AP Lit quiz DEFINITIONS

ALLEGORY

A story or poem in which characters, settings, and events stand for abstract ideas or moral qualities.

ALLITERATION

The repetition of the same or similar consonant sounds in words close together.

ALLUSION

A reference to a well-known person, place, event, or work of literature.

AMBIGUITY

A deliberate suggestion of multiple meanings or interpretations in a work.

ANALOGY

A comparison between two things showing how they are alike in some way.

ANAPHORA

Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences or clauses for emphasis.

ANASTROPHE

Inversion of normal word order for rhythm or emphasis (a fancy word for inversion).

ANECDOTE

A brief, personal story told to illustrate a point or reveal character.

ANTAGONIST

The character or force opposing the protagonist.

ANTIMETABOLE

Repetition of words in reverse grammatical order.

ANTITHESIS

Balancing or contrasting ideas using parallel structure.

ANTIHERO

A central character who lacks traditional heroic traits such as courage or morality.

ANTHROPOMORPHISM

Attributing human traits to animals or inanimate objects (a type of personification).

APHORISM

A short, cleverly worded statement expressing a truth or observation about life.

APOSTROPHE

Addressing an absent or imaginary person, place, or abstract idea.

APPOSITION

Placing two elements side by side, the second explaining or modifying the first.

ASSONANCE

The repetition of similar vowel sounds within nearby words.

ASYNDETON

Omitting conjunctions between words or phrases for emphasis.

BALANCE

Constructing a sentence so both halves are of equal length and importance.

CHARACTERIZATION

The process by which a writer reveals a character's personality through actions, dialogue, and description.