ap english vocab (work in progress)

allegory

a story in which the characters, settings and events stand for something else

alliteration

The repetition of consonant sounds in words that are close to another; alliteration occurs mostly at the beginning of words

ex) rough and ready or baby blue

allusion

A reference to a statement, person, place, event, or thing that is known from literature, history, religion, myth, politics, sports, science, or pop culture

atmosphere

The mood or feeling in a literary work; Atmosphere is usually created through descriptive details and evocative language

connotation

All the meanings, associations, or emotions that a word suggests

ex) a restaurant might want to advertise “delicious cuisine” rather than “delicious cooking” - “cuisine” has connotations of elegance and sophistication

contrast

comparison showing differences

denotation

the literal, dictionary definition of a word

diction

a writers or speakers choice of words; the diction a writer chooses determines their style

ex) simple vs flowery (store vs boutique)

general vs specific (sandwich vs a grilled cheese on rye)

euphemism

mild or vague expression substituted for a harsher or more direct one

ex) “ bought the farm” for someone’s death

hyperbole

A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration/overstatement. hyperboles often have a comic effect; However, a serious effect is also possible. Often hyperbole produces irony at the same time.

imagery

the sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions. on a physical level, imagery uses terms related to the five senses; we refer to visual, auditory, tactile, taste, or olfactory imagery. on a broader and deeper level, however, one image can represent more than one thing

impressionistic

seeking to convey a brief impression or emotion without close realistic detail

inference

to draw an understanding or conclusion from what was said or a particular event