Ap Lit Terms List 1

Front 1

Allegory

Back 1

A figurative work in which a surface narrative carries a secondary, symbolic or metaphorical meaning.

Front 2

Alliteration

Back 2

The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words

Front 3

Allusion

Back 3

A reference to another work or famous figure or popular culture assumed to be well-known enough to be recognized by a reader (Biblical verses, mythology, historical events , etc)

Front 4

Ambiguity

Back 4

Multiple meanings for a word, phrase, sentence, passage

Front 5

Antecedent

Back 5

The word, phrase or clause referred to by a pronoun

Front 6

Apostrophe

Back 6

Direct address (or calling out to) an imaginary, dead or absent person, or to a place, thing or abstract idea

Front 7

Archetype

Back 7

Symbol crossing cultural borders

Front 8

Assonance

Back 8

Repetition of vowel sounds in sequence of words with different endings

Front 9

Attitude

Back 9

Similar to tone—the author’s relationship to his audience or subject matter

Front 10

Blank verse

Back 10

Unrhymed iambic pentameter

Front 11

Caricature

Back 11

Writing that greatly exaggerates a specific feature of a person or facet of their personality

Front 12

Characterization

Back 12

Method/art/craft of presentation of fictional characters
Protagonist—main character (hero (perfect) or anti-hero (ordinary, average)
Antagonist—opponent of main character

Front 13

Colloquial

Back 13

The use of slang or local expressions (informal diction) used to create an local color or provide an informal tone

Front 14

Conceit

Back 14

An elaborate, usually intellectually ingenious poetic comparison or image, such as an analogy or metaphor in which, say a beloved is compared to a ship, planet, etc.

Front 15

Connotation

Back 15

The implied or suggested meaning of a word because of an association in the reader’s mind rather than how it is defined

Front 16

Deduction

Back 16

In argumentation, moving from a general rule or premise to a specific example or conclusion

Front 17

Denotation

Back 17

Literal meaning of word as defined; the direct and specific meaning

Front 18

Diction

Back 18

Word choice, an element of style

Front 19

End-stopped

Back 19

A line that has a natural pause at the end (period, comma, etc.).

Front 20

Enjambed

Back 20

The running over of a sentence or thought into the next couplet or line without a pause at the end of the line; a run-on line.