AP Lit Vocab Terms Page 12

Hubris

frequently used in Greek tragedies, refers to excessive pride that usually leads to a hero’s downfall

Humanism

belief that emphasizes faith and optimism in human potential and creativity

Humor of Character

exaggerated personalities or characters who fail to recognize their own flaws

Humor of Language

sarcasm, exaggeration, puns, or verbal irony

Hyperbole

a figure of speech in which the truth is greatly exaggerated

Iamb

an iambic foot has two syllables; the first is unstressed and the second is stressed; iambic foot is most common in English poetry

Iambic Pentameter

metrical line of five feet, each of which is made up for two syllables (unstressed, stressed)

Idiom

an expression with a meaning different from the meaning of its individual words or logical understanding

Idyll

lyric poem or passage that describes a kind of ideal life or place

Illocution

language that avoids meaning of the words. When we speak, sometimes we conceal intentions or sidestep the true subject of a conversation.

Imagery

language appealing to the senses; use of vivid or figurative language to represent objects, actions, or ideas

in medias res

a story that begins in the middle of the action (used to heighten dramatic tension or to create a sense of mystery)

Indirect Quotation

a rendering of a quotation in which actual words are not explicitly stated but only approximated or paraphrased

Induction

conclusion drawn from a body of evidence

Interior Monologue

the internal or emotional thoughts/feelings of a character (does not represent spoken words)

Invective

speech or writing which is denunciatory, abusive, or vituperative; strongly associated with satire, lampoon, and caricature