AP Vocabulary

Question 1

A character in a story or poem who deceives, frustrates, or works against the main character, or protagonist, in some way. The antagonist doesn’t necessarily have to be a person. It could death, the devil, an illness, or any challenge that prevents the main character from living “happily ever after”

Answer 1

Antagonist

Question 2

A character who serves as a contrast or a conflict to another character

Answer 2

Foil

Question 3

A character whose actions are inspiring or noble; often the main character in a story

Answer 3

Hero/heroine

Question 4

A device used to produce figurative language

Answer 4

Figure of speech

Question 5

A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art

Answer 5

Allusion

Question 6

A figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa, as in Cleveland won by six runs (meaning “Cleveland’s baseball team”)

Answer 6

Synecdoche

Question 7

A figure of speech in which the author presents or describes
concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions.

Answer 7

Personification

Question 8

A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love

Answer 8

Apostrophe

Question 9

A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement

Answer 9

Hyperbole

Question 10

A note of explanation or comment added to a text or diagram.

Answer 10

Annotation

Question 11

A pause or a sudden break in a line of poetry

Answer 11

Caesura

Question 12

A picture or imitation of a person’s habits, physical appearance or mannerisms exaggerated in a comic or absurd way

Answer 12

Caricature

Question 13

A proverb or short statement expressing a general truth.

Answer 13

Adage

Question 14

A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end

Answer 14

Periodic Sentences

Question 15

A short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.

Answer 15

Anecdote

Question 16

A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them

Answer 16

Analogy

Question 17

A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or moral principle

Answer 17

Aphorism

Question 18

A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.

Answer 18

Parody

Question 19

A work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and
conventions for reform or ridicule.

Answer 19

Satire

Question 20

All of the techniques that writers use to create characters

Answer 20

Characterization

Question 21

Device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning

Answer 21

Allegory

Question 22

An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly
scholarly, academic, or bookish.

Answer 22

Pedantic

Question 23

An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language

Answer 23

Invective

Question 24

An evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction,
syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices; or classification of authors
to a group and comparison of an author to similar authors.

Answer 24

Style

Question 25

An idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning.

Answer 25

Connotation

Question 26

Another type of subject complement, a noun, group of nouns, or noun clause that renames the subject.

Answer 26

Predicate Nominative

Question 27

Events turn out the opposite of what was expected

Answer 27

Situational Irony

Question 28

Facts or events are unknown to a character but known to the reader or audience or other characters in work

Answer 28

Dramatic Irony

Question 29

From the Greek "changed label", the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it (e.g. "the White House" for the President)

Answer 29

Metonymy

Question 30

From the Greek for "orator," the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.

Answer 30

Rhetoric

Question 31

From the Greek for "to tear flesh," involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something.

Answer 31

Sarcasm

Question 32

Genre including fiction, nonfiction, written in ordinary language.

Answer 32

Prose

Question 33

Literally "sermon", or any serious talk, speech, or lecture providing moral or spiritual advice

Answer 33

Homily

Question 34

One type of subject complement, an adjective, group of adjectives, or adjective clause that follows a linking verb.

Answer 34

Predicate Adjective

Question 35

Refers to traditions for each genre

Answer 35

Generic conventions

Question 36

The branch of linguistics which studies the meaning of words, their historical and psychological development (etymology), their connotations, and their relation to one another.

Answer 36

Semantics

Question 37

The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant

Answer 37

Irony

Question 38

The duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language

Answer 38

Repetition

Question 39

The emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting

Answer 39

Atmosphere

Question 40

The major category into which a literary work fits (e.g. prose, poetry, and drama)

Answer 40

Genre

Question 41

The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage

Answer 41

Ambiguity

Question 42

The perspective from which a story is told (first person, third person omniscient, or third person limited omniscient).

Answer 42

Point of View

Question 43

The recurrence of similar sounds, especially consonants, in close proximity (chiefly as used in prosody).

Answer 43

Consonance

Question 44

The repetition of sounds, especially consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words (e.g. "she sells sea shells")

Answer 44

Alliteration

Question 45

The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions

Answer 45

Imagery

Question 46

The variety, conventions, and purposes of the major kinds of writing (exposition explains and analyzes information; argumentation proves validity of an idea; description re-creates, invents, or presents a person, place, event or action; narration tells a story or recount an event).

Answer 46

Rhetorical Modes

Question 47

The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun

Answer 47

Antecedent

Question 48

To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented

Answer 48

Infer (inference)

Question 49

Two events or ideas are related as cause and effect when one event brings about or causes the other

Answer 49

Cause and effect

Question 50

Words literally state the opposite if the speaker's true meaning

Answer 50

Verbal Irony

Question 51

A word or phrase that is not formal or literary, typically one used in ordinary or familiar conversation.

Answer 51

Colloquialisms

Question 52

The action of mentioning a number of things one by one.

Answer 52

Enumeration

Question 53

The presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.

Answer 53

Understatement

Question 54

The repetition of a word at the end of successive clauses or sentences.

Answer 54

Epistrophe

Question 55

Something or someone that one vehemently dislikes. (or excommunicating)

Answer 55

Anathema

Question 56

A statement that is taken to be true, to serve as a premise or starting point for further reasoning and arguments. The word comes from the Ancient Greek word axíōma, meaning 'that which is thought worthy or fit' or 'that which commends itself as evident'.

Answer 56

Axiom

Question 57

A tension or clash resulting from the combination of two disharmonious or unsuitable elements.

Answer 57

Dissonance

Question 58

(Especially of fabric) light, delicate, and translucent.

Answer 58

Diaphanous

Question 59

Inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true.

Answer 59

Dogmatic

Question 60

Selecting from various sources, styles

Answer 60

Electic

Question 61

The process of analyzing a literary work in order to reveal its meaning. (analyzing in detail)

Answer 61

Explication

Question 62

Departing from a literal use of words; metaphorical.

Answer 62

Figurative

Question 63

A person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions.

Answer 63

Iconoclast

Question 64

The fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect.

Answer 64

Juxtaposition

Question 65

Taking words in their usual or most basic sense without metaphor or allegory.

Answer 65

Literal

Question 66

A person who dislikes humankind and avoids human society. Strong hater.

Answer 66

Misanthrope

Question 67

Stubbornly refusing to change one's opinion or course of action.

Answer 67

Obdurate

Question 68

A particular attitude or way of considering a matter or how a story is seen or told.

Answer 68

Point of View

Question 69

The recurrence of an action or event. (repeating)

Answer 69

Repetition

Question 70

Courteous and refined in manner (typically used of a man).

Answer 70

Urbane

Answer 71

Solicitous

Answer 72

Spectral

Question 73

A reference to something that didn't exist within the time period it is set in.

Answer 73

Anachronism

Answer 74

Maudlin

Answer 75

Vehement

Answer 76

Tarry