AP Terms

A reference to a mythological, literary, or historical person, place, or thing.

A person or force in conflict with a protagonist.

Are the facts, revealed by the author or speaker that support the attitude or tone in a piece of poetry or prose.

Word choice intended to convey a certain effect, helps establish tone.

Refers to the feelings and attitudes associated with a word.

Refers to the dictionary definition of a word.

Is the use of a word or phrase that is less expressive or direct but considered less distasteful or offensive than another.

Is a scene that interrupts the action of a work to show a previous event.

Is the use of hints or clues in a narrative to suggest future action.

Exaggeration

An accepted phrase or expression having a meaning different from the literal ("There's nothing about me that breaks out of the ordinary mold." Or "You're always being called up on the carpet."

Description which appeals to all five senses.

Occurs when a character or speaker says or does something that has a different meaning from what he thinks it means, though the audience and other characters understand the full implications of the speech or action. When the audience knows more than the characters within the story. (Ie a character in a movie breaks a mirror and says, "I guess I'll have 7 years of bad luck," not actually expecting to have bad luck at all, but scoffing at the idea, while we as the audience know, but he doesn't that he is about to get fired from his job, his girlfriend will leave him, and his favorite aunt just died.)

When a situation has the opposite outcome of the intended purpose (ie a watch dog who was purchased to keep its owner safe, instead, mauls its owner.)

When a speaker or narrator says one thing while meaning its opposite.

A comparison of two unlike things.

The atmosphere or predominant emotion in a literary work; it is the emotional response.

A reason that explains a character's thoughts, feelings, actions or behavior of the reader to the text.

Attributing human characteristics to a nonhuman object.

Main character; the focus of the reader's attention.