AP Lang - Unit 3 Glossary Terms

Figurative Language

Opposite of literal language. Writing that is not meant to be taken literally.

Hyperbole

Exaggeration. “My mother will kill me if I am late.”

Metaphor

An implied comparison that does not use words like “like, ” “as,” or other such words. Example: “My feet are popsicles.”

Simile

A direct comparison between two very different things using words such as “like” or “as”. Example: “My feet are so cold they feel like popsicles.”

Foreshadowing

When an author gives hints about what will occur later in a story.

Genre

The major category a literary work belongs to. Basic divisions include prose, poetry, and drama. Work can also be classified into small types (e.g., poetry can be classified into lyric, dramatic, narrative, etc.). On the AP Language exam, common types are autobiography, biography, diaries, criticism, essays, and journalistic, political, scientific, and nature writing.

Imagery

Word or words that create a picture in the reader's mind. Usually this involves the five senses. Writers often pair this with metaphors, similes, or figures of speech.

Irony

When the opposite of what you expect to happen does.

Verbal Irony

When someone says one thing but means the opposite or something different. Example: A gym teacher calls a mile run in eight minutes a “walk in the park.” If the tone is bitter, it is called sarcasm.

Dramatic Irony

When the audience knows something that a character does not, which would surprise the character. Example: In many horror movies, viewers know the killer’s identity while the victim trusts them completely.

Situational Irony

When events in a story or plot turn out differently than expected, often in a funny or surprising way. Example: Johnny sneaks into a movie theater after hours of planning, only to find out kids were admitted free that day.

Juxtaposition

Placing things side by side to compare them. Writers often do this to highlight contrasts or make a point. Example: Comparing an average day in the U.S. with a day in the third world to emphasize social differences.

Mood

The feeling or atmosphere created in a work through word choice, sentence structure, and other literary elements. Setting, tone, and events all influence the overall emotional effect.

Motif

A recurring idea or concept that appears repeatedly throughout a work. Example: In To Kill a Mockingbird, the idea that “you never really understand another person until you consider things from his or her point of view” appears multiple times.

Paradox

A situation or statement that seems contradictory but is actually true. Example: “You can't get a job without experience, and you can't get experience without a job.” “Less is more.”

Pun

Using a word with multiple meanings in a humorous way. Example: “My dog has a fur coat and pants!” or “I was stirred by his cooking lesson.”

Symbol

Something tangible that represents a larger, often abstract idea. Examples: The whale in Moby Dick, the river and jungle in Heart of Darkness, or the raven in “The Raven.”

Theme

The central idea or message a work communicates. In nonfiction, it may be stated directly; in fiction, it is usually implied rather than directly stated.

Thesis

The sentence or group of sentences that clearly expresses the author’s opinion, purpose, or main point. It should be short and focused.

Tone

The author’s attitude toward the subject, revealed through word choice, figurative language, and organization. Can be playful, serious, sarcastic, humorous, formal, somber, etc.

Skill #1

Be Precise with Evidence. Top-tier writers don't summarize or paraphrase—they zoom in.

Skill #2

The “How-Why-So What” Chain. Many essays stop at what the author does. Great ones trace the how and the why, then push to so what—effect and significance. Each clause deepens the analysis from device→effect→purpose→implication.

Skill #3

Use Analytical Terms. Writers often default to “shows,” “illustrates,” or “uses.” Strong analysis depends on precise rhetorical verbs that carry interpretive force.

Skill #4

Syntax as Argument. Advanced essays treat sentence structure as evidence.