AP English Literature

Alliteration

A literary device where the same sound, usually a consonant, repeats at the beginning of two or more nearby words, creating rhythm and emphasis.

Allusion

An indirect reference to a well-known person, place, event, or idea from history, literature, mythology, or popular culture, used to convey complex meaning quickly by tapping into shared cultural knowledge.

Cumulative sentence

Starts with a main idea (independent clause) and then adds descriptive details, phrases, or clauses.

Periodic sentence

A complex sentence structure that delays its main point (independent clause) until the end.

Parallelism

Uses similar grammatical structures (words, phrases, clauses) to create rhythm, clarity, and emphasis.

Asyndeton

A literary device that omits conjunctions (like "and," "or," "but") between words, phrases, or clauses to create a faster pace, heightened emphasis, and a more immediate, urgent, or powerful effect.

Extended metaphor

A literary device that develops a comparison between two unlike things in great detail, lasting for several lines, paragraphs, or even an entire work.

Imagery

The use of descriptive language to create vivid mental pictures and sensory experiences.

Juxtaposition

Placing two contrasting or different things side-by-side to create a new meaning, highlight differences, or create an interesting effect.

Antithesis

A rhetorical device and literary term that places two contrasting ideas or opposites side-by-side in a balanced grammatical structure for emphasis.

Didactic

Intended to teach, instruct, or impart a moral lesson.

Elegiac

Describes something mournful, sorrowful, or lamenting, often reflecting on loss, death, or a bygone time.

Colloquial

Describes words and phrases used in everyday, informal conversation.

Ethos

The credibility or ethical appeal a speaker or writer uses to persuade an audience by showing trustworthiness and authority.

Pathos

The persuasive appeal to an audience's emotions.

Logos

The persuasive appeal to logic and reason, using facts, statistics, evidence, and clear reasoning to convince an audience that an argument makes sense and is objectively sound.

Syntax

The set of rules governing how words and phrases are arranged to form meaningful sentences.

Denotation

The literal, dictionary definition of a word, stripped of any emotional associations or implied meanings.

Connotation

The emotional, cultural, or implied meaning of a word beyond its literal dictionary definition.

Thesis

The central, arguable claim of an academic paper.

Tone

The author's attitude toward their subject or audience, conveyed through word choice, style, and details.

Perspective

The author's attitude toward their subject or audience, conveyed through word choice, style, and details.

Shift

A significant change in a text's direction, tone, perspective, or focus, signaling a new understanding or emotional impact.