AP Literature Terms Flashcards

8872753371	Chiasmus	In poetry, a type of rhetorical balance in which the second part is syntactically blanaced against the first, but with parts reversed Example: "Do i love b/c you're beautiful? Or are you beautiful b/c i love you?"	0
8872753372	Colloquialism	A word or phrase in everyday use in conversation and informal writing but is inappropriate for formal situations Example: yeet, skrt, bro	1
8872753373	Conceit	An elaborate metaphor that compares two things that are startlingly different Example: extended metaphor	2
8872753374	Dialect	A way of speaking where both the grammar and vocabulary are different based off a social group or geographical area Example: y'all	3
8872753375	Didactic	Form of fiction or nonfiction that teaches a specific lesson or moral or provides a model of correct behavior or thinking Example: fairytales	4
8872753376	Elegy	A poem of mourning, usually about someone who dies	5
9211778123	Allegory	story or poem in which characters, settings, and events stand for other people or events or for abstract ideas or qualities. ex. Animal Farm	6
9211785344	Allusion	reference to someone or something that is known from history, literature, religion, politics, sports, science, or another branch of culture. An indirect reference to something	7
9211791442	Ambiguity	deliberately suggesting two or more different, and sometimes conflicting, meanings in a work. An event or situation that may be interpreted in more than one way- - this is done on purpose by the author, when it is not done on purpose, it is vagueness, and detracts from the work.	8
9211801435	Anaphora	Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences in a row. This is a deliberate form of repetition and helps make the writer's point more coherent. Ex. Because of your smile Because of your touch Because of your love	9
9211828858	Anastrophe	Inversion of the usual, normal, or logical order of the parts of a sentence. Purpose is rhythm or emphasis or euphony. It is a fancy word for inversion	10
9211833698	Anecdote	Brief story, told to illustrate a point or serve as an example of something, often shows character of an individual	11
9211838068	Antithesis	Balancing words, phrases, or ideas that are strongly contrasted, often by means of grammatical structure.	12
9211863462	Anthropomorphism	Personification	13
9211868971	Aphorism	brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life, or of a principle or accepted general truth.	14
9211877724	Balance	Constructing a sentence so that both halves are about the same length and importance. Sentences can be unbalanced to serve a special effect as well.	15
9211885650	Indirect Characterization	the author reveals to the reader what the character is like by describing how the character looks and dresses, by letting the reader hear what the character says, by revealing the character's private thoughts and feelings, by revealing the characters effect on other people (showing how other characters feel or behave toward the character), or by showing the character in action. Common in modern literature	16
9211887283	Direct Characterization	the author tells us directly what the character is like: sneaky, generous, mean to pets and so on. Romantic style literature relied more heavily on this form.	17
9211898316	Epanalepsis	device of repetition in which the same expression (single word or phrase) is repeated both at the beginning and at the end of the line, clause, or sentence. Voltaire: "Common sense is not so common."	18
9211904931	Epigraph	a quotation or aphorism at the beginning of a literary work suggestive of the theme.	19
9211909584	Epistrophe	Device of repetition in which the same expression (single word or phrase) is repeated at the end of two or more lines, clauses, or sentences (it is the opposite of anaphora). Ex. See no evil Hear no evil Speak no evil	20
9211928268	Epithet	nickname	21
9211932443	Explication	act of interpreting or discovering the meaning of a text, usually involves close reading and special attention to figurative language.	22
9211942559	Hypotactic	sentence marked by the use of connecting words between clauses or sentences, explicitly showing the logical or other relationships between them. Ex. I am tired because it is hot.	23
9211961071	Inversion	ex. have I instead of I have was she instead of she was	24
9211970741	Juxtaposition	poetic and rhetorical device in which normally unassociated ideas, words, or phrases are placed next to one another, creating an effect of surprise and wit. Ezra Pound: "The apparition of these faces in the crowd;/ Petals on a wet, black bough." Juxtaposition is also a form of contrast by which writers call attention to dissimilar ideas or images or metaphors. Martin Luther King: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere."	25