AP Literature Lit Terms 2025

ambiguity

The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; in literature, it can enhance depth.

anticlimax

A sudden transition from a significant idea to a trivial or ludicrous one.

aphorism

A concise statement of a principle or truth.

apostrophe

A figure of speech in which the speaker addresses an absent person or thing.

antihero

A central character who lacks conventional heroic attributes.

antithesis

A figure of speech that contrasts opposing ideas.

analogy

A comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification.

assonance

The repetition of vowel sounds within closely placed words.

anecdote

A short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.

allegory

A narrative in which characters and events symbolize broader themes.

blank verse

Unrhymed iambic pentameter used often in English dramatic and epic poetry.

authorial intrusion

When the author directly addresses the reader within the narrative.

pastoral poem

A poem that idealizes rural life and nature.

chorus (drama)

A group of characters that comment on the action of a play, often through song.

carpe diem

A phrase meaning 'seize the day'; often used in poetry to encourage living in the moment.

conceit

An extended metaphor that draws a striking parallel between two dissimilar things.

anachronism

An element that is out of its proper time period, often used for effect.

atmosphere/mood

The emotional feeling evoked by a literary work.

anaphora

The deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence to achieve an artistic effect.

bathos

An abrupt turn from the serious and elevated to the trivial or ridiculous.

asyndeton

The omission of conjunctions between clauses, often to create a rapid prose rhythm.

anagram

A word or phrase formed by rearranging the letters of another.

antonomasia

A rhetorical trope in which a descriptive phrase replaces a proper name.

aubade

A poem or song welcoming the dawn, often discussing lovers parting at daybreak.

antimetabole

A rhetorical figure in which a phrase or sentence is repeated but in reverse order.

anastrophe

The inversion of the usual order of words, typically for emphasis.

medieval romance

A narrative that features chivalric themes and adventure.

catharsis

The emotional release that an audience experiences through art, primarily in tragedy.

comedy

A genre of literature characterized by humorous content and often a happy ending.

euphony

The quality of being pleasing to the ear, often achieved through harmonious sounds.

local color

The use of specific details to evoke a particular place and its customs.

deus ex machina

A plot device where an unsolvable issue is suddenly resolved by an unexpected occurrence.

foil

A character that contrasts with another character, highlighting particular qualities.

meter

The rhythmic structure of lines in poetry.

enjambment

The continuation of a sentence or clause across a line break in poetry.

picaresque novel

A type of novel that follows a rogue or a witty hero on their adventures.

lyric poem

A type of poem that expresses personal emotions or thoughts, often with musical qualities.

symbolism

The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.

dramatic monologue

A poem in which a single speaker addresses a silent listener.

motif

A recurring theme, subject, or idea in a literary work.

satire

A genre that uses humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize or mock.

stream of consciousness

A narrative method that attempts to capture the flow of thoughts in a character's mind.

irony

A literary device where the intended meaning is different from the literal meaning.

rhyme scheme

The pattern of rhymes at the ends of lines of a poem.

pathos

A quality that evokes pity or sadness in literature.

ethos

The ethical appeal or credibility of the author in rhetorical writing.

logos

The logical appeal used in rhetorical writing to persuade an audience.

hypophora

A figure of speech where the speaker poses a question and then answers it.

metonymy

A figure of speech in which one thing is referred to by the name of something closely associated.

Shakespearean sonnet

A 14-line poem composed of three quatrains and a couplet, often written in iambic pentameter.

anadiplosis

The repetition of the last word of a clause at the beginning of the next.

synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole.

stock character

A stereotypical character easily recognizable by readers.

dystopia/utopia

Imagined societies that are characterized by either oppressive control (dystopia) or ideal conditions (utopia).

tragic flaw

A character trait or weakness leading to the downfall of a tragic hero.

figurative language

Language that uses words or expressions with a meaning that is different from the literal interpretation.

characterization

The process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character.

imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses.

protagonist

The main character in a story, often facing a conflict.

antagonist

A character or force that opposes the protagonist.

setting

The time and place in which a story takes place.

theme

The central idea or message of a literary work.

plot

The sequence of events that make up a story.

point of view

The perspective from which a story is told.

dialogue

The spoken exchanges between characters in a literary work.

motif

A recurring symbol, theme, or idea in literature.

oxymoron

A figure of speech that combines contradictory terms.

allegory

A narrative with a deeper moral or political meaning.

irony

The use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning.

flashback

A scene set in a time earlier than the main story.

foreshadowing

Hints or clues about what will happen later in the story.

climax

The most intense, exciting, or important point of a story.

resolution

The conclusion of a story where the conflict is resolved.

falling action

The events after the climax that lead to the resolution.

narrative arc

The overall structure of a story, from setup to conclusion.

stream of consciousness

A narrative mode that attempts to capture the flow of thoughts in the human mind.

allegorical

Having a hidden meaning that can represent moral or political ideas.

paradox

A statement that seems contradictory but may reveal a truth.

satire

A work that humorously critiques human behavior or societal norms.

persona

The voice or assumed role of a character in a literary work.

hyperbole

Exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally.

malapropism

A humorous misuse of words that sound similar.

epiphany

A moment of sudden revelation or insight.

internal monologue

A narrative technique that conveys the thoughts of a character.

caesura

A pause within a line of poetry.

zoomorphism

Applying animal traits to non-animal entities.

rhetoric

The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing.

jargon

Special words or expressions used by a particular profession or group.

character arc

The transformation or inner journey of a character over the course of a story.