AP LIT TERMS A-C

Allegory

the story elements are symbolic for an abstract idea as well as literal meaning. Ex: Animal Farm

Alliteration

The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words. Ex: She Sells Sea Shells

Allusion

a reference to something that is commonly known outside of the work, to describe something through a reference rather than description

Ambiguity

The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage. Ex.: Hamlet could be seen as madness or an act

Anadiplosis

the repetition of a key word, especially the last one, at the beginning of the next sentence or clause. Ex: He gave his life; life was all he could give

Analogy

A comparison of two different things that are similar in some way. Ex: you can make lots of religious analogies to lord of the rings

Anapestic

A foot in poetry with two unstressed syllables followed by one stressed syllable. Ex: da-da-DUM ..... Twas the NIGHT before CHRISTMAS

Anaphora

the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses. Ex: I have a dream MLKJ

Anathema

a thing or a person accursed, damned, hated, rejected, or considered unacceptable. Ex: Cheating was anathema to the teacher

Antecedent

the noun that a pronoun refers to. Ex: Sarah dropped HER book (sarah is the antecedent)

Anticlimax

Using a sequence of ideas that abruptly diminish in dignity or importance at the end of a sentence, generally for satirical effect. Ex: a horror movie buildup and then finally the monster is an innocent bunny

Antimetabole

Repetition of words in reverse order. Ex: JFK "Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country"

Antithesis

contrast or opposite ideas close together often in parallel structure. Ex: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"

Aphorism

A terse statement of known authorship (or a folk proverb) which expresses a general truth or a moral principle. Ex: "Actions speak louder than words"

Apostrophe

A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. Ex: "o death, where is thy sting?"

Assonance

Repetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity. Ex: the rain in spain stays mainly in the plain

Asyndeton

the practice of leaving out the usual conjunctions between words or phrases where you'd normally expect them. Ex: "I came, I saw, I conquered" should probably have "and"s

Atmoshpere

the overall mood or feeling created by a work in a particular scene. Ex: a dark, abandoned house during a thunderstorm might create an atmosphere of fear, suspense, uneasiness.

Attitude

the author's or speaker's feelings or opinion toward the subject. Ex: "He finally dragged himself out of bed and GRACED us with his presence" Sarcastic and annoyed attitude.

Archetype

the original pattern or model from which all things of the same kind are copied or on which they are based; a model or first form; prototype. Ex: Harry potter is the "hero" archetype

balanced sentence

a sentences that has two or more parts that are similar in grammatical structure and roughly equal in importance, often contrasting or comparing ideas. Ex: easy come, easy go

Bathos

an abrupt change from the lofty to the ordinary or trivial in writing or speech; like anticlimax but specifically ridiculous. Ex: He fought bravely for his country, faced countless dangers, and finally defeated his greatest enemy... then tripped over his shoelace

Blank Verse

Unrhymed poetry written in iambic pentameter. Ex: da-DUM x5 Ex: "to be, or not to be, that is the question"

Cacophony

harsh sounding, jarring sound; dissonance

Caesrua

a pause or break in the middle of a line of poetry

Chiasmus

Similar to antimetabole, but reversing the grammatical elements rather than just words, for emphasis.

Clause

A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb.

Cliche

an overused idea or expression; a trite saying Ex: time heals all wounds

Colloquial

the use of slang or informalities in speech or writing. Ex: whats up?

Complex sentence

contains one or more principle clauses and one or more subordinate clauses. Ex: I went home because I was tired

Compound Sentence

a compound sentence contains two independent clauses joined by a coordinate conjunction or by a semicolon. Ex: I was tired, but I finished my homework.

Compound-complex

contains two or more principal clauses and one or more subordinate clauses: Ex: I went home because I was tired, but my brother stayed out

Conceit

A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor on surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects. A conceit displays intellectual cleverness due to the unusual comparison made

Connotation

The non-literal, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning. Ex: house vs home

Consonance

the repetition of a consonant sound (anywhere in the word!) within a series of words to produce a harmonious effect. Ex: The black rock was on the truck track