AP LIT literary devices

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences.

Apostrophe

A figure of speech in which the speaker addresses an absent person, an abstract idea, or a thing.

Asyndeton

The omission of conjunctions between clauses, often resulting in a hurried rhythm.

classical and intercultural allusions

References to well-known figures or events from classical literature or different cultures that enrich the meaning.

Comparisons or Contrasts

A rhetorical device used to highlight similarities or differences between two subjects.

Distinctive Sentence Structure

The deliberate arrangement of words in a sentence to create a specific effect.

Epistrophe

The repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences.

Figures of speecg

Expressions that convey meanings different from the literal interpretation, often used to add emphasis or creativity.

Paradox

A statement that appears contradictory but reveals a truth upon closer examination.

Parallelism

The use of similar structures in two or more clauses to create balance and clarity.

Polysyndeton

The use of multiple conjunctions in close succession, often to emphasize the items in a list.

Rhetorical Questions

Questions posed for effect rather than to elicit an answer, prompting the audience to think.

Sound devices

Techniques that utilize the auditory qualities of words to create a specific effect, such as alliteration, assonance, and onomatopo

Symbolism

The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities, often providing deeper meanings.

Verbal or situational Irony

A form of irony where the intended meaning is opposite to the literal meaning, or where expected outcomes are contrasted with actual outcomes.

Cacophony

A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds used for effect.

Euphony

A pleasant, harmonious combination of sounds, often used in poetry.

Diction

The choice of words and style of expression an author uses in writing.

Syntax

The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.