AP Lit Terms

Naturalism (as a literary era/genre)

A style of writing that shows people as controlled by their surroundings and instincts, often focusing on the tough, unfair parts of life.

Epigraph

A short quote or saying at the beginning of a book or chapter used to suggest its theme or set the tone

antihero

A central character who lacks traditional heroic qualities like bravery or morality. They often have flaws and complex traits that make them more realistic or relatable.

Juxtaposition

The placing of 2 or more elements side by side to highlight their differences or create a contrasting effect, often used to emphasize themes or ideas.

Periodic sentence

a sentence with a complex, compound, or complex-compound construction that introduces a sentence's main clause at the conclusion of a sentence

Ex:after he hurt all those people, I don’t think I could ever really trust him again.

Apposition

A grammatical construction where 2 elements, usually noun phrases, are placed side by side, with one element serving to define

Tricolon

a rhetorical device where 3 parallel words, phrases, or clauses are used in a series to create a powerful effect.

ex: veni, vidi, vici. “i came i saw i concquered- j.c”

Antithesis

a rhetorical device that juxtaposes contrasting ideas in a parallel structure to highlight their differences.

Casual relationship

a connection btwn 2 events where one event (the cause) directly leads to the other event (the effect). This relationship explains how one thing triggers or results in another.

Modernism (as a literary era/genre)

a literary mvmnt from late 19th to mid 20th century by a break in traditional norms, experimentation with narrative techniques, and a focus on fragmentation, alienation, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world

lyric poem

A type of poem that expresses the personal feelings, thoughts, or emotions of a speaker, often in a musical or melodic style. It tends to focus on personal experience rather than narrative.

inversion (in grammar and composition)

A literary technique where the normal order of words is reversed, usually for emphasis or meter. For example, instead of saying “She walks in beauty,” an inversion might be “In beauty she walks.”

oxymoron

A figure of speech that combines two contradictory or opposite terms. Examples include “deafening silence” or “bittersweet.”

Puritanism

A religious and moral philosophy associated with the Puritans, emphasizing simplicity, piety, strict moral conduct, and a focus on hard work. In literature, Puritanism often explores themes of sin, salvation, and divine justice.

Epanalepsis

A rhetorical device where the same word or phrase is repeated at the beginning and the end of a clause or sentence. Example: “The king is dead, long live the king.”

Anthropomorphism

The attribution of human characteristics, emotions, or behaviors to non-human entities, often animals or deities. This is common in fables and fairy tales, where animals talk and behave like humans.

Syntactic Permutation

A complex sentence structure that is often difficult to follow because the usual word order has been rearranged or because of long and involved syntax. Writers like William Faulkner and James Joyce are known for such sentences.

Epistrophe

The repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences. Example: “See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.”

Antimetabole

A literary device in which a phrase is repeated, but in reverse order. Example: “Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.”

Transcendentalism

A philosophical movement in the 19th century that emphasized the inherent goodness of people and nature, the importance of self-reliance, and the belief in an ideal, spiritual reality that transcends the physical world. Prominent transcendentalists include Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau.

pyrrhic victory

victory achieved at a great cost that it is almost equivalent to defeat

origin: from King Pyrrhus of Epirus, who defeated the Romans at Heraclea in 280 BCE but suffered irreplaceable losses.

handwriting on the wall

a phrase indicating a clear sign or warning of impending doom or misfortune

origin: biblical story in Daniel 5 where mysterious writing appears on the wall, foretelling the fall of the Babylonian empire

pollyanna

a person who is excessively optimistic or cheerful, often to the point of being unrealistic or ignoring the reality

origin: 1913 novel Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter where the title character is known for her “glad game”

stonewall

to obstruct or delay progress by being evasive or uncooperative, symbolizes resistance to confrontation or avoiding truths

origin: term originates from General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, a confederate leader during the American Civil War, known for his steadfast defense at the Battle of bullion