Literary Terms for AP Lit

Allegory

a literary or artistic device where characters, settings, and events represent abstract moral, religious, political, or social ideas, functioning as an extended metaphor,

Animal Farm by George Orwell (political allegory for the Russian Revolution)

alliteration

a literary device defined by the repetition of the same consonant sound or letter at the beginning of closely connected words or stressed syllables,

"With bloody blameful blade he bravely broached..." — A Midsummer Night's Dream.

anachronism

a person, object, event, or custom placed in the wrong chronological time period,

A German Shepherd dog seen in the movie Gladiator, which takes place in ancient Rome.

anaphora

a rhetorical and literary device featuring the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or lines to add emphasis, rhythm, and emotional impact,

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..." — Charles Dickens

anthropomorphism

the attribution of human traits, emotions, intentions, or behaviors to non-human entities, such as animals, inanimate objects, or natural phenomena,

Kung Fu Fighting; Mickey Mouse, Winnie the Pooh, or the creatures in Ratatouille act, talk, and dress like humans.

apostrophe

a figure of speech where a speaker directly addresses an absent person, an abstract concept, or an inanimate object as if it were present and capable of responding,

Hamlet speaking to Yorick's skull ("Alas, poor Yorick!") or Juliet addressing a dagger.

assonance

a literary device characterized by the repetition of similar vowel sounds within nearby words, often used to create internal rhyme, musicality, or rhythm in poetry and prose,

“We keep the keys in the green jeep”

asyndeton

the intentional omission of conjunctions (such as "and," "or," "but") between words, phrases, or clauses in close succession,

"Veni, vidi, vici" ("I came, I saw, I conquered") - Julius Caesar

cacophony

the deliberate use of harsh, discordant, or unmelodious sounds—often through sharp consonants like p,b,d,g,k,t,ch, and sh —to create an unpleasant, chaotic, or jarring effect

"Jabberwocky" by Lewis Carroll: "The vorpal blade went snicker-snack! / He left it dead, and with its head / He went galumphing back".

caesura

a strong pause, stop, or break in the middle of a metrical line of poetry, usually dictated by natural speech rhythm or punctuation like a comma, period, or dash,

"To be, or not to be || that is the question" (Shakespeare)

conceit

an elaborate, intellectually inventive, and often surprising extended metaphor that compares two seemingly dissimilar things,

John Donne's "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning," comparing two lovers' souls to the two legs of a draftsman's compass.

connotation

the emotional, cultural, or implied meaning attached to a word beyond its literal dictionary definition,

“hot” meaning beautiful, rather than “warm”

consonance

a literary device characterized by the repetition of the same consonant sounds in quick succession within nearby words, usually in the middle or at the end of words,

"pucker" and "licker" share the /k/ sound; "Toss the glass, boss" (repetition of /s/)

denotation

the literal meaning, or "dictionary definition," of a word,

“hot” means warm, rather than “beautiful”

dialect

the specialized use of regional, social, or ethnic speech patterns—including unique vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation—to define characters and settings,

“y’all”; “wuz” (was); “sez” (says)

diction

an author's intentional choice of words and phrasing to establish tone, characterization, and style

direct characterization

a literary technique where an author explicitly tells the reader a character’s personality traits, emotions, or appearance, rather than showing them through actions,

"She was a woman of mean understanding, little information, and uncertain temper." (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice)

dramatic irony

when the audience or reader knows crucial information that the characters do not, creating suspense, humor, or deep emotional tension,

The audience knows Oedipus is the murderer he is searching for, creating intense irony as he curses himself.

dynamic character

a character who undergoes significant internal transformation—such as a shift in perspective, personality, or values—over the course of a story,

Ebenezer Scrooge (A Christmas Carol): Transforms from a miserly, cold-hearted person into a generous and joyful one

enjambment

a poetic technique where a sentence, phrase, or clause carries over from one line, couplet, or stanza to the next without major punctuation (comma, period),

“They send me to eat in the kitchen // When company comes,” (Epilogue)

epithet

a descriptive word, phrase, or nickname added to a person, place, or thing to emphasize a key characteristic,

"rosy-fingered Dawn" or "gray-eyed Athena"; "Alexander the Great"

euphemism

a mild, indirect, or vague expression substituted for a harsh, blunt, or offensive one to soften the impact of unpleasant topics like death, sex, or failure,

"Passed away," "gone to a better place," "sleeping with," "vertically challenged"

euphony

a literary device referring to the use of words and phrases that have a wide range of noteworthy, lovely, or harmonious sounds,

Robert Frost’s "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening" ("And miles to go before I sleep")

external conflict

a physical struggle between a protagonist and an outside force, such as another character, nature, society, or technology,

Harry Potter vs. Voldemort; Cinderella vs. Evil Stepmother/ Stepsisters

first-person point of view

a literary point of view where the story is told by a character within the story using first-person pronouns such as "I," "me," "my," "we," and "us"

flashback

a literary device that interrupts a story’s chronological order to show an earlier, past event, providing essential backstory, character depth, or context,

(Wuthering Heights Emily Bronte) The entire, complex narrative is told through a framed flashback, as the character Nelly Dean recounts the past to Mr. Lockwood.

flat character

a simplified, one-dimensional fictional figure defined by a single trait, idea, or quality,

Mr. Filch (Harry Potter): Consistently the mean, grumpy caretaker

foil

a character in literature who contrasts with another character—usually the protagonist—to highlight specific traits, motivations, or values of that character,

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson: Hyde is purely evil and impulsive, while Jekyll is respectable and rational, emphasizing the internal duality of humanity

foreshadow

a literary device used to hint at future plot developments, building suspense and preparing the reader for upcoming events

A violent storm often precedes a tumultuous event or character breakdown, such as the stormy weather in Wuthering Heights

hyperbaton

a literary device and figure of speech that deliberately disrupts conventional sentence order (syntax) for emphasis, artistic flair, or rhythmic effect,

Yoda (Popular Culture): "Named must your fear be before banish it you can."

hyperbole

a literary device using extreme exaggeration to emphasize emotions, create humor, or magnify situations, not meant to be taken literally,

"His brain is the size of a pea"; "I’ve told you a million times" or "That bag weighs a ton"

imagery

the use of vivid, descriptive language that appeals to the reader's five senses—sight, sound, smell, taste, and touch—to create mental images,

"the distant train whistle echoed", "the roughness of a sweater", "the chocolate was rich and decadent"

indirect characterization

a literary device where an author reveals a character’s personality, motivations, and values through STEAL (Speech, Thoughts, Effect on others, Actions, and Looks) rather than direct description,

a moment in a story in which a father senselessly hits his child, depicting him as an abusive father

internal conflict

a psychological or emotional struggle a character faces within themselves, such as conflicting desires, values, fears, or emotions,

Jay Gatsby in F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby struggles between his immense insecurity and his desperate desire for love and success.

irony

a powerful device highlighting a contrast between expectation and reality, where the intended meaning differs from the literal words or a situation unfolds opposite to expectations

juxtaposition

the placement of two contrasting ideas, characters, actions, or settings side-by-side to highlight their differences, create irony, or evoke emotional impact,

A Tale of Two Cities "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."

malapropism

a rhetorical device used to characterize speakers—often to suggest ignorance or pretentiousness—and to create comedic irony,

(Much Ado About Nothing): "Our watch, sir, have indeed comprehended [apprehended] two auspicious [suspicious] persons"

metaphor

a figure of speech that directly compares two unrelated things by stating one is the other, highlighting shared qualities for emphasis, symbolism, or vivid imagery,

"Life is a broken-winged bird"

metonymy

a figure of speech in literature that replaces the name of a thing with the name of something else closely associated with it, rather than something physically similar,

"The pen is mightier than the sword" (Bulwer-Lytton): "Pen" represents writing/diplomacy, and "sword" represents military force.

mood

the emotional atmosphere or "feeling" a literary work evokes in the reader, such as gloom, joy, tension, or nostalgia,

F. Scott Fitzgerald uses nostalgic diction in The Great Gatsby to evoke a dreamlike atmosphere.

motif

a recurring element—such as an image, symbol, object, phrase, or action—that appears throughout a work to reinforce a central theme or message.

The Yellow Brick Road (The Wizard of Oz): Represents the path to enlightenment and the journey toward personal desires.

onomatopoeia

a literary device and figure of speech where words imitate the actual sounds associated with objects or actions,

"buzz," "hiss," or "splash"

oxymoron

a literary device and figure of speech that combines two contradictory or opposite words to create a paradoxical, ironic, or dramatic effect,

"Deafening silence," "Original copy," "Cruel kindness," "Seriously funny"; "Parting is such sweet sorrow." (Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet)

paradox

a statement or situation that appears self-contradictory or illogical on the surface but reveals a deeper, underlying truth or complexity upon closer examination.

"War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength" (1984 by George Orwell)

"The child is father of the man" (William Wordsworth)

personification

a literary device that assigns human qualities, emotions, or actions to inanimate objects, animals, or abstract concepts to create vivid imagery, enhance tone, and make descriptions more relatable,

"The tired old car coughed and wheezed" (car as human), "the city never sleeps" (city as human), or "love embraced her" (abstraction as human)

polysyndeton

a literary and rhetorical device featuring the repeated use of coordinating conjunctions (and, but, or, nor) in close succession to connect items in a series,

"We went to the park and played soccer and ate ice cream and laughed."

“Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.”

rhetorical question

a figure of speech posed for dramatic effect or to make a point, rather than to elicit an actual answer,

"How, then, am I mad?" — Edgar Allan Poe (The Tell-Tale Heart)

round character

a complex, multi-dimensional figure with a deep personality, conflicting emotions, and a detailed backstory, making them feel realistic and lifelike.

Scout Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird): A young girl with a strong moral compass whose views on race and justice change as she matures

satire

a literary genre and device that uses humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize human vices, follies, abuses, or shortcomings,

Animal Farm by George Orwell: A Juvenalian satire that uses a beast fable to critique the Russian Revolution and Stalinism

simile

a figure of speech that directly compares two different things using the words "like" or "as" to create vivid imagery, enhance descriptions, and highlight shared qualities,

"fast as lightning"

situational irony

a literary device occurring when the final outcome of a situation is the exact opposite of what was reasonably expected, creating a surprising or poignant twist,

O. Henry’s The Gift of the Magi, a husband sells his watch to buy his wife hair combs, while she sells her hair to buy him a watch chain.

static character

a character who undergoes little or no inner change, remaining fundamentally the same person from the beginning of the story to the end,

Atticus Finch (To Kill a Mockingbird): Maintains his unwavering moral integrity and compassion throughout the novel

stream of consciousness

a literary narrative technique that mimics the chaotic, uncensored, and continuous flow of human thought,

"Note to self: Buy brown eggs. Definitely not white eggs; Ruth always yells when I get white eggs, but then she yells a lot anyway because she probably grew up in - wait, what color eggs did she want?"

syllepsis

a rhetorical figure of speech where a single word (usually a verb or adjective) modifies or governs two or more other words, but applies to each in different senses—often one literal and one metaphorical,

"You held your breath and the door for me." (Alanis Morissette)

symbol

a tangible object, character, action, or setting that maintains its literal meaning while representing a deeper, abstract idea, emotion, or theme,

The Raven (Poe): Represents unending grief

synecdoche

a literary figure of speech where a part of something represents the whole, or the whole represents a part.,

calling a car "wheels" or referring to soldiers as "boots"; "The police closed the road." (Police = a few officers)

syntax

the deliberate arrangement of words, phrases, and punctuation to create well-formed sentences, shaping rhythm, tone, and meaning. Authors manipulate syntax—through sentence length, word order (inversion), and structure (parallelism),

F. Scott Fitzgerald: Utilizes complex, lyrical parallel structures to evoke the grandeur and excess of the Roaring Twenties in The Great Gatsby.

theme

a universal, underlying idea or message explored throughout a work of literature,

"the corrupting influence of power,"

third-person limited point of view

a narrative technique where an outside narrator tells the story, but restricts their knowledge to the thoughts, feelings, and observations of a single character, using "he," "she," or "they",

Harry Potter: The series largely follows Harry's thoughts and experiences

third-person objective point of view

a narrative mode where an impersonal narrator reports only visible actions and dialogue, without accessing any character's thoughts or feelings (Fly-on-the-wall)

"Toby went into the room. Jessica followed him. He tried to shut the door before she could slip in, but she shoved her foot in quickly to block it"

third-person omniscient point of view

a narrative perspective where an all-knowing, "godlike" narrator tells the story, using pronouns "he," "she," and "they" to describe all characters' actions, inner thoughts, and feelings,

Good Omens by Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett: Uses an all-knowing narrator to deliver witty commentary over an expansive storyline

tone

the author's attitude or emotional perspective toward the subject matter, characters, or audience,

formal ("Please submit the report"), informal ("Let me know when you're done")

understatement

a rhetorical device that deliberately represents a situation, emotion, or object as less important, smaller, or less serious than it actually is,

"It’s a bit chilly" during a blizzard, calling a severe disaster a "slight inconvenience,"

verbal irony

a figure of speech where a speaker says one thing but means the opposite, often used to add humor, emphasize absurdity, or convey contempt,

Someone standing in the middle of a rainstorm and saying, “Nice day we're having.”

verisimilitude

the appearance of truth, reality, or plausibility in literature, ensuring that characters, settings, and plots feel believable to the reader, even within fictional or fantastical worlds.

In The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood creates a believable, harrowing world through strict, logical, and detailed, though fictional, social structures.