Baron's AP Literature and Composition Vocabulary AK

Baron's AP Literature and Composition Vocabulary AK

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1. Abstract

An abbreviated synopsis of a longer work of scholarship or research

2. Active Voice

A verb is in the ____ ____ when it expresses an action performed by its subject.

3. Adage

A saying or proverb containing a truth based on experience and often couched in metaphorical language

4. Allegory

A story in which the narrative or characters carry an underlying symbolic, metaphorical, or possibly and ethical meaning

5. Alliteration

A repetition of one or more initial consonants in a group of words or lines of poetry or prose

6. Allusion

A reference to a person, place, or event meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of an idea.

7. Ambiguity

A vagueness of meaning: a conscious lack of clarity meant to evoke multiple meanings and interpretation

8. Anachronism

A person, scene, or event, or other element in literature that fails to correspond with the time or era in which the work is set

9. Analogy

A comparison that points out similarities between two dissimilar things

10. Annotation

A brief explanation, summary, or evaluation of text or work of literature

11. Antagonist

A character or force in a work of literature that, by opposing the protagonist produces tension or conflict

12. Antithesis

A rhetorical opposition or contrast of ideas by means of a grammatical arrangement of words, clauses, or sentences

13. Aphorism

A short, pithy statement of generally accepted truth or sentiment

14. Apollonian

In contrast to Dionysian, it refers to the most noble, godlike qualities of human nature and behavior

15. Apostrophe

A rhetorical device in which a speaker addresses a person or personified thing not present

16. Archetype

An abstract or ideal conception of a type: a perfectly typical example; an original model or form

17. Assonance

The repetition of two or more vowel sounds in a group of words or lines in poetry and prose

18. Ballad

A simple narrative verse that tells a story that is sung or recited

19. Bard

A poet; in olden times, a performer who told heroic stories to musical accompaniment

20. Bathos

The use of insincere or overdone sentimentality

21. Bibliography

A list of works cited or otherwise relevant to a subject or other work

22. Bildungsroman

A German word referring to a novel structured as a series of events that take place as the hero travels in quest of a goal

23. Bombast

Inflated, pretentious language used for trivial subjects

24. Burlesque

A work of literature meant to ridicule a subject; a grotesque imitation

25. Cacophony

Grating, inharmonious sounds

26. Caesura

A pause somewhere in the middle of a verse, often (but not always) marked by punctuation

27. Canon

The works considered most important in a national literature or period; works widely read and studied

28. Caricature

A grotesque likeness of striking qualities in persons and things

29. Carpe Diem

Literally, "seize the day"; enjoy life while you can, a common theme in literature

30. Catharsis

A cleansing of the spirit brought about by the pity and terror of a dramatic tragedy

31. Classic

A highly regarded work of literature or other art form that has withstood the test of time

32. Classical, Classicism

Deriving from the orderly qualities of ancient Greek and Roman culture; implies formality, objectivity, simplicity, and restraint

33. Climax

The high point, or turning point, of a story or play

34. Coming-of-age story / novel

A tale in which a young protagonist experiences an introduction to adulthood. The character may develop understanding via disillusionment, education, does of reality, or any other experiences that alter his or her emotional or intellectual maturity

35. Conceit

A witty or ingenious thought; a diverting or highly fanciful idea, often stated in figurative language

36. Connotation

The suggested or implied meaning of a word or phrase. Contrast with denotation

37. Consonance

The repetition of two or more consonant sounds in a group of words or a line of poetry

38. Couplet

A pair of rhyming lines in a poem

39. Denotation

The dictionary definition of a word. Contrast with connotation

40. Denouement The resolution that occurs at the end of a play or work of fiction

41. Deus Ex Machina

In literature, the use of an artificial device or gimmick to solve a problem

42. Diction

The choice of words in oral and written discourse

43. Dionysian

As distinguished from Apollonian, the word refers to sensual, pleasure-seeking impulses

44. Dramatic Irony

A circumstance in which the audience or reader knows more about a situation than a character

45. Elegy

A poem or prose selection that laments or meditates on the passing or death of something or someone of value

46. Ellipsis

Three periods (...) indicating the omission of words in a thought or quotation

47. Elliptical

A sentence containing a deliberate omission

Construction of words

48. Hyperbole

Overstatement; gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect

49. Idyll

A lyric poem or passage that describes a kind of ideal life or place

50. Image

A word or phrase representing that which can be seen, touched, tasted, smelled, or felt

51. In Medias Res

A Latin term for a narrative that starts not at the beginning of events but at some other critical point

52. Indirect Quotation

A rendering of a quotation in which actual words are not stated but only approximated or paraphrased

53. Irony

A mode of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is stated, often implying ridicule or light sarcasm; a state of affairs or events that is the reverse of what might have been expected

54. Kenning

A device employed in Anglo-Saxon poetry in which the name of a thing is replaced by one of its functions or qualities; Ex. "whale-road" for ocean

55. Lampoon

A mocking, satirical assault on a person or situation

56. Light verse

A variety of poetry meant to entertain or amuse, but sometimes with a satirical thrust

57. Litotes

A form of understatement in which the negative of of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity

58. Loose sentence

A sentence that follows the customary word order of English sentences, i.e., subject-verbobject. The main idea of the sentence is presented first and then followed by one or more subordinate clauses.

59. Lyric Poetry

Personal, reflective poetry that reveals the speaker's thoughts and feelings about the subject

60. Maxim

A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth

61. Melodrama

A literary form in which events are exaggerated in order to create an extreme emotional response

62. Metaphor

A figure of speech that compares unlike objects

63. Metaphysical Poetry

The work of poets, particularly those of the seventeenth century, that uses elaborate conceits, is highly intellectual, and expresses the complexities of love and life

64. Meter

The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables found in poetry

65. Metonymy

A figure of speech that uses the name of one thing to represent something else with which it is associated

66. Middle English

The language spoken in England roughly between 1150 and 1500 A.D.

67. Mock Epic

A parody of traditional epic form. It usually treats a frivolous topic with extreme seriousness, using conventions such as invocations to the Muse, action-packed battle scenes, and accounts of heroic exploits

68. Mode

The general form, pattern, and manner of expression of a work of literature

69. Montage

A quick succession of images or impressions used to express an idea

70. Mood

The emotional tone in a work of literature

71. Moral

A brief and often simplistic lesson that a reader may infer from a work of literature

72. Motif

A phrase, idea, or event that through repetition serves to unify or convey a theme in a work of literature

73. Muse

One of the ancient Greek goddesses presiding over the arts. The imaginary source of inspiration for an artist or writer.

74. Myth

An imaginary story that has become an accepted a part of the cultural or religious tradition of a group or society; often used to explain natural phenomena.

75. Narrative

A form of verse or prose that tells a story

76. Naturalism

A term often used as a synonym for realism; also a view of experience that is generally characterized as bleak and pessimistic; characters within this type of work often struggle unsuccessfully to exercise free will.

77. Non Sequitur

A statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before

78. Novel of Manners

A novel focusing on and describing the social customs and habits of a particular social group

79. Novella

A work of fiction of roughly 20,000 to 50,000 words-longer than a short story, but shorter than a novel

80. Ode

A lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exalted feelings toward the subject

81. Old English

The Anglo-Saxon language spoken in what is now English from approximately 450 to 1150 A.D.

82. Omniscient Narrator

A narrator with an unlimited awareness, understanding, and insight of characters, setting, background, and all other elements of the story

83. Onomatopoeia The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning

84. Ottava Rima

An eight-line rhyming stanza of a poem

85. Oxymoron

A term consisting of contradictory elements juxtaposed to create a paradoxical effect

86. Parable

A story consisting of events from which a moral or spiritual truth may be derived

87. Paradox

A statement that seems self-contradictory but is nevertheless true

88. Paraphrase

A version of a text put into simpler, everyday words

89. Parody

An imitation of a work meant to ridicule its style and subject

90. Passive Voice

A verb is in the ________ _____ when it expresses an action performed upon its subject or when the subject is in the result of the action.

91. Pastoral

A work of literature dealing with rural life

92. Pentameter

A verse with five poetic feet per line

93. Periodic sentence

A sentence that departs from the usual word order of English sentences by expressing its main thought only at the end. In other words, the particulars in the sentence are presented before the idea they support

94. Persona

The role or facade that a character assumes or depicts to a reader, a viewer, or the world at large

95. Personification A figure of speech in which objects and animals are given human characteristics

96. Picaresque Novel

An episodic novel about a roguelike wanderer who lives off his wits

97. Point of View

The relation in which a narrator or speaker stands to the story or subject matter of a poem

98. Protagonist

The main character in a work of literature

99. Pseudonym

Also called "pen name"; a false name or alias used by writers

100. Pulp Fiction

Novels written for mass consumption, often emphasizing exciting and titillating plots.

101. Pun

A humorous play on words, using similarsounding or identical words to suggest different meanings

102. Quatrain

A four-line poem or a four-line unit of a longer poem

103. Realism

A depiction of people, things, and events as they really are without idealization or exaggeration for effect

104. Rhetoric

The language of a work and its style; words, often highly emotional, used regard to a particular subject

105. Rhetorical Stance

Language that conveys a speaker's attitude or opinion with regard to a particular subject

106. Rhyme

The repetition of similar sounds at regular intervals, used mostly in poetry

107. Rhyme Scheme The pattern of rhymes within a given poem

108. Rhythm

The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that make up a line of poetry

109. Roman ? clef

French for a novel in which historical events and actual people appear under the guise of fiction

110. Romance

An extended narrative about improbable events and extraordinary people in exotic places

111. Sarcasm

A sharp, caustic expression or remark; a bitter jibe or taunt

112. Satire

A literary style used to poke fun at, attack or ridicule a idea, vice, or foible often for the purpose of inducing change

113. Scan

The act of determining the meter of a poetic line

114. Sentiment

A synonym for view or feeling; also a refined and tender emotion in literature

115. Sentimental

A term that describes characters' excessive emotional response to experience; also nauseatingly nostalgic and mawkish

116. Setting

The total environment for the action in a novel or play. It includes time, place, historical milieu, and social, political, and even spiritual circumstances.

117. Simile

A figurative comparison using the words like or as

118. Sonnet

A popular form of verse consisting of fourteen lines and a prescribed rhyme scheme.

119. Stanza

A group of two or more lines in poetry combined according to subject matter, rhyme, or some other plan

120. Stream of Consciousness

A style of writing in which the author tries to reproduce the random flow of thoughts in the human mind

121. Style

The manner in which an author uses and arranges words, shapes, ideas, forms sentences, and creates a structure to convey ideas

122. Subplot

A subordinate or minor collection of events in novel or play, usually connected to the main plot

123. Subtext

The implied meaning that underlies the main meaning of a work of literature

124. Symbolism

The use of one object to evoke ideas and associations not literally part of the original object

125. Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part signifies the whole or the whole signifies the part; when the name of a material stands for the thing itself (pigskin for football)

126. Syntax

The organization of language into meaningful structure

127. Theme

The main idea or meaning, often an abstract idea upon which a work of literature is built

128. Title Character

A character whose name appears in the title of the novel or play; also known as the eponymous character

129. Tone

The author's attitude toward the subject being written about; the characteristic emotion that pervades a work or part of work-in other words, the spirit or quality that is the work's emotional essence

130. Tragedy

A form of literature in which the hero is destroyed by some character flaw and a set of forces that cause the hero considerable anguish

131. Trope

The generic name for a figure of speech such as image, symbol, simile, and metaphor

132. Verbal Irony

A discrepancy between the true meaning of a situation and the literal meaning of the written or spoken words

133. Verisimilitude

Similar to the truth; the quality of realism in a work that persuades readers that they are getting a vision of life as it is.

134. Verse

A synonym for poetry. Also a group of lines in a song or poem; also a single line of poetry

135. Villanelle

A French verse form calculated to appear simple and spontaneous but consisting of nineteen lines and a prescribed pattern of rhymes

136. Voice

The real of assumed personality used by a writer or speaker.

137. Wit

The quickness of intellect and the power and talent for saying brilliant things that surprise and delight by their unexpected cleverness; the power to comment subtly and pointedly on the foibles of the passing scene

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