AP English Literature Terms

Allegory

A form of extended metaphor, in which objects, persons, and actions are equated with the meanings that lie outside the narrative. The underlying meaning has moral, social, religious, or political significance. A story with two meanings: a literal and symbolic meaning.

Examples of Allegory

Animal Farm by George Orwell (Russian Revolution)

Beowulf (Christianity)

Allusion

A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. Can be historical, literary, religious, topical, or mythical.

Ambiguity

The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence or passage. Lends to a deeper meaning.

Examples of Ambiguity

Oedipus (sight and blindness)

"A" in The Scarlet Letter

"By Janus" in Othello

Deus ex machina

A simple solution to a difficult problem

Analogy

Similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them. Can explain something unfamiliar by associating it with or pointing out its similarity to something more familiar. Also make writing more vivid, imaginative, or intellectually engaging.

Example of Analogy

TKAM: "Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing."

Antithesis

The opposition or contrast of ideas, the direct opposite

Examples of Antithesis

Hamlet and Fortinbras (Hamlet)

Edgar and Edmund (King Lear)

Aphorism

A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or moral principle. Can be a memorable summation of the author's point.

Examples of Aphorisms

Keats: "A thing of beauty is a joy forever."

Macbeth: "Life is a tale told by an idiot."

Apostrophe

A figure of speech that directly directs an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction. It is an address to someone or something that cannot answer.

Example of Apostrophe

Macbeth: "Is this a dagger I see before me?"

**Conceit

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

Example of Conceit

Romeo and Juliet: "Those tears lead a boat to shore."

Connotation

The non-literal associative meaning of a word; the implied suggested idea. May involve ideas, emotions, or attitudes.

Example of Connotation

Death of a Salesman: "I can't take blood from a stone, KID."

Denotation

The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color.

Examples of Denotation

Knife = Cutting

Macbeth: sleepwalking = guilt

Scarlet Letter: "bright morning sun"

Diction

Related to style, it refers to the writer's word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, and effectiveness. Need to define the type, creates the author's style.

Examples of Diction

Concrete vs. Abstract

Didactic

From Greek, literally means "teaching." These words have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles. Teaches a character.

Examples of Didactic Words

Hrothgar's relationship with Beowulf

Polonius' speech to Laertes: "This above all, to thine own self be true"

Digression

to turn aside from the main subject

Example of Digression

Othello: Desdemona and the handkerchief in Act IV

Extended Metaphor

A comparison developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work

Examples of Extended Metaphor

The Things They Carried: The Vietnam War

Gatsby: Valley of Ashes (poor)

**Figurative Language

Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid. Must specify type (imagery, simile, metaphor, alliteration, personification, etc)

Homily

Literally means "sermon." More informally, it can mean any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral and spiritual advice.

Examples of Homily

Bible Passages (not didactic)

The Parson's Tale

Hyperbole

Figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. Often has a comedic effect, however, a serious effect is also possible, often produces irony. (opposite is overstatement)

Example of Hyperbole

Othello: "I could kill her a thousand times."

Imagery (see handout)

Sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions. For example, a rose has visual imagery but also represents the color in a woman's cheeks/symbolizes affection. Can use with other figures of speech.

Example of Imagery

1984: Room 101

Invective

An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.

Examples of Invective

Hamlet: "mildewed ear"

Henry IV: "this sanguine coward, this bedpresser, this horseback breaker, this huge hill of flesh"

Litotes

form of understatement, usually contains a double negative. The opposite of the hyperbole.

Examples of Litote

Catcher in the Rye: "It isn't very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain."

Hamlet: "He hath not failed to pester us."

Metonymy

Term from Greek meaning "changed label" or "substitute name," it is a form of speech in which the name of one subject is substituted for that of another closely associated with it. *The word you employ is linked to the concept you are talking about, but is not a part of it.*

Example of Metonymy

"Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears."

Paradox

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

Examples of Paradox

Tale of Two Cities: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"

Hamlet: "I must be cruel to be kind."

1984: slogans

Personification

A figure of speech in which the author presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions

Examples of Personification

Macbeth: "until Great Birnam wood to high Dunsinane hill shall come against him."

Macbeth: "My gashes cry for help"

Repetition

The duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern.

Examples of Repetition

Hamlet: "Swear... swear... swear"

Macbeth: "Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow"

Sarcasm

Greek for "to tear flesh," involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something. It may use irony as a device. When done well, it is witty; cruel when used poorly.

Example of Sarcasm

Hamlet: "Get thee to a nunnery."

Symbolism/Symbol

Anything that represents itself and stands for something else. Usually something concrete (object, action, character, or scene) that represents something abstract.

Natural Symbols

Objects and occurrences from nature to symbolize ideas commony associated with them (dawn symbolizing hope, rose = love)

Example of Natural Symbolism

Hamlet: Ophelia's flowers

Conventional Symbols

Things that have been invested with meaning by a group (religious = cross, magen david, national = flag, eagle)

Example of Conventional Symbolism

Macbeth: blood

Literary Symbols

A type of symbol found in a variety of works, more complicated, generally recognized

Example of Literary Symbolism

The Great Gatsby: the green light

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole or the whole represents a part. Something referred to indirectly, either by naming a part of it or a group. (sail = boat, wheels = car)

Examples of Synecdoche

The Great Gatsby: "I hated Tom's guts."

Hamlet: "I have been murdered by my brother's hand."

Synesthesia

When one kind of sensory stimulus evokes the subjective experience of another (literary practice of associating two or more senses in the same image).

Examples of Synesthesia

King Lear: "If only warm were gorgeous."

Keats: "tasting of the country green"

**Syntax

The way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences. Similar to diction, but it refers to groups of words instead of individual words.

Example of Syntax

Huck Finn: Southern sentence structure

Tone

Similar to mood, it describes the author's attitude toward his material, the audience, or both. Easier to determine in spoken language than written.

Understatement

Ironic minimization of fact, presents something as less significant than it is. The effect is frequently humorous and emphatic. Opposite of hyperbole.

Example of Understatement

A Tale of a Tub: "saw a woman flayed... altered her person for the worse."

Anaphora

Repetition of the word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences in a row. Deliberate form of repetition and helps make the writer's point more coherent.

Anastrophe

The order of the noun and the adjective in the sentence is exchanged. This reversed order creates a dramatic impact.

Asyndeton

Commas used without conjunction to separate a series of words, thus emphasizing the parts equally (X, Y, Z instead of X, Y, and Z). Elimination of conjunctions enhances a reader's thought process while reading. Designed for pacing.

Bildungsroman

Novel of someone's growth from childhood to maturity; novel conveys a sense of realism because the protagonist is a common, sensitive man who is affected by the loss that he suffered and this loss changes the course of his life. (ex: TKAM, Catcher in the Rye)

Polysyndeton

Sentence which uses a conjunction without commas to separate the items of a series (X and Y and Z). Exhibits solemnity or a childlike spirit.

Anachronism

Person, scene, event, or other element in literature that fails to correspond with the time or era in which the work is set

Apollonian

In contrast to Dionysian, it refers to the most noble, godlike qualities of human nature and behavior

Bathos

The use of insincere or overdone sentimentality

Belle-Lettres

French term for the world of books, criticism, and literature

Bombast

Inflated, pretentious language used for trivial subjects

Adage

A saying or proverb containing a truth based on experience and often couched in metaphorical language