AP Terms

ad hominem argument

argument attacking an individual's character rather than his or her position on an issue

allegory

a literary work in which characters, objects, or actions represent abstractions (bible stories)

allusion

a reference to something literary, mythological, or historical that the author assumes the reader will recognize (ex. Her Mona Lisa smile gave nothing away about her feelings.)

anachronism

a chronological inconsistency; something described that doesn't fit into the time period in which it is mentioned; ana= against, so against chronology

anadiplosis

the repetition of the the last word of a preceding clause (ex. The mountains look on Marathon---And Marathon looks on the sea...)

analogy

a comparison of two different things that are similar in some way (ex. Metaphors, similes, etc.)

anaphora

the repetition of words or phrases or phrases at the beginning of a consecutive lines or sentences ( I believe, I believe we will. I believe we will win.)

anecdote

a brief narrative that focuses on a particular incident or event

antecedent

the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers (ex. She went to the store.)

anthimeria

changing a word from one part of speech to another (ex. Google is a noun, but we say "I googled it" changing google to a verb).

aposiopesis

when a sentence is deliberately broken off and left unfinished (ex. That all the world shall---I will do things--)

apostrophe

a figure of speech in which one directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or some abstraction

motif/archetype

a detail, image, or character type that occurs frequently in literature and myth and is thought to appeal in a universal way to the unconscious and to evoke a response

asyndeton

a construction in which elements are presented in a series without conjunctions (ex. "they dove, splashes, swam, snorkeled.")

climax

the point of highest interest in a literary work

conceit

a fanciful, particularly clever extended metaphor (ex. metaphysical poetry "A Valediction..." compass feet).

connotation

the implied meaning of a word (ex. pimp or pigheaded).

denotation

the literal definition of a word

dialect

a variety of speech characterized by its own particular grammar or pronunciation often associated with a geographical region (ex. coke vs. pop, lift vs. elevator, torch vs. flashlight)

diction

a word choice of a writer (ex. Skinny vs. anorexic).

didactic

having the primary purpose of teaching or instructing (ex. Teaching lecture).

dissonance

harsh, inharmonious, or discordant sounds (ex. bagpipes)

elegy

a formal poem presenting a meditation of death or another solemn theme (ex. Mediation 17 by John Donne)

ellipsis

the omission of a word or phrase which is grammatically necessary but can be deduced from the context (ex. "Some people rprefer cats; others, dogs")

encomium

a tribute or eulogy in prose or verse glorifying people, objects, ideas, or events (ex. award ceremony speeches or retirement party speeches)

epic

a long narrative poem written in elevated style; has characters of high position (wealth and power) and episodes of historical importance

epigram/adage/aphorism/maxim

a brief, pithy, and often paradoxical saying (Aphorism is a synonym; ex. "Avoid extremes; and shun the fault of such,/ Who still are pleased too little or too much" A. Pope)

epigraph

a saying or statement on the title page of a work, or used as a heading for a chapter or other section of work (ex. picture)

epiphany

a moment of sudden revelation or insight

epiphora/epistrophe

a word or phrase at the end of several clauses (ex. I'll make my heaven to dream upon the crown... Be round impaled with glorious crown/ And yet I know not how to get the crown)

epitaph

an inscription on a tombstone or burial place (R.I.P)

epithet/antonomasia

a term used to point out a characteristic of a person (ex. "swift footed Achilles" or "The Rocket") - the substitution of a proper name with a suitable epithet or title (ex. Your Highness for the queen or Commander in Chief for the president).

eulogy

a formal speech praising a person who has died (a positive eulogy is a encomium; both are nouns)