AP English Literary Terms

Terms in this set (28)

Allegory
a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one
Alliteration
the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words
Analogy
a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification
Antagonist
a person who actively opposes or is hostile to someone or something; an adversary
Characterization
the creation or construction of a fictional character
Conflict
a serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one
Denotation
the literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests
Diction
the choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing
Flashback
a scene in a movie, novel, etc., set in a time earlier than the main story
Foreshadowing
be a warning or indication of (a future event)
Hyperbole
exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally
Imagery
visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work
Irony
the expression of one's meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect
Metaphor
a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable
Mood
literary element that evokes certain feelings or vibes in readers through words and descriptions
Narrator
a person who narrates something, especially a character who recounts the events of a novel or narrative poem
Onomatopoeia
the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named
Personification
the attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form
Point of View
angle of considering things, which shows us the opinion, or feelings of the individuals involved in a situation
Protagonist
the leading character or one of the major characters in a drama, movie, novel, or other fictional text
Setting
the place or type of surroundings where something is positioned or where an event takes place
Simile
figure of speech involving the comparison of one thing with another thing of a different kind, used to make a description more emphatic or vivid
Soliloquy
an act of speaking one's thoughts aloud when by oneself or regardless of any hearers, especially by a character in a play
Stereotype
a widely held but fixed and oversimplified image or idea of a particular type of person or thing
Symbol
use of symbols to signify ideas and qualities, by giving them symbolic meanings that are different from their literal sense
Syntax
the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language
Theme
the subject of a talk, a piece of writing, a person's thoughts, or an exhibition; a topic
Tone
the general character or attitude of a place, piece of writing, situation, etc
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE...
;