AP Lit: Figurative Language

a direct comparison between dissimilar things

background information presented in a literary work

the turning point of action or character in a literary work; the highest moment of tension

background information presented in a literary work

the release of emotion that the audience of a tragedy experiences

a poem that laments the dead or another loss

a speech given by one character

a poem that depicts a conversation between the speaker and an implied listener

a love poem set at dawn which bids farewell to the beloved

a clash between opposing forces

the speaker of a literary work

"Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers"

one who carries out the action in a literary work

a representative term is used for a larger idea

the repetition or variations of an image or idea

a foot of poetry consisting of a stressed syllable followed by two unstressed syllables

harsh or discordant sounds in a literary work

a simple narrative poem that is written in quatrains, generally with a rhyme scheme of abcd

a type of poetry characterized by emotion, personal feelings, and brevity

an eight-line stanza

a metrical unit in poetry; a syllabic measure of a line

extreme exaggeration (for effect)

a work that functions on a symbolic level

two lines of rhyming poetry

the conclusion or resolution in a literary work

the pleasant, mellifluous presentation of sounds

a type of lyric poem which extols the virtues of an ideal place or time

the interpretive level of a word based on its associated images 

words spoken by an actor intended to be heard by the audience but not other characters

the author's choice of words

an unexpected contrast between what happens and what was expected to happen

a brief, witty poem

the literal meaning or dictionary definition of a word

poetry without a defined form, meter or rhyme scheme

a simple, symbolic story, often with animal characters

writing that reflects a personal image of a character, event or concept

the total effect of related sensory images in a work of literature

a pattern of beats in poetry

"the god from the machine" 

a metrical pattern: unstressed, unstressed, stressed

type of poetry which explores philosophical ideas via metaphors

when a poetic line is not end-stopped

direct address in poetry: "O, west wind..."

a lengthy, elevated poem celebrating the exploits of a hero

unrhymed iambic pentameter

a break or pause within a line of poetry indicated by punctuation

a traditional aspect of a literary work

when characters inhabit a reality different from what we consider the objective world

the inclusion of humor to contrast with tragic elements

a device that enables a writer to refer to past thoughts and events

a verbal approximation of a sensory impression, concept, or emotion

a brief reference to a well-known person, event, or work

devices which enable writers to operate on levels other than the literal

a poem that tells a story

a metrical foot consisting of an unaccented syllable followed by an accented one.

a formal, lengthy poem that celebrates a particular subject

one who opposes the protagonist