AP Lang Literary Terms

a contrast expressed in grammatically parallel form

literary techniques that involve surprising, interesting or amusing contradictions

tragic flaw--error of judgment of a tragic hero which leads him to a mistaken act

a character or force in conflict with the main character in a literary work

an inoffensive expression used in place of a blunt one felt to be disagreeable or harsh

language which is smooth, pleasant, and musical to the ear

types of composition

a direct address to an absent person or non-human entity

language which seems harsh, rough and unmusical

the use, in a literary work, of clues that suggest events that have yet to occur

fixed character with little individuality, often based on racial, social, prejudices

untying or resolution--the final stage of plot development in which mysteries are explained.

mingling and juxtaposition of primarily realistic elements with the fantastic and bizarre

refers to a group of newly coined words which are not acceptable for formal usage yet

a struggle between opposing forces

a lengthy speech by a single person

long narrative poem in elevated style

a form of discourse whose purpose is to explain the nature of an object, an idea, or a theme

"literary form"-- a recurring type of literature

two things seen or placed close together with contrasting effect

a type of parallel sentence which builds to a main clause.

compositions written in meter, a line of poetry etc.

recurrent narrative designs, patterns of action, character types in a wide variety of works

the use of words that imitate sounds, as in buzz, hiss, murmur, rustle

the literal term for one thing is applied to another with which it is closely associated

a work in which materials are selected and managed primarily to interest involve and entertain

a character who serves to stress and highlight the distinctive temperament of the protagonist

author is outside the story but seems to know what goes on in the minds of all the characters

Repetition of the same word or groups of words at the beginning of successive clauses

a specific word, idea, or object that may stand for ideas, values, persons or ways of life

pride or overwhelming self-confidence which leads a protagonist to disregard a divine warning

author is outside the story

restraint or lack of emphasis in expression, as for rhetorical effect

a phrase, verse, or group of verses repeated at intervals throughout a song or poem

a short concluding section at the end of a literary work

a deliberate omission of a word or words which are readily implied by the context

repetition of vowel sounds in stress syllables containing dissimilar consonant sounds

deliberate omission of conjunctions between a series of related clauses (a hurried rhythm)

19th century movement in writing of novels--"life as it really is"

(purgation or purification) emotional purging of yourself after an emotional event

direct unadorned form of language

character that occurs repeatedly in a literary genre--the clever servant, for example

background or explanatory information that furthers the reader's understanding

symbolic narrative created to parallel and illuminate a separate set of situations

a very brief account of an incident usually personal or biographical

regional speech, vocabulary and pronunciation particular to a geographic area

farce/slapstick--a play full of ridiculous happenings, absurd actions etc.

a pervasive authorial presence

direct, unadorned form of language, written or spoken in ordinary usage; it is not restricted.

a multi-dimensional character changes/develops during the story

a figure of speech in which one thing is spoken of as though it were something else

a deliberate use of many conjunctions

literary movement marked especially by emphasis on the imagination and the emotions.

In poetry, a foot with one weak stress followed by one strong stress, as in the word "afraid"

a reference to a well-known person, place, event , literary work, or work of art