a visible symbol representing an abstract idea- symbolic representation | ||
repetition of consonant sounds | ||
brief reference to a person, place, thing, event, or idea in history or literature | ||
repetition of words at the beginning of lines or sentences | ||
contrasting opposite ideas | ||
an address, either to someone who is absent or therefore cannot hear the speaker giving the speaker the opportunity to think aloud | ||
same ideas with reversed words | ||
overused expression or idea | ||
stretched or elaborate analogy | ||
implications that go beyond the literal meaning of a word (feelings) | ||
dictionary definition of a word or the literal meaning | ||
spoken by definable groups of people from a particular geographic region, economic group, or social class | ||
word choice | ||
dignified, impersonal, and elevate use of language | ||
less elevated than formal diction but maintains correct language use | ||
plain language of everyday use (common words, slang, etc.) | ||
a quotation at the beginning of a book or poem | ||
a character experiences a deep realization about themselves, usually a melodramatic moment | ||
repetition of words at the end of lines or sentences | ||
indirectness replaces directness of statement, saying something nicely | ||
language that means other than its literal meaning | ||
inform the reader or audience member about events that took place before the opening scene of a work |
AP Lit Terms
Primary tabs
Need Help?
We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.
For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.
If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.
Need Notes?
While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!