AP English Exam Literature Words

a word free from limitations or qualifications

an argument attacking an individual’s character rather than hisor her position on an issue

a literary work in which characters, objects, or actions represent abstractions

the repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of consecutive lines orsentences

a statement in which two opposing ideas are balanced

a construction in which elements are presented in a series without conjunctions

insincere or overly sentimental quality of writing/speech intended to evoke pity

a statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part isstructurally reversed

the implied or associative meaning of a word

a sentence in which the main independent clause is elaborated bythe successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases

having the primary purpose of teaching or instructing

harsh, inharmonious, or discordant sounds

a formal poem presenting a meditation on death or another solemn theme

the omission of a word or phrase which is grammatically necessary but can bededuced from the context

a brief, pithy, and often paradoxical saying

a saying or statement on the title page of a work, or used as a heading for achapter or other section of a work

a moment of sudden revelation or insight

an inscription on a tombstone or burial place

a term used to point out a characteristic of a person.

a formal speech praising a person who has died

an indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant

an interjection to lend emphasis; sometimes, a profanity

a sermon, or a moralistic lecture

excessive pride or arrogance that results in the downfall of the protagonist of a tragedy

intentional exaggeration to create an effect

deriving general principles from particular facts or instances

an intensely vehement, highly emotional verbal attack

placing two elements side by side to present a comparison or contrast

deviating from normal rules or methods in order to achieve a certain

a type of understatement in which an idea is expressed by negating its opposite

the mistaken substitution of one word for another word that sounds

a concise statement, often offering advice; an adage

substituting the name of one object for another object closely associated with it

a standard theme, element, or dramatic situation that recurs in various works

a comment that interrupts the immediate subject, often to qualify or explain

the quality in a work that prompts the reader to feel pity

characterized by an excessive display of learning or scholarship

a strong verbal denunciation. The term comes from the orations of Demosthenes against Philip of Macedonia in the fourth century.

the use, for rhetorical effect, of more conjunctions than is necessary or natural

the art of presenting ideas in a clear, effective, and persuasive manner

literary techniques used to heighten the effectiveness of expression

a person or group that bears the blame for another

nonstandard grammatical usage; a violation of grammatical rules

a construction in which one word is used in two different senses

a three-part deductive argument in which a conclusion is based on a major premise and a minor premise

using one part of an object to represent the entire object (for example, referring to a car simply as “wheels”

describing one kind of sensation in terms of another

the manner in which words are arranged into sentences

needless repetition which adds no meaning or understanding

the primary position taken by a writer or speaker

the deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; a deliberate under-emphasis.