Word Use - AP Lit

Connotation

The emotional, cultural, or suggestive meaning that a word carries beyond its literal, dictionary definition.

Denotation

The literal, objective "dictionary definition" of a word, completely free of any emotional or cultural feelings.

Diction

An author's intentional choice and arrangement of words to build style, tone, and meaning.

Epithet

A descriptive word or phrase that expresses a quality or characteristic of a person, place, or thing, often used alongside or in place of their actual name.

Figurative Language

The use of words or expressions that deviate from their literal meaning to convey a more complex, vivid, or impactful message.

Imagery

The use of descriptive and sensory language to create vivid mental pictures and impressions for the reader.

Inversion

A stylistic device where a writer intentionally changes the normal, expected word order of a sentence.

Style

The unique way an author uses language, structure, and rhetorical choices to tell a story and convey meaning.