AP literature
allegory
a Literary work in which the characters represent abstract ideas
antecedent
the word phrase or clause that a pronoun refers to
aphorism
a brief clever worded statement that makes a wise observation about life
archaism
the use of deliberately old-fashion language
connotation
the implied or associative meaning of a word
couplet
two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme
diction
the choice of words
dramatic irony
theater irony that occurs when the meaning of a situation is understood by the audience but not the characters
euphony
agreeable sounds
foreshadowing
hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in a plot
gothic novel
a novel in which supernatural horrors and an atmosphere of unknown terrors pervades the action
inversion
the reversal of a normal order of words
masculine rhyme
final syllable of first word rhymes with final syllable of second word
melodrama
a form of cheesy theater in which the hero is very good and the villain is very bad and the heroine is so pure
rhetorical question
statement worded as a question but is not supposed to be answered
theme
main idea of the story
utopia
an imaginary place considered to be perfect or ideal