AP English 3 Literary Terms

Covers the terms necessary for the summer assignment for AP Lang with brief detail / descriptions.

Abstract

language that describes / is focused on concepts rather than concrete images

Ad Hominem

an attack on a person rather than their ideas in an argument, rooted from Latin, meaning “against the man”

Allegory

a work that functions on a symbolic level, e.g Animal Farm

Alliteration

the repetition of consonant sounds for consecutive words, like “James juiced a giant John”

Allusion

a historical reference in a work that brings greater meaning to it

Ambiguity

multiple meanings of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage. Can be intentional or unintentional

Analogy

literary device which serves as a basis for comparison, comparing two different items to explain an abstract concept. It is assumed what applies to the parallel situation also applies to the original circumstance.

Anecdote

a brief story told by the writer or character to illustrate a point

Antecedent

the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers to. “John grabbed his coat”, John would be the antecedent

Antithesis

presentation of two contrasting images. Ideas are balanced by word/phrase/clause/paragraph. e.g— “To be or not to be”

Antithetical sentence

comparison of opposite ideas w/ a parallel structure, oftentimes a compound sentence

Aphorism

concise statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or moral principle- a proverb w/ an author, can be a memorable summary of an author’s point

Apostrophe

figure of speech which addresses an absent / imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. May add familiarity or emotional intensity.

Argument

a single assertion or series of assertions presented and defended by the writer

Atmosphere

emotional mood created by a literary work, established partially by setting and partially by the author’s choice of objects that are described.

Attitude

the relationship an author has towards his/her subject, and/or his/her audience

Balance

a situation in which all parts of a presentation are equal, whether in sentences or sections of longer work

Cacophony

harsh and discordant sounds in a line or passage in a literary work

Character

those who carry out the action of the plot in literature. Major, minor, static, dynamic— types of characters

Colloquial

use of slang in writing, used to create local color and provide an informal tone

Comic Relief

inclusion of a humorous character or scene to contrast with the tragic elements of the work, intensifying the next tragic event

Conceit

a fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between two seemingly dissimilar objects. Displays intellectual cleverness due to the unusual comparison being made,

Conflict

clash between opposing forces in literature (man v man, man v self, man v nature, man v god)

Connective Tissue

elements that help create coherence in a written piece

Connotation

the interpretive level of a word based on its associated images rather than its literal meaning

Deduction

the process of moving from a general rule to a specific example

Denotation

literal meaning of a word

Dialect

recreation of regional spoken language, such as Southern dialect

Diction

author’s word choice, which creates tone, attitude, style, and meaning

Didactic

writing whose purpose is to instruct or teach. usually formal and focused on moral or ethical concerns

Ellipsis

indicated by a series of three periods, indicates that some material has been ommitted. Can obscure the real meaning of the piece of writing

Epigraph

use of a quotation at the beginning of a work that hints at its theme

Euphemism

a more acceptable/pleasant way of saying something that is innapropriate or uncomfortable. Used to obscure the reality of a situation.

Euphony

the pleasant, mellifluous presentation of sounds in a literary work

Exposition

background information presented in a literary work

Extended Metaphor

sustained comparison, developed throughout a piece of writing

Figurative Language

the body of devices that enables the writer to operate on levels other than the literal one— metaphor, simile, symbol, motif, hyperbole

Flashback

a device that enables a writer to refer to past thoughts, events, or episodes

Form

the shape and structure of a literary work

Genre

the major category into which a literary work fits

Hyperbole

extreme exaggeration, often humorous and/or ironic, opposite of an understatement

Image

a verbal approximation of a sensory impression, concept, or emotion

Imagery

the total effect of related sensory images in a work of literature

Induction

the process that moves from a given

Inference

a conclusion one can draw from presented details

Invective

a verbally abusive attack

Irony

unexpected twist or contrast between what happens and what was intended to happen. Involves dialog and situation, can be intentional or unplanned.

Logic

the process of reasoning

Logical fallacy

a mistake in reasoning

Metaphor

a direct comparison between dissimilar things

Metonymy

a figure in speech in which a representative term is used for a larger idea

Monologue

a speech given by one character

Motif

the repetition or variations of an image or idea in a work used to develop theme or characters

Narrator

the speaker of a literary work

Onomatopoeia

words that sound like the sound they represent

Oxymoron

an image of contradictory term

Pacing

the movement of a literary piece from one point or one section to another

Parable

a story that operates on more than one level and usually teaches a moral lesson

Paradox

statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity

Parody

a comic imitation of a work that ridicules the original. It can be utterly mocking or gently humorous. It depends on allusion and exaggerates and distorts the original style and content.

Pathos

the aspects of a literary work that elicit pity from the audience. An appeal to emotion that can be used as a means to persuade.

Pedantic

a term used to describe writing that borders on lecturing. It is scholarly and academic and often overly difficult and distant

Periodic Sentence

presents its main clause at the end of a sentence for emphasis and sentence variety.

Personification

assignment of human qualities to inanimate object or concepts

Persuasion

a type of argument that has as its goal an action on the part of the audience

Plot

a sequence of events in literary work

Point of View

the method of narration in a literary work; the perspective from which the story is told

Pun

a play on words that often has a comic effect. Associated with wit and cleverness.

Reductio ad Absurdum

technique useful in creating a comic effect and is also an argumentative technique. It is considered a rhetoric fallacy, since it reduces the argument to an either/or choice

Rhetoric

refers to the entire process of written communication. Rhetorical strategies and devices are those tools that enable a writer to present ideas to an audience efficiently.

Rhetorical Question

one that does not expect an explicit answer. It is used to pose an idea to be considered by the speaker or audience

Sarcasm

a comic technique that ridicules through caustic language. Tone and attitude may both be described as sarcastic in a given text if the writer implies language, irony, and wit to mock or scorn

Satire

A mode of writing based on ridicule that criticizes the foibles and follies of society without necessarily offering a solution

Setting

the time and place a story takes place

Simile

an indirect comparison that uses like or as

Stage directions

the specific instructions a playwright includes concerning sets, characterization, delivery, etc.

Stanza

a unit of poem, similar in rhyme, meter, and length to other units in the poem

Structure

organization and form of a work

Style

the unique way an author presents his ideas. Diction, syntax, imagery, structure, and content all contribute to a particular style

Syllogism

the format of a formal argument that consists of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion

Symbol

something in a literary work that stands for something else

Synechdoche

a figure of speech that utilizes a part as representation of the whole “All hands on deck”

Syntax

the grammatical structure of prose and poetry

Theme

the underlying ideas the author illustrates through characterization, motifs, language, plot

Thesis

simply, the main idea of a piece of writing. presents the authors assertion or claim.

Tone

the author’s attitude towards his subject

Transition

a word or phrase that links one idea to the next and carries the reader from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph

Understatement

the opposite of exaggeration, the minimizing of a fact.

Voice

can refer to two different areas of writing. One refers to the relationship between a sentence’s subject and verb. The second refers to the total “sound” of a writer’s style.