AP English Language and Composition Glossary

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Active Voice

• Subject performs the action in a sentence.

• Example: "Anthony drove while Toni searched for the house."

• Opposite: Passive Voice, where subject receives the action.

  • Example: "The car was driven by Anthony."

  • Overuse can lead to lifeless writing; prefer active voice when possible.

Allusion

• Indirect reference to something with which the reader should be familiar (literary texts, historical events).

Alter-ego

• Character used by the author to express their thoughts directly to the audience.

  • Example: In The Tempest, Shakespeare reflects on his retirement through Prospero.

• Distinct from persona.

Anecdote

• A brief recounting of a relevant episode to develop a point or inject humor.

Antecedent

• Word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.

  • Example: "If I could command the wealth..." (What's the antecedent of "it"?)

Classicism

• Art/literature with a realistic view of people; adheres to traditional themes.

Comic Relief

• Humorous scene in a serious story to lighten the mood.

  • Example: The “gatekeeper scene” in Macbeth.

Diction

• Word choice, important to style and meaning.

• Describe types (academic, formal, informal, ornate, plain).

Colloquial

• Ordinary or familiar conversation; "colloquialism" is a common saying akin to adage.

Connotation

• Implied meaning of a word, beyond its literal definition.

• Example: Different terms for police officer carry different connotations.

Denotation

• Literal, explicit meaning of a word.

Jargon

• Specialized language used by a specific group or profession.

Vernacular

• 1. Language or dialect of a country.

• 2. Language of a specific region or group.

• 3. Plain, everyday speech.

Didactic

• Used to describe literature that teaches a lesson or moral.

ToneThe author's attitude or emotional quality conveyed through their writing.Example: The tone in a horror story might be suspenseful or ominous.

VoiceThe distinctive style or manner of expression of an author.Example: J.K. Rowling's voice in the Harry Potter series is whimsical and enchanting.

SettingThe time and place in which the story occurs.Example: The moors in Wuthering Heights create a bleak and desolate atmosphere.

ConflictThe central struggle between opposing forces in a story, can be internal or external.Example: The conflict between good and evil in various literary works.