AP Lang Literary Devices

Study for your literary devices quiz!

Analogy

Compares two different things to show similarity.

Hyperbole

An exaggeration

Theme

The central idea or message

Pacing

The speed, shaped sentence and dialogue.

Argument

A claim supported by evidence and logical reasoning to persuade an audience.

Paradox

Seems contradictory, but reveals a deeper truth when analyzed correctly.

Sarcasm

verbal irony, words mean opposite to make or criticize.

Parody

Humorous immitation exaggerating features to entertain audiences.

Classicism

Emphasizes order, reason, clarity, harmony, and restraint.

Allusion

A brief reference to famous people, events, etc, to enrich texts

Imagery

Uses language that appeals to senses to create vivid mental pictures.

Euphanism

Replaces harsh words with mild expressions to avoid offense.

Irony

Expressing the opposite of the literal meaning to highlight contradictions.

Tone

The author’s attitude shown through word choice.

Personafiction

Gives human traits to non-human objects to create viid imagery.

Motif

A recurring image, theme, or symbol.

Fore Shadowing

Gives clues about events that will happen.

Comic Relief

Introduces humor to lighten the serious moods.

Didactic

aim to teach moral, ethical, or philosophical lessons rather than just entertain.

Allegory

A narrative with characters symbolizing abstract ideas or moral qualities.

Persona

The character or voice an author adopts for narration, distinct from their true self.

Juxtaposition

Places two elements side by side to highlight contrasts or similarities.

Anecdote

A brief recounting of a relevant episode.

Aphorism

A terse statement expressing a general truth or moral principle.

Connotation

The literal meaning of a word

Synecdoche

A kind of metonymy where a whole is represented by naming one of its parts, or vice versa

Denotation

Its literal, explicit meaning

Personification

Giving human-like qualities to something that is not human

Jargon

The diction used by a group practicing a similar profession or activity

Diction

The word choice of the author

Alter-ego

A character that represents the authors own thoughts

Idiom

A common expression that doesn’t make sense if taken literally

Metonymy

Replacing an actual word or idea with a related word or concept

Zeugma

When a single word governs or modifies two or more other words, and the meaning

What does didactic literature aim to do?

Teach a specific lesson or moral

Ellipsis

The deliberate omission of a word or phrase from prose for effect

synesthesia

A description involving a "crossing of the senses”

Metaphor

An implied comparison not using "like" or "as"

Adage

A folk saying with a lesson