AP Lit & Comp Vocab

abstract

complex writing that discusses intangible qualities like good and evil, and seldom uses examples to support its points

academic (style)

Dry, theoretical writing that analyzes objectively

accent

In poetry, this refers to the stressed portion of a word

aesthetic

used as an adjective meaning “appealing to the senses“

allegory

A literary work in which the characters represent abstract ideas; a symbolic representation

alliteration

repetition of initial consonant sounds

allusion

a reference to another work of literature, person, or event

anachronism

something located at a time when it could not have existed or occurred

analogy

a comparison of two different things that are similar in some way

anecdote

a short story that’s used to illustrate a point or add humor/personal experience

antecedent

the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers

anthropomorphism

The attribution of human characteristics to animals or inanimate objects

anticlimax

a disappointing end to an exciting or impressive series of events

antihero

a protagonist who lacks the characteristics that would make him a hero

aphorism

A brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life

apostrophe

a literary device where a speaker addresses a person or thing that doesn’t respond

archaism

the deliberate use of old-fashioned language

aside

a line spoken by an actor to the audience but not intended for the others on the stage

assonance

repetition of similar vowel sounds followed by different consonant sounds

atmosphere

the emotional tone or background that surrounds a scene

ballad

any popular narrative poem, often with epic subject and usually in lyric form

black humor

The use of disturbing themes in literature

bombast

speech or writing that sounds grand or important but has little meaning

burlesque

a theatrical entertainment of broad and earthy humor

cacophony

Harsh, jarring, discordant sounds; dissonance

cadence

Rhythmic flow of a sequence of sounds or words

canto

A major division of a long poem

caricature

a drawing, imitation, or description that ridiculously exaggerate peculiarities or defects

catharsis

An emotional or psychological cleansing that brings relief or renewal

chorus

In Greek drama, the group of citizens who stand outside the main action on stage and comment on it

colloquialism

Informal words or expressions not usually acceptable in formal writing

conceit

a fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects

connotation

The implied or associative meaning of a word

consonance

a literary device that repeats the same consonant sounds (-ck in tick tock)

couplet

Two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme

decorum

The appropriate rendering of a character, action, speech, or scene

Denotation

the dictionary definition of a word

Diction

a writer’s or speaker’s choice of words

dirge

a song of prayer for the dead

dissonance

A lack of harmony or agreement between things

doggerel

badly written or trivial verse, often with a singsong rhythm

Dramatic irony

irony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play

dramatic monologue

When a single speaker in literature says something to a silent audience

Elegy

A poem that expresses loss and grief, often about the death of a loved one

enjambment

the continuation of a syntac

Epic

A long narrative poem that tells the story of a hero’s journey; important to the history of a race/nation

Epitaph

A brief poem or inscription written on a tombstone to commemorate a deceased person

euphemism

A word or phrase that replaces a word that is considered offensive or unpleasant

euphony

Any agreeable (pleasing and harmonious) sounds

Farce

A comedy in which everything is absolutely absurd

Feminine rhyme

When the latter two syllables of a first word rhyme with the latter two syllables of a second word

Foil

A character whose personality and attitude contrast sharply with those of another character

Foot

the basic unit of rhythmic measurement in a line of poetry

Foreshadowing

the use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in the plot

Free verse

unrhymed verse without a consistent metrical pattern

Gothic novel

a novel in which supernatural horrors and an atmosphere of unknown terrors pervades the action

hubris

Excessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy

hyperbole

a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor

interior monologue

a narrative technique that records a character’s internal flow of thoughts, memories, and ideas; a longish passage of uninterrupted thought

inversion

The reversal of the normal order of words

Irony

A contrast between what is expected and what actually exists or happens

Lampoon

To ridicule with satire

lyric

A type of poetry that expresses a speakers emotions and feelings often in a musical or rhythmic form

masculine rhyme

The final syllable of the first word rhymes with the final syllable of the second word

melodrama

A form of cheesy theater in which the hero is very, very good, the villain mean and rotten, and the heroine oh-so-pure

Metaphor

A figure of speech comparing to unlike things without using like or as

Metonym

A word that is used to stand for something else that it has attributes of or is associated with

nemesis

The protagonist’s arch enemy or supreme and persistent difficulty

Objectivity

A writing style that is impartial, unbiased, and based on facts

Onomatopoeia

the use of words that imitate sounds

oxymoron

A figure of speech consisting of two apparently contradictory terms

parable

A short fictional story that conveys a moral or spiritual lesson

Paradox

A statement or idea that seems contradictory, but contains some truth when examined more closely

Parallelism

The use of a series of words, phrases, or sentences that have similar grammatical form

Parody

An imitation of the style and manner of a particular writer or familiar situation

Pastoral

a literary work idealizing the rural life (especially the life of shepherds)

Pathos

A rhetorical device that involves appealing to an audience‘s emotions to persuade them

Persona

The speaker, voice, or character assumed by the author of a piece of writing

Personification

the act of attributing human characteristics to abstract ideas

Plaint

A poem or speech expressing sorrow

Protagonist

The main character in a literary work

pun

A play on words, often achieved through the use of words with similar sounds but different meanings

Refrain

The repetition of one or more phrases or lines at definite intervals in a poem, usually at the end of a stanza

requiem

a song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person

rhapsody

A literary piece of passage that expresses intense emotion or enthusiasm

rhetorical question

a statement that is formulated as a question but isn’t supposed to be answered

satire

a literary work that ridicules or criticizes a human vice through humor or derision

simile

A figurative speech that directly compares two unlike things using the words like or as

Soliloquy

In drama, a character speaks alone on stage to allow his/her thoughts and ideas to be conveyed to the audience

Stanza

A group of lines that forms the main unit in a poem

stock characters

Standard or clichéd character types

subjectivity

a personal presentation of events and characters, influenced by the author’s feelings and opinions

Subjunctive mood

A verb form that expresses a wish, suggestion, or hypothetical situation

Summary

A brief statement that presents the main points in concise form

Symbolism

A literary device in which an object or event represents something beyond itself

Theme

The central message of a literary work

Thesis

A central claim or argument that you present in your essay about a literary work

Tragic flaw

The character flaw or error of a tragic hero that leads to his downfall

Travesty

a grotesque or grossly inferior imitation

Truism

Statement that is so obviously true that it doesn’t need to be discussed