AP LIT Vocab

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(in writing) this is typically complex, discusses intangible qualities like good and evil, and seldom uses examples to support its points.

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(in writing) this is typically complex, discusses intangible qualities like good and evil, and seldom uses examples to support its points.

Abstract (style)

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Dry and theoretical writing. When a piece of writing seems to be sucking all the life out of its subject with analysis.

Academic (style)

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3

In poetry, refers to the stressed portion of a word.

Accent

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4

Used as an adjective meaning "appealing to the senses."

Aesthetic

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a literary work in which the characters represent abstract ideas; a symbolic representation

Allegory

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repetition of initial consonant sounds

Alliteration

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a reference to another work of literature, person, or event

Allusion

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8

something located at a time when it could not have existed or occurred

Anachronism

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a comparison of two different things that are similar in some way

Analogy

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10

a short narrative

Anecdote

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the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers.

Antecedent

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12

the attribution of human characteristics to animals or inanimate objects

Anthropomorphism

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13

A disappointing end to an exciting or impressive series of events

Anticlimax

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14

a protagonist who lacks the characteristics that would make him a hero (or her a heroine)

Antihero

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15

A brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.

Aphorism

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address to an absent or imaginary person

Apostrophe

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The use of deliberately old-fashioned language.

Archaism

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a line spoken by an actor to the audience but not intended for others on the stage

Aside

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the repetition of vowel sounds

Assonance

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20

The emotional tone or background that surrounds a scene.

Atmosphere

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21

Any popular narrative poem, often with epic subject and usually in lyric form.

Ballad

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22

The use of disturbing themes in comedy.

Black humor

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speech or writing that sounds grand or important but has little meaning

Bombast

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a theatrical entertainment of broad and earthy humor

Burlesque

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harsh, jarring, discordant sound; dissonance

Cacophony

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rhythmic flow of a sequence of sounds or words

Cadence

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A pause within a line of poetry

Caesura

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a major division of a long poem

Canto

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drawing, imitation, or description that ridiculously exaggerates peculiarities or defects

Caricature

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30

an emotional or psychological cleansing that brings relief or renewal

Catharsis

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In Greek drama, the group of citizens who stand outside the main action on stage and comment on it.

Chorus

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32

informal words or expressions not usually acceptable in formal writing

Colloquialism

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a fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects

Conceit

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the implied or associative meaning of a word

Connotation

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Repetition of consonant sounds

Consonance

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two consecutive lines of poetry that rhyme

Couplet

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conformity to accepted standards of conduct; proper behavior

Decorum

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The dictionary definition of a word

Denotation

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a writer's or speaker's choice of words

Diction

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a song or hymn of mourning composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person

Dirge

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harsh or grating sounds that do not go together

Dissonance

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badly written or trivial verse, often with a singsong rhythm

Doggerel

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(theater) irony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play

Dramatic Irony

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When a single speaker in literature says something to a silent audience.

Dramatic monologue

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a formal poem presenting a meditation on death or another solemn theme

Elegy

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the continuation of a syntactic unit from one line of verse into the next line without a pause

Enjambment

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a long narrative poem written in elevated style which present the adventures of characters of high position and episodes that are important to the history of a race or nation

Epic

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a brief statement written on a tomb or gravestone

Epitaph

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a mild, indirect, or vague term substituting for a harsh, blunt, or offensive term

Euphemism

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any agreeable (pleasing and harmonious) sounds

Euphony

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a comedy that contains an extravagant and nonsensical disregard of seriousness, although it may have a serious, scornful purpose

Farce

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latter two syllables of first word rhyme with latter two syllables of second word (ceiling appealing)

Feminine Rhyme

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a character whose personality and attitude contrast sharply with those of another

Foil

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the basic unit of rhythmic measurement in a line of poetry

Foot

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the use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in a plot

Foreshadowing

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unrhymed verse without a consistent metrical pattern

Free Verse

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a novel in which supernatural horrors and an atmosphere of unknown terrors pervades the action

Gothic Novel

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Excessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy

Hubris

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a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor

Hyperbole

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a narrative technique that records a character's internal flow of thoughts, memories, and ideas; a longish passage of uninterrupted thought

Interior Monologue

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the reversal of the normal order of words

Inversion

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a contrast between what is expected and what actually exists or happens

Irony

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ridicule with satire

Lampoon

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of or relating to a category of poetry that expresses emotion (often in a songlike way)

Lyric

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final syllable of first word rhymes with final syllable of second word (scald recalled)

Masculine Rhyme

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A form of cheesy theater in which the hero is very, very good, the villain mean and rotten, and the heroine oh-so-pure.

Melodrama

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a figure of speech comparing two unlike things without using like or as

Metaphor

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a word that is used to stand for something else that it has attributes of or is associated with

Metonym

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The protagonist's arch enemy or supreme and persistent difficulty.

Nemesis

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an impersonal presentation of events and characters

Objectivity

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The use of words that imitate sounds

Onomatopoeia

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a figure of speech consisting of two apparently contradictory terms

Oxymoron

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a simple story that illustrates a moral or religious lesson

Parable

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a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.

Paradox

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the use of a series of words, phrases, or sentences that have similar grammatical form

Parallelism

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a work which imitates another in a ridiculous manner

Parody

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a literary work idealizing the rural life (especially the life of shepherds)

Pastoral

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a quality that arouses emotions (especially pity or sorrow)

Pathos

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the speaker, voice, or character assumed by the author of a piece of writing

Persona

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the act of attributing human characteristics to abstract ideas etc.

Personification

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A poem or speech expressing sorrow

Plaint

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the main character in a literary work

Protagonist

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a play on words, often achieved through the use of words with similar sounds but different meanings

Pun

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the repetition of one or more phrases or lines at definite intervals in a poem, usually at the end of a stanza

Refrain

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A mass to honor the dead

Requiem

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An intensely passionate verse or section of verse, usually of love or praise.

Rhapsody

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a statement that is formulated as a question but that is not supposed to be answered

Rhetorical Question

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a literary work that ridicules or criticizes a human vice through humor or derision

Satire

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a figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds (usually formed with 'like' or 'as')

Simile

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in drama, a character speaks alone on stage to allow his/her thoughts and ideas to be conveyed to the audience

Soliloquy

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a fixed number of lines of verse forming a unit of a poem

Stanza

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standard or cliched character types: the drunk, the miser, the foolish girl, etc.

Stock Characters

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93

a personal presentation of events and characters, influenced by the author's feelings and opinions

Subjectivity

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A grammatical situation involving the words "if" and "were," setting up a hypothetical situation.

Subjunctive Mood

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95

a brief statement that presents the main points in a concise form

Summary

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96

a device in literature where an object represents an idea.

Symbolism

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The main idea of the story - usually universal (main idea + what the author wants us to know about it)

Theme

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The primary position taken by a writer or speaker

Thesis

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the character flaw or error of a tragic hero that leads to his downfall

Tragic Flaw

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a grotesque or grossly inferior imitation

Travesty

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