AP Language and Composition Literary Terms (Pages 1-3)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key rhetorical and literary terms from the lecture notes (Pages 1–3).

ad hominem argument

An argument that appeals to emotion rather than reason, attacking the person (to or against the man) rather than the issue.

allegory

The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning; often conveys moral truth or a general statement about human existence.

alliteration

The repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring words; can reinforce meaning, unify ideas, or provide a musical effect.

allusion

A direct or indirect reference to something assumed to be commonly known; can be historical, literary, religious, mythical, etc.

ambiguity

The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.

analogy

A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them; used to explain unfamiliar concepts by linking them to something familiar.

antecedent

The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun; often tested in complex sentences.

antithesis

A figure of speech involving a seeming contradiction of ideas or words within a balanced structure, emphasizing opposition.

aphorism

A terse statement of known authorship that expresses a general truth or moral principle; can be a folk proverb if authorship is unknown.

apostrophe

A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or personified abstraction, adding emotional intensity.

atmosphere

The emotional mood created by the entire literary work, partly through setting and description; often foreshadows events.

caricature

A representation in which distinctive features are exaggerated for comic or grotesque effect; can become a grotesque misrepresentation.

chiasmus

A figure of speech based on inverted parallelism; reversal of terms in related clauses to create balance or emphasis.

clause

A grammatical unit with a subject and a verb; independent clauses can stand alone, dependent clauses cannot.

colloquial/colloquialism

Slang or informal speech; not generally acceptable in formal writing and gives a conversational tone.

conceit

A fanciful or extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects, showing intellectual cleverness.

connotation

The nonliteral, associative meaning of a word; ideas, emotions, or attitudes connected to it.

denotation

The strict, literal dictionary definition of a word, devoid of emotion or color.

diction

The writer’s word choices and style; describes formality, ornate vs. plain language, and how word choice supports purpose.

didactic

From Greek, meaning instructive; didactic works aim to teach, especially moral or ethical principles.

euphemism

A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for unpleasant words or concepts; can adhere to politeness standards or add humor.

extended metaphor

A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently throughout a work.

figurative language

Language not meant to be taken literally; imaginative and vivid in expression.

figure of speech

A device used to produce figurative language; includes apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, etc.

generic conventions

Traditions for each genre that define it and distinguish it from other genres; helps identify genre characteristics.

genre

The major category of a literary work (prose, poetry, drama); within these there are subdivisions like fiction, nonfiction, lyric, dramatic, etc.

homily This term literally means “sermon,” but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.

hyperbole A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. Hyperboles often have a comic effect; however, a serious effect is also possible. Often, hyperbole produces irony at the same time.

imagery The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions. On a physical level, imagery uses terms related to the five senses; we refer to visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory, or olfactory imagery. On a broader and deeper level, however, one image can represent more than one thing. For example, a rose may represent visual imagery while also representing the color in a woman’s cheeks. An author, therefore, may use complex imagery while simultaneously employing other figures of speech, especially metaphor and simile. In addition, this term can apply to the total of all the images in a work. On the AP Language and Composition Exam, pay attention to how an author creates imagery and the effect of that imagery.

inference/infer To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented. When a multiple-choice question asks for an inference to be drawn from the passage, the most direct, most reasonable inference is the safest answer choice. If an inference is implausible, it’s unlikely to be the correct answer. Note that if the answer choice is directly stated, it is not inferred and is wrong.

invective An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.

irony/ironic The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant; the difference between what appears to be and what actually is true. Irony is used for many reasons, but frequently, it’s used to create poignancy or humor. In general, there are three major types of irony used in language:

In verbal irony, the words literally state the opposite of the writer’s (or speaker’s) true meaning.

In situational irony, events turn out the opposite of what was expected. What the characters and readers think ought to happen does not actually happen.

In dramatic irony, facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or piece of fiction but known to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work.

juxtaposition Placing dissimilar items, descriptions, or ideas close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.

loose sentence A type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses. If a period were placed at the end of the independent clause, the clause would be a complete sentence. A work containing many loose sentences often seems informal, relaxed, and conversational. See periodic sentence.

metaphor A figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity. Metaphorical language makes writing more vivid, imaginative, thought provoking, and meaningful. See simile.

metonymy A term from the Greek meaning “changed label” or “substitute name,” metonymy is a figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it. A news release that claims “the White House declared” rather than “the President declared” is using metonymy. This term is unlikely to be used in the multiple-choice section, but you might see examples of metonymy in an essay passage.

mood This term has two distinct technical meanings in English writing. The first meaning is grammatical and deals with verbal units and a speaker’s attitude. The indicative mood is used only for factual sentences. For example, “Joe eats too quickly.” The subjunctive mood is used for a doubtful or conditional attitude. For example, “If I were you, I’d get another job.” The imperative mood is used for commands. For example, “Shut the door!” The second meaning of mood is literary, meaning the prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work. Setting, tone, and events can affect the mood. In this usage, mood is similar to tone and atmosphere.