AP Literature & Composition Literary Terms. Directions: Each time you find a word that is not on this list and you do not know it add it to this list.

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1 AP Literature & Composition Literary Terms Directions: Each time you find a word that is not on this list and you do not know it add it to this list. Absolute a term applied to anything totally independent of influences, limitations, controls, or modifiers. In grammar, it refers to a word, such as all, always, never, and no one that allow no exceptions. Rarely can evidence support such terms. In grammar: words that cannot be compared or qualified, or to a phrase that is free of the customary syntactical relationships to other parts of the sentence. Aesthetic the study of beauty and nature. A focus on the beauty in language. Allegory a story in which the people, places, and things represent general concepts or moral qualities. Alliteration the repetition of initial identical consonant sounds. E.g. The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, / The furrow followed free. Samuel Taylor Coleridge Allusion a figure of speech that makes brief reference to a historical or literary figure, event, or object. Biblical allusions are frequent in English literature. The allusion seeks, by tapping the knowledge and memory of the reader, to secure a reverberant emotional effect from the associations already existing in the reader s mind. E.g., I am Lazarus, come from the dead. T. S. Eliot Ambiguity a situation expressed in such a way as to admit more than one possible interpretation. All literature, especially poetry, contains ambiguity. Anachronism something out of correct historical context or time: e.g., saying that Romeo was hit by a car and killed in the play Romeo and Juliet when cars were not yet invented. Analogy a comparison between two things in which the more complex is explained in terms of the more simple: e.g., comparing a year-long profile of the stock index to a rollercoaster ride. Anaphora [a-naf-or-uh] rhetorical figure of repetition in which the same word or phrase is repeated (usually at the beginning of) successive line, clauses, or sentences. Found very often in verse and prose. Abraham Lincoln s The Gettysburg Address : we cannot dedicate we cannot consecrate we cannot hallow this ground. Anecdote a short entertaining account of some happening, frequently personal or biographical. Antagonist the character working in opposition to the protagonist. Though the antagonist is often the villain, the antagonist of a story or novel need NOT be evil depending on the values of the protagonist. Anticlimax a sudden drop from the dignified or important in thought or expression to the commonplace or trivial, often for humorous effect. Anti-hero a main character lacking in heroic qualities. S/he usually has at least one major flaw that keeps them from being the perfect hero. Antithesis opposition; a contrast of ideas or words: e.g., In Hamlet, Claudius states My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. Aphorism A terse (abrupt, short) statement of known authorship, which expresses a general truth or a moral principle. An aphorism can be a memorable summation of the author s point. An aphorism is a general truth or observation about life, usually stated concisely and pointedly. Apostrophe addressing someone or something who is not present or is inanimate. Apostrophe usually involves addressing a person or thing that all readers would be familiar with and shows an almost conversational address. E.g. "Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art" (John Keats) Archetype the original pattern from which things are copied of modeled after: e.g. Frankenstein is the archetype for modern horror films. Argumentation exploration of a problem by investigating all sides of it; persuasion through reason. Artistic Fault literature that attempts for sincere emotion, but due to overly flowery detail it fails to get the emotion across and instead becomes sappy and sentimental. Aside in a play, a comment directed to the audience, not meant to be heard by the other characters in the scene Assonance repetition of vowel sounds. Assonance is not the same thing as rhyming. E.g. We rowed slowly over the ocean s foam toward home. Atmosphere the dominant mood or feeling that pervades a literary piece. Attitude similar to tone, the writer expresses his personal feelings toward the subject, characters, or audience. Attitude is revealing often though narration. AP Exam: Expect to be asked what the writer s attitude is and how his language conveys that attitude. Ballad a song-like poem that tells a story. Ballads are usually passed down from one generation to the next. Bathos an unintentional lapse from beautiful and important things to that which is trivial. In today s terms, this could be called an epic fail. Blank Verse unrhymed iambic pentameter. This is the type of verse that Shakespeare wrote in the majority of the time. Cacophony discordant, harsh, unpleasing sound. Cacophony is the opposite of euphony. Caesura a strong pause within a line of poetry. A caesura may be marked by use of punctuation, or the way the line is written may force the reader to pause slightly. Caesura is used mainly to draw further attention to an idea or a phrase within the poem. E.g. It's evident/the art of losing s not too hard to master/though it may look like (Write it!) like disaster. Elizabeth Bishop, One Art

2 Caricature artistic depiction that largely exaggerates the dominant aspects of a person or thing, usually to make light of them. Political cartoons are excellent examples of caricature. 2 Catharsis the purging of the emotions or relieving of emotional tensions, especially through certain kinds of art, as tragedy or music. Catalyst a person or thing that hastens and begins an event or change Character Foil a foil is a character who contrasts with another character (usually the protagonist) in order to highlight particular qualities of the other character. E.g. Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. Characterization the representation of persons in a work of literature. Chorus (Greek) a group of characters on stage to provide commentary on the action and impart wisdom. The Chorus in Greek plays act as the narrators. Chronological ordering arrangement in the order in which things occur; may move from past to present or in reverse chronological order, from present to past. Circumlocution speaking or writing in a roundabout way of getting to the subject or to the answer. Most politicians provide great examples of circumlocution when answering a question. Cliché a trite, overused expression which has lost its originality. Climax a decisive moment that is of maximum intensity or is a major turning point in a plot. Colloquial expression words and phrases used in everyday speech but avoided in formal writing. On AP Exam: the use of slang or informalities in speech or writing. Not generally acceptable for formal writing, colloquialisms give a word a conversational, familiar tone. Colloquial expressions in writing include local or regional dialect. Comic Relief an interruption in a serious work by a short, humorous episode. A scene of comic relief helps to lighten the mood after a large tragedy or a depressing turn of events within a story. Connotation the suggested meanings associated with a word: e.g. childish in the dictionary is said to be like a child but the connotations of the word include immature, irresponsible, and silly. Consonance repetition of consonant sounds anywhere EXCEPT the beginning of a word: e.g. Death lays his icy hands on persons innocent, causing disaster. Context the parts of a written or spoken statement that precede or follow a specific word or passage, usually influencing its meaning or effect: e.g. You have misinterpreted my remark because you took it out of context. Couplet two lines of poetry, usually rhymed Denotation the explicit or direct meaning or set of meanings of a word or expression, as distinguished from the ideas or meanings associated with it or suggested by it;: e.g. the denotation of childish is of, like, or befitting a child Denouement [day-noo-mah] the clearing up or untying of the complications of the plot in a play or story; usually a final scene or chapter in which mysteries, confusions, and doubtful destinies are clarified. Detail the use of detail includes describing or relating an object or scene with complete particulars. Through details very specific information clarifies and makes a more complete picture in the novel. Most details tell who, what, when, where. Devices the figures of speech, syntax, diction, and other stylistic elements that collectively produce a particular artistic effect. Dialect a dialect is the form of a language spoken by people in a particular region or group. Diction writer s or speaker s particular word choice used to make a point in the story. Diction deals with both denotation and connotation. AP Exam related to style, diction refers to the writer s word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness. For the AP exam, one should be able to describe an author s diction (for example, formal or informal, ornate, rambling, plain, etc.) and understand the ways in which diction can complement the author s purpose. Diction, combined with syntax, figurative language, literary devices, etc., creates an author s style. Dichotomy division into two mutually exclusive, opposed, or contradictory groups or ideas: e.g. the Montagues and the Capulets in Romeo and Juliet Didactic teaching or intending to teach a moral lesson. Digression a temporary departure from the main subject in speaking or writing. Dramatic Monologue a speech made by a character in a play, usually alone on the stage. Dramatic monologues are often confessions or speeches intended to help the theme of the play come to light. Dramatis Personae the list of characters in a play. Dumb Show a mimed performance performed before the actual play begins. The dumb show is a 60 second version of the play so the audience knows exactly what to expect. Dynamic Character a character who grows and changes significantly through the course of a story or novel. Effect the overall results and impressions created by the events in a story or by a specific character s actions.

3 Elegy a poem of lament, often written for a death or another solemn occasion. 3 Ellipsis in grammar, the omission of a word or words necessary for complete construction but understood in context. E.g., if (it is) possible, (you) come early where the words in parentheses would be replaced with ( ) It is also the sign ( ) that a word or words have been left out of a quotation. E.g., To be or not that is the question. Shakespeare End Rhyme in poetry, lines that rhyme at the end of the line. Rhyming poetry ALWAYS employs end rhyme. End Stopped in poetry, lines that stop at the end of the line, usually shown by use of a punctuation mark. The opposing term for this is enjambment (see below). Enjambment in poetry, a line that that flows into the middle of the next line before stopping. The line forces its way into the next line without pause, so the reader does not pause for breath at the end of the line. Epic a long narrative poem that involves a hero s tale. Examples include The Iliad and The Odyssey. Epigram a short phrase or short poem (usually between 2-4 lines) creating a thought-provoking idea or ending in a witty turn of thought. Oscar Wilde is famous for writing these: e.g. Some cause happiness wherever they go; others whenever they go. (Oscar Wilde) Epithet a phrase associated with an item standing for the item itself. E.g. Man s best friend is an epithet for dog. Epilogue the concluding section of any work. An epilogue may provide further closure for a book or skip a large chunk of time to show what the characters end up like in the future the book has given them. Epiphany a sudden revelation or insight of the true nature of a character or situation through a specific event-a word, gesture, or other action-that causes the reader to see the significance of that character or situation in a new light. The term used in Christian theology for a manifestation of God s presence in the world. It was later taken over by James Joyce to denote secular revelation in the everyday world. Ethos the moral element in literature that determines a character's action rather than his or her thought or emotion. Eulogy a speech to praise someone or something; a tribute to a person, usually one who has died. Euphemism [you-fem-ism] the use of a word or phrase that is less direct, but that is also less distasteful or less offensive than another. E.g., he is at rest is a euphemism for he is dead. Euphony pleasing smoothness of sound. The opposite of euphony is cacophony. Existentialism a modern philosophical movement stressing the importance of personal experience and responsibility and the demands that they make on the individual, who is seen as a free agent in a deterministic and seemingly meaningless universe. The belief stresses that humans must simply forge their own meaning in a meaningless world. Albert Camus is one of the leading authors to espouse this belief system in his writing. Explication going through the exact details of a poem and analyzing them. Explication is an intense form of analyzing a poem line by line and word by word to unfold its meaning. Explicit clearly stated or expressed, leaving nothing to question. The opposite of implicit. External Conflict the struggle between a character and an outside (external) force such as society, nature, another character, etc. Eye Rhyme two words which appear to rhyme to the eye (when looking at them) but do not rhyme when said aloud: e.g. (laughter, daughter) Fallacy logical fallacy is an error in reasoning. Such errors are common in persuasive or argumentative writing and speech. When completing persuasive writing or speaking, or when presenting arguments, try to avoid logical fallacies. Also be on guard against logical fallacies in the speech and writing of others. Figurative Language an intentional departure from the normal order or meaning of words. Figurative language should not be a literal interpretation; but when used intensifies the work and satisfy the reader s imagination. Figurative language is the plural form for Figures of Speech and is a large term which encompasses many of the other terms in this list. Figures of Speech uses of language that departs from the customary construction, order, or significance. Examples include simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, etc. Sometimes figures of speech create special meanings that emphasize the intention of the passage. Fixed Form in poetry, a poem that follows a specific, strict format. Examples include sonnet, haiku, villanelle, sestina, etc. Fixed form poems have specific rhythms, rhymes, line counts, syllable counts, etc. Foreshadowing to show or indicate beforehand; giving details that hint at things to come further on in the book. Free Verse poetry with no specific meter or rhyme (opposite of a fixed form poem). Genre is a division or type of literature. Literature is commonly divided into three major genres: prose, poetry, and drama. Haiku a 3 line poem with syllables that is generally dealing with nature. Hamartia a mistake committed in ignorance. Because of this, the person committing the mistake is free of blame. E.g. a little child saying a dirty word or in literature, Oedipus marrying his mother and killing his father.) Hero the main character in a novel or play that exhibits good qualities. Heroic Couplet a couplet written in iambic pentameter. Shakespeare often used this to cue the end of a scene: e.g. My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. /Words without thoughts never to heaven go. Shakespeare, Hamlet

4 Hubris overarching pride and arrogance 4 Hyperbole an extravagant exaggeration of fact used either for serious or comic effects. Iambic Pentameter five iambs (unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable; e.g. today) in a line. Iambic pentameter is well known because it is the meter which Shakespeare used in his writing. E.g. but SOFT what LIGHT from YONder WINdow BREAKS from Romeo and Juliet Imagery author s use of sensory related words to project an image or picture into the reader s mind. Deals with the five senses sight, touch, taste, feel, and smell. Imagery often evokes the reader s emotions. Implicit hinted at; not stated outright; implied In Medias Res literally translates to in the middle of things. A story, poem, or noel which begins in the middle of the action and the reader then pieces together prior events as the plot unfolds. Induction (inductive reasoning) a form of reasoning that works from a body of fact to the formulation of a generalization; opposite to deduction; frequently used as the principal form of reasoning in science and history. Inference/infer to draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented. Note: If the answer choice is directly stated, it is not inferred and is wrong. Internal Conflict conflict that happens within the character, in his/her mind. Internal Rhyme Rhyme that occurs in the middle of the lines of a poem rather than at the end. E.g. Once upon a midnight DREARY, while I pondered weak and WEARY from Poe s The Raven or the following lines by Kay Ryan from The Turtle Her track is GRACELESS, like dragging a packing-case PLACES, and almost any SLOPE defeats her modest HOPES. Even being PRACTICAL, she's often stuck up to the AXLE on her way to something edible. Irony defined as an element of style that indicates an intention opposite of what is actually stated. A method of humorous or sarcastic expression in which the intended meaning of the words is the opposite of their usual meaning. E.g., saying that a cold, windy, rainy day is lovely. Three main types of irony: Verbal: A figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant. Situational: A situation in which there is a incongruity (difference) between the actual situation and what would seem appropriate. Dramatic: An incongruity or discrepancy between what a character says or thinks and what the reader knows to be true. Juxtaposition a poetic and rhetorical device in which normally unassociated ideas, words, colors, shapes, or phrases are placed next to one another, crating an effect of surprise and wit. Juxtaposition is used to further deepen comparisons and contrasts. Ezra Pound: The apparition of these faces in the crowd; / Petals on a wet, black bough Language manner of expression used to communicate feeling, tone, or attitude. Language may be formal or informal, or show the speaker as being educated or illiterate. Language may also involve dialect and accent. On AP Exam when you are asked to analyze the language, concentrate on how the elements of language combine to form a whole how diction, syntax, figurative language, and sentence structure create a cumulative (increasing) effect. Limerick a 5 line poem that is comical or silly. The rhyme scheme for the poem is aabba Example: Hickory dickory dock, The mouse ran up the clock. The clock struck one And down he run, Hickory dickory dock. Litotes understatement for effect. The opposite of litotes is hyperbole. e.g. The black knight in Monty Python and the Holy Grail saying tis but a scratch when his arm has been chopped off. Local Color distinctive peculiarities of a place or period. E.g. Cowboy hats and large buckles are part of the local color in many Texas towns. Metaphor a figure of speech in which one thing is compared to another by being spoken of as though it were that thing. E.g., a sea of troubles, Life is a rainbow. Meter the rhyming pattern of a poem Metonymy [met-on-im-ee] figure of speech that replaces the name of one thing with the name of something else closely associated with it. E.g. the crown represents the king. Metonymy is closely related to synecdoche the difference being that metonymy is a separate object standing for the item. Microcosm a small representative group or system standing for a much larger group or system; a small version of the world. E.g. Layton High School is a microcosm of the state of Utah. Mixed Metaphor the use in the same expression of two or more metaphors that are incongruous or illogical when combined, as in Wake up and smell the coffee on the wall (rather than wake up and smell the coffee and see the writing on the wall ) Monologue a lengthy talk given by a single speaker OR part of a play when a single actor speaks alone

5 5 Mood the literary definition for mood is the prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work. Setting, tone, and events can affect the mood. In this usage, mood is similar to tone and atmosphere. This term has two distinct technical meanings in English writing. Motif in literature, recurrent ideas, images, words, phrases, or actions that tend to unify the work. Objects are usually defined as symbols rather than motifs. Symbol and motif are closely related to one another. Motivation the reasons that an author provides for a character s actions and reactions Myth a narrative that comes from a culture s oral traditions. Myths portray gods and heroes engaged in important actions and decisions and often explain the origins of the culture, the creation, the beginnings of certain traditions, etc. Near/Slant Rhyme a rhyme where the final consonant sounds are the same but the vowel sounds are different. E.g. letter and litter Narrative Techniques the manner in which the author tells the story. Examples include: interior monologue, dialogue, stream-of-consciousness, flashback, and foreshadow. Nonfiction is prose writing that presents and explains ideas or that tells about real people, places, objects, or events. Essays, biographies, autobiographies, journals, and reports are all examples of nonfiction. Non Sequitur [non-seh-kwa-ter] similar to fallacy. A statement (as a response) that does not follow logically from anything previously said. Novella a work of fiction which is longer than a short story but shorter than a novel. Usually a work under 100 pages would be considered a novella. Objectivity to look at without bias or emotional influence. The opposite of subjectivity. Octave eight lines of poetry. In a Petrarchan sonnet, the first section (8 lines) is the octave and the rhyme shifts as does the tone in the following sestet (6 lines). Ode a poem of praise towards an object, idea, or person Onomatopoeia a thing or action represented by the word that imitates the sound associated with it (e.g. crash, buzz, bang, pitter-patter, etc.). Order of importance a method of organizing a paper according to the relative significance of the subtopics. Organization presenting ideas in an order. Types of organization include: 1. Chronological the order in which events take place. 2. Spatial the physical description of persons and places. 3. Cause and Effect one event brings about another. 4. In Medias Res the author stats in the middle and uses the techniques of flashback and foreshadow. Oxymoron a figure of speech in which contradictory terms are combined (e.g. jumbo shrimp) Paradox a statement that seems self-contradictory, but which may be true in fact. (Although some paradoxes cannot be resolved into truths, remaining flatly self-contradictory, e.g., Everything I say is a lie.) Ancient theorists of rhetoric described paradox as a figure of speech, but 20 th century critics have given it a higher importance as a mode of understanding by which poetry challenges our habits of thought. Paradox was cultivated especially by poets of the 17 th century, often in the verbally compressed form of oxymoron. Emily Dickinson: Success is counted sweetest / By those who ne er succeed Parallelism is the repetition of a grammatical structure. The arrangement of similarly constructed clauses, sentences, or verse lines in a pairing or other sequence suggesting some correspondence between them. The effect of parallelism is usually one of balance arrangement achieved through repetition of the same syntactic form. Note: Where the elements arranged in parallel are sharply opposed, the effect is one of antithesis. Paraphrase restating something in your own words. A paraphrase goes line by line, word by word and is longer than a summary. Parody a mocking imitation of a literary work or other serious piece of work or style for comic purposes. SNL skits are great examples of parody as are Weird Al Yankovic songs. Pastoral idealized telling of country or rural life. This was a time to glorify the life of peasants and the simplicity and beauty that their lives possessed. Pastoral poems and paintings helped glorify this image during the 1700s and 1800s. Pathos the emotional quality to an argument or piece of writing; appealing to the emotions. Patterns of Development There are nine basic styles of development used in writing essays. While a pattern may be used singularly, it is not unusual to see essays that utilize elements of the other patterns within an essay. 1. Description Details what a person, place, or object is like. 2. Narration To relate an event. 3. Exemplification Provides specific instances or examples. 4. Division-Classification Dividing a topic or issue into parts or groups of related things/categories. 5. Process Analysis Explain how something happens or how something is done. 6. Comparison-Contrast Points out similarities and/or differences. 7. Cause and Effect examination of the causes and/or effects of a situation or phenomenon. 8. Definition Explains the meaning of a term or concept. 9. Argumentation-Persuasion To win people over to a point of view. Pedantic arrogant in one s learning; scholarly; a display of narrow-minded and trivial scholarship or arbitrary adherence to rules and forms. Personification a figure of speech in which an inanimate object or abstract concept is endowed with human attributes.

6 6 Persuasive Devices when asked to analyze an author s persuasive devices, look for the words in the passage that have strong connotations, words that intensify the emotional effect. Analyze how these words complement the writer s argument as it builds logically. Logos the quality in a work that uses logic and reasoning Pathos - the quality in a work that evokes sorry or pity. Ethos the quality in a work that uses ethical arguments Persona the fictional mask or voice an author may adopt to tell a story. Persuasion taking a single position for the purpose of getting others to accept that position; may appeal to emotion or reason. Plot the pattern of events in a story. Poetic Justice an outcome in which good is rewarded and evil is punished, often in an especially appropriate or ironic manner. Everyone gets what s coming to them in the end. Poetic License liberties or bends in the rules taken by a writer in order to achieve a certain effect. Poetic license includes taking syllables from words in order to fit meter (Shakespeare s use of e en instead of even ) or the use of slant rhyme to fit rhyme scheme among other things. Point of View the angle of vision from which a story is told. The four basic points of view are First person: The story is told by one of its characters, using the first person. You will see I being used in the telling. First Person Multiple point of view Modern authors have also used this point of view in which we are shown the events from the positions of two or more different characters. Third person omniscient: An unnamed, all-seeing narrator tells the story, using the third person, knowing all and free to tell us anything. The narrator has an unrestricted knowledge of the story s events from outside or above them. Third Person Limited omniscient The unnamed narrator tells the story, using the third person, but is limited to a complete knowledge of one character in the story and tells us only what the one character thinks, feels, sees, or hears. Prologue the introductory section of a work Prose one of the major divisions of genre, prose refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms (short story, essay, novel, editorial, etc.). It is written in ordinary language and most closely resembles everyday speech. Prose is anything that is not poetry. Protagonist the main character in a literary work that initiates the main action of the story Psychological Novel a novel that focuses on the mental and emotional lives of its characters and explores the various levels of mental activity and Crime and Punishment are examples of psychological novels. Pun a play on words where two similar sounding words are used. E.g. I usually take steps to avoid elevators or She had a photographic memory but never developed it. Purpose the purpose is the goal or aim of a literary work. On AP exam the commitment on the part of authors to explain what they plan to write out. Purpose is an essential part of unity and coherence. Most teachers require student writers to state their purpose in a statement of purpose, also called a thesis. Purpose of a narrative work is to tell a story. Purpose of a descriptive work is to portray a person, place, or thing. Purpose of an expository work is to explain something or to provide information. Purpose of persuasive work is to move an audience to take some action or to adopt some opinion. Quatrain four lines of poetry Reductio Ad Absurdum taking something to the absurd, ridiculous level Refrain a line or group of lines repeated at regular intervals in a poem. In Poe s poem The Raven, the word nevermore serves as a refrain. Resolution the concluding action that follows the climax where the tensions of the plot have been settled Rhetoric the art of using words effectively in writing or speaking so as to influence or persuade. On AP Exam Greek for orator, this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively. Rhetorical question a question asked for the rhetorical effect to emphasize a point, no answer being expected. Rhyme Scheme the pattern of rhyme that occurs in a poem Romanticism literature with a main emphasis on individual expression and emotion. This is a period of literature in the late 1700s and early 1800s. Mary Shelley is one writer who exemplifies romanticism in her writing style. Sarcasm a bitter form or irony. A type of mockery that often exaggerates or understates things. Satire A writing that ridicules or criticizes individuals, ideas, institutions, social conventions, or other work of art or literature. Horatian satire satire that uses friendly, gentle mockery Juvenalian satire satire that is harsh and biting, usually trying to achieve social change

7 Scansion marking a poem according to its meter and rhyme structures. 7 Sentence Structure (Syntax) the way the sentence is put together. Sentences may be fragments, simple, compound, or complex. Sentence structure also deals with elements such as dependent/independent clauses, interrogative/declarative, and fragments. On AP Exam when as essay question asks you to analyze sentence structure, look at the type of sentences the author uses. Remember that the basic sentence structures are simple, compound, complex and variations created with sentence combining. One may consider variation or lack of it in sentence length, any unusual devices in sentence construction, such as repetition or inverted word order, and any usually word or phrase placement. As with all devices, be prepared to discuss the effect of the sentence structure. For example, a series of short, simple sentences or phrases can produce a feeling of speed and choppiness, which may suit the author s purpose. Sentimentality a work that attempts to convey the finer emotions but fails to provide sufficient grounds for those emotions and thus creating a falsity in the work. Sentimentality is the failure of feeling. Wallace Stevens Sestet six lines of verse. In a Petrarchan sonnet, the final six lines that generally shift the tone of the poem. Setting the place and time in which a work occurs Simile Comparison using two unlike things with the terms like or as written into the simile. Slang a kind of language that occurs mostly in casual and playful speech. This is nonstandard language used for humor, synonymous with colloquial speech. Soliloquy a speech by a character alone on the stage. The most famous soliloquy in literature is Hamlet s To be or not to be soliloquy. Sonnet a 14 line poem that falls into one of two categories depending upon the poem s rhyme scheme Shakespearean Sonnet rhyme scheme abab cdcd efef gg Petrarchan Sonnet rhyme scheme abba abba in the octave; the sestet rhymes in various ways (cdecde, cddcdd, cddcee, etc.) Stanza a group of lines forming a section of a poem; a poem paragraph Static Character a character who remains the same through the course of the play or book. The character doesn t change or learn from his or her experiences. Stereotype an often oversimplified or biased mental picture used to characterize the typical individual of a group Stream of Consciousness a type of writing that captures the flow of ideas, memories, and thoughts of the character. This type of writing makes the reader feel as if he/she is reading everything the character thinks and does. Structure the structure of a novel is the planned framework of the novel. This includes the sequences of events throughout the novel. The story line from the exposition to the denouement constitutes part of the structure of the novel. The division of the book into chapters or sections also contributes to the structure. Style the habitual manner of expression of an author. Author s style is the product of choices, made consciously or unconsciously, about elements such as vocabulary, organization, diction, imagery, pace, and even certain recurring themes or subjects. On AP Exam the consideration of style has two purposes. (1) An evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices. Some authors styles are so idiosyncratic that we can quickly recognize works by the same author. We can analyze and describe an author s personal style and make judgments on how appropriate it is to the author s purpose. Styles can be called flowery, explicit (clear, unambiguous), succinct (laconic, brief, to the point), rambling, bombastic (pompous, overbearing), commonplace, incisive (razor sharp, insightful), to name only a few. (2) Classification of authors to a group and comparison of an author to similar authors. By means of such classification and comparison, one can see how an author s style reflects and helps to define a historical period, such as the Renaissance or the Victorian period, or a literary movement, such as the romantic, transcendental, or realist movement. Stylistic devices devices an author uses to create their specific style such as diction, syntax, tone, figurative language, etc. On AP Exam essay questions that mention stylistic devices are asking you to note and analyze all of the elements in language that contribute to style, such as diction, syntax, tone, attitude, figures of speech, connotations, and repetition. Subplot a second story or plotline that is complete and interesting in its own right that branches off from the main plot. Summarize to state, express, or explain something in an abbreviated form Syllogism [SIL-o-jizm] a form of reasoning in which two statements or premises are made an a logical conclusion is drawn from them; a form of deductive reasoning. Major Premise: J and G Construction builds unsafe buildings. Minor Premise: J and G Construction built the Tower Hotel. Conclusion: The Tower Hotel is an unsafe building. Symbol something that stands for another thing; frequently an object used to represent and abstraction. E.g., the dove is a symbol of peace. Synaesthesia [Syn-es-THEE-zhuh] a blending or confusion of different kinds of sense-impression, in which one type of sensation is referred to in terms more appropriate to another. Common synaesthesia expressions include the descriptions of colors as loud or warm, and of sounds as smooth. Used in literature to describe one kind of sensation in terms of another. Sound in terms of color blue note or yellow cocktail music Sound in terms of taste how sweet the sound Color in terms of sound loud shirt Color in terms of temperature cool green Color as loud or warm Sound as smooth

8 8 Synecdoche [Sin-EK-doh-key] a figure of speech in which a part is substituted for the whole. E.g., threads for clothes or wheels for car or ruling with a heavy HAND for ruler/president. The difference between metonymy and synecdoche is that with synecdoche, the substitution is CONNECTED TO the object itself. Threads are part of clothes, wheels are connected to the car, hand is connected to the leader. Syntax in grammar, the arrangement of words as elements in a sentence to show their relationship. Combination of words to make a sentence. Syntax deals with the grammar of the sentence and word order, such as inversion. On AP Exam the way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences. Syntax is similar to diction, but one can differentiate them by thinking of syntax as groups of words, while diction refers to the individual words. In the multiple-choice section of the exam, expect to be asked some questions about how an author manipulates syntax. In the essay section, one will need to analyze how syntax produces effects. Tercet three lines of poetry Theme the prevailing, main idea or topic running through a literary work. One book or story may have several themes. Theme should be stated in a complete sentence and should be universally applicable, not simply true for that specific work. Thesis the main argument or proposition set forth in an essay which must be proven through the evidence presented in the writing Tone author s attitude toward his subject and audience expressed through characters actions and speech. Tone is implied and is subject to change throughout the work. A way of working or expressing things that express an attitude; the tone bay be angry, matter-of-fact, ironic, playful, serious, humorous, formal, ornate, somber, etc. On AP Exam Similar to mood, tone describes the author s attitude toward his material, the audience, or both. Tone is easier to determine in spoken language than in written language. Considering how a work would sound if it were read aloud can help in identifying an author s tone. Tragedy story of serious actions which lead to a terrible end Tragic Hero a character who makes an error in judgment or has a fatal flaw that ultimately brings on a tragedy Tragic Flaw a flaw that ultimately leads to the downfall of the hero Transcendentalism a philosophy as well as a literary movement that states the existence of the ideal spiritual reality transcends scientific knowledge and is known through intuition. Transcendentalists believe that nature is a way to enhance one s spirituality. Notable transcendentalists include Henry David Thoreau, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and Bronson Alcott. Unreliable Narrator a narrator who cannot be trusted because of incredibly strong bias, age, or mental incapacity. Understatement (Litotes) deliberately representing something as much less than it really is. Example from Jonathan Swift: Last week I saw a woman flayed, and you will hardly believe how much it altered her appearance. On AP Exam this ironic minimalizing of fact, understatement presents something as less significant than it is. Effects can frequently be humorous and emphatic. Understatement is the opposite of hyperbole. Vernacular the native speech or language of a place; local language or dialect. Verse Form any type of poetry; any type of writing that is not prose. Villanelle a 19 line poem containing only two different rhymes. Certain lines are repeated word for word in specific places in the poem. A Willing Suspension of Disbelief defined by Samuel Taylor Coleridge (a poet) as the willingness of the reader to overlook certain unbelievable or impossible elements of a story for the sake of an interesting, exciting story. E.g. Knowing you could not take body parts, piece them all together, and use electricity to bring it all to life, but letting that go for the sake of the interesting story of Frankenstein.