AP Eng Midterm
Analogy: comparison of two similar things because a third element they share; creating connection between two parallel concepts.
A leaf to a tree is what a petal is to a flower
Metaphor: comparison of unrelated things without ‘like’ or ‘as’
Allegory: story, poem, or picture with a hidden meaning; using story to explain concept (Bible)
Chiasmus: when concepts are repeated in reverse order
“Poetry is the record of the best and happiest moments of the happiest and best minds”
“She has all my love; my heart belongs to her”
Antithesis: contrasts of 2 concepts in a sentence (not phrase)
Ex: United we stand, divided we fall
Contrasting ideas in 1 form
Alliteration: repetition of same letter/sound at the beginning of a word
Ambiguity: open to many interpretations, can be understood in many ways. vague, unclear, or confusing
Aphorism: a concise, witty statement containing a general truth
Knowledge is power; Actions speak louder than words; A penny saved is a penny earned.
Allusion: a reference to something without mentioning it specifically. (Bible)
Anecdote: a short interesting story about someone’s life
Asyndeton: no conjunctions in parts of a sentence
She was young, vibrant, fearless; He ate, he drank, he slept.
Antagonist: the main enemy/rival in a story; opposite character
Assonance: in poetry, repetition of the words with similar vowel sounds consecutively
Penitence, reticence
He claps his hands and stamps his feet.
Cliche: a phrase, opinion, or idea that is overused lacking originality; a stereotype
raining cats and dogs; hot as hell;…
Epithet: descriptive phrases about people adding depth
George Washington was father of our country
Conceit: a stretched metaphor where a strained comparison is made between two things
Connotation: an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning; implication, undertone, hidden meaning
Ex: blue is color, but can also be used to describe sadness, “She’s feeling blue.”
Epigraph: a quotation or aphorism at the beginning of a literary work suggestive of the theme.
Colloquialism: everyday use of words and informal writing inappropriate in formal situations.
“He’s out of his head if he thinks I’m gonna go for such a stupid idea.”
Dialect: a way of speaking characteristic of a specific group.
Epanalepsis: repetition device in which the same expression is repeated both at the beginning and end of the sentence.
“Common sense is not so common”
Epistrophe: repetition device in which the same expression is repeated at the end of two or more sentences.
Exposition: introduces characters, situation and setting.
Anaphora: a repetition of a word at the beginning of two or more sentences in a row. Deliberate repetition helps with coherence.
Polysyndeton: a sentence which uses conjunction with no commas to separate the items in a series.
Anathema: something or someone that one vehemently dislikes.
Angst: a feeling of deep anxiety or dread, typically an unfocused one about the human condition or the state of the world in general.
Rend: tear (something) into two or more pieces.
Shallow: of little depth.
Flashback: move to a scene in a movie, novel, etc. that is set in a time earlier than the main story.
Hyperbole: exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
Personification: a figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes.
Bildungsroman Novel: a novel that follows a protagonist 'growing up' in some way—not just in age, but psychologically or morally.
Frame Tale: a story within a story.
Foreshadowing: using hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in the plot.
INTERPRETER OF MALADIES:
Setting: India in a cab on their way to visit the Sun Temple at Konarak.
Main Characters : Mr. Kapasi, Mrs. Das, Mr. Das, 3 kids
Narrator : Mr. Kapasi
Protagonist : Mr Kapasi
Antagonist : ?
THE MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH
Setting: Prince Prosperos castellated abbey in the country
Main character : Prince Prospero
Narrator : Unknown but from a 3rd person POV
Protagonist : Prince Prospero
Antagonist : Red Death
JANE EYRE
Setting : England 1840s, Gateshead, Lowood, Thornfield, Moor house, Ferndean
Main characters : Jane eyre, Rochester, St. John’s
Narrator : Jane Eyre, and Brontë 2nd POV
Protagonist : Jane Eyre
Antagonist : Reed family, Brocklehurst from Lowood, Grace pool, Blanche
MACBETH:
Setting : Scotland and England during the 11th century
Main Characters : Macbeth, Lady Macbeth, Banquo, Macduff
Narrator: none, or everyone
Protagonist : Macbeth
Antagonist : 3 witches, Macbeth
INVISIBLE MAN :
Setting : American South, Harlem, NYC during 1920s and 1930s
Main Characters : The narrator, Ras the Exhorter, Brother Jack, Tod Clifton
Narrator : Unnamed young black man who refers to himself as invisible man
Protagonist : Invisible man
Antagonist : Dr. Bledsoe, Brother Jack, Ras the Exhorter, Societyyyy
HEART OF DARKNESS :
Setting : Late 1800s, primarily in Africa and Europe
Main characters : Charlie Marlow, Kurtz, The manager
Narators : Unnamed narrator and Marlow
Protagonist: Marlow
Antagonist : Kurtz
THE HUNGER ARTIST :
Setting : Unspecified European City, Circus, most likely in the late 19th century
Main character : The hunger artists
Narrator : unnamed 3rd POV
Protagonist : Hunger artist
Antagonist : Impresario
THE SNIPER :
Setting : Dublin, Ireland during the Irish CIvil War early 1922
Main characters : The Republican sniper, the enemy sniper
Narrator : 3rd person limited POV and the Republican Sniper
Protagonist : The republican sniper
Antagonist : The enemy sniper