AP Lang Literary Terms

Style

The way the author writes and expresses themselves, includes diction, syntax, etc

Style

The way the author writes and expresses themselves, includes diction, syntax, etc

Diction

The specific way authors use words to express themselves

Syntax

The ways words are are arranged to create sentences and phrases

Organization/Structure

The way ideas are arranged in text

Narrative Structure/Narration

The way the narrator tells the story , regardless of who is the narrator

Detail

A specific piece of information

Theme

The authors main message throughout the story

Tone

The authors emotion towards the piece, often conveyed through style

Mood/Attitude

The emotion that the work invokes in the reader

Verbal Irony

When someone says the opposite of what they mean

Situational Irony

When the outcome of a situation is the opposite of what was intended

Dramatic Irony

When the reader is aware of information characters are unaware of

Sarcasm

Verbal irony typically used in a mocking way

Satire

Exaggeration to make fun or or critique peoples actions or stupidity

Literal Meaning

When the literal definition of the word is used/applied

Metaphorical/Figurative Meaning

When words are used in a symbolic and/or non literal way

Formal Language

When language adheres to grammatical structure and rules

Informal Language

When language does not follow grammar, everyday speech

Colloquial Langueage

Regional language that is informal

Connotative

The cultural and emotional meaning attached to a word

Denotative Language

The literal definition of a word

Abstract language

Language that can be interpreted many different ways

Concrete language

Language that can typically only be interpreted in one way

Simple language

Language that is very plain and literal

Pretentious language

Complex or formal language

Imagery

The use of detailed language to help the reader imagine something

Exposition

The beginning of a story

Rising Action

The part of the story where the conflict develops

Climax

The height of the story where it is the most tense

Resolution

The end of the story, where everything comes together and wraps up

Internal conflict

Conflict in which the character is "battling" themselves

External conflict

Conflict where the character "battles" something external

Suspense

Developing the sense of anxiety, anticipation, or waiting in the reader

Alliteration

Atanding words with the same sound consecutively (ex: a tongue twister)

Assonance

Alliteration but with vowels, and they can be in the middle of words

Consonance

Repetition of consonant sounds in sentaces

Refrain

A repeated word, line, or set of phrases throughout a piece of writing

Logos

Logical Reasoning

Ethos

Reasoning through a figure of authority

Pathos

Emotional Reasoning

Rhetorical Questions

Questions not intending to be answered to provoke through from the reader

Ad Hominem Device/Argumen

Attacking the speaker instead of the actual argument

Logical Fallacies

Red herring, bandwagon, hasty generalization

Syllogism

Logical reasoning based off of two givens or assumptions

Inductive Reasoning

Deriving generalizations based on specific observations

Deductive Reasoning

Using a theory to get to a conclusion/specific example

The Grotesque

Distorting or exaggerating the human body