AP Literary Terms

Question 1

story or poem in which characters, settings, and events stand for other people or events or for abstract ideas or qualities.

Answer 1

Allegory

Question 2

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 (usually from literature, etc.)

Answer 2

Allusion

Question 3

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.

Answer 3

Ambiguity

Question 4

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.

Answer 4

Anaphora

Question 5

Brief story, told to illustrate a point or serve as an example of something, often shows character of an individual

Answer 5

Anecdote

Question 6

Repetition of words in successive clauses in reverse grammatical order.

Answer 6

Antimetabole

Question 7

Balancing words, phrases, or ideas that are strongly contrasted, often by means of grammatical structure.

Answer 7

Antithesis

Question 8

Central character who lacks all the qualities traditionally associated with heroes. may lack courage, grace, intelligence, or moral scruples.

Answer 8

Antihero

Question 9

brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life, or of a principle or accepted general truth.

Answer 9

Aphorism (Maxim/Epigram)

Question 10

calling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person, or to a place or thing, or a personified abstract idea. If the character is asking a god or goddess for inspiration it is called an invocation.

Answer 10

Apostrophe

Question 11

Placing in immediately succeeding order of two or more coordinate elements, the latter of which is an explanation, qualification, or modification of the first (often set off by a colon).

Answer 11

Apposition

Question 12

the repetition of similar vowel sounds followed by different consonant sounds especially in words that are together.

Answer 12

Assonance

Question 13

Commas used without conjunction to separate a series of words, thus emphasizing the parts equally

Answer 13

Asyndeton

Question 14

Constructing a sentence so that both halves are about the same length and importance.

Answer 14

Balance

Question 15

the author tells us directly what the character is like

Answer 15

Direct Characterization

Question 16

is one who does not change much in the course of a story.

Answer 16

Static Character

Question 17

repetition of the same or similar consonant sounds in words that are close together.

Answer 17

Alliteration

Question 18

Comparison made between two things to show how they are alike

Answer 18

Analogy

Question 19

Inversion of the usual, normal, or logical order of the parts of a sentence. Purpose is rhythm or emphasis or euphony.

Answer 19

Anastrophe (Inversion)

Question 20

Opponent who struggles against or blocks the hero, or protagonist, in a story.

Answer 20

Antagonist

Question 21

attributing human characteristics to an animal or inanimate object.

Answer 21

Anthropomorphism (Personification)

Question 22

the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character.

Answer 22

Characterization

Question 23

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.

Answer 23

Indirect Characterization