A statement Delivered by an actor to the audience that the other character supposedly do not hear

assonance

The repetition of the same or similar vowel sounds

asyndeton

The mission of conjunctions that ordinarily join coordination words or phrases example see no evil hear no evil speak no evil

bard/minstrel/scroo/troubadour

Composer, storyteller, singers, traveling entertainers

bathos

Extreme emotion or overly dramatic behavior

beat generation

A group of fiction writers of the 5060s noted for being rebellious anti-establishment

belles lettres

French meaning beautiful or fine writing therefore includes all literary works, especially fiction poetry drama, or essays valued for their aesthetic qualities and originally of style to

bestiary

A collection of real and imaginary animals with symbolic or allegorical meanings, particularly in the middle ages

bildungsroman

A novel showing the development of its central character from childhood to maturity (coming of age)

bombast

elevated language, often, pompous and overdone

bowdlerize

To omit objectional offensive language from a written work

byronism

Characterization marked by wealth, charm mystery and danger

cacophony

A combination of harsh unpleasant sounds, which create an effect of Discordance

canon

We generally considered to be the most important to study read, which constitute the masterpieces or classics of literature

carpe diem

in Latin seize the day constitute a frequent theme of love poems

catharsis

The emotional release of the audience by experiencing vicariously the suffering of the characters

chiasmus

A term for introducing a subject in order ABC and then talk about them in CBA

chorus

Characters that provide extra information about the events that occurred during a play