AP Literary Devices Vocabulary
Metaphor/Simile: Metaphor- When ideas, actions, or objects are described in non-literal terms. In short, it's when an author compares one thing to another. Simile- A type of metaphor in which an object, idea, character, action, etc., is compared to another thing using the words "as" or "like."
Example (Metaphor): "What light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun." In this line from Romeo and Juliet, Romeo compares Juliet to the sun. Example (Simile): "She is as vicious as a lion." Since this statement uses the word "as" to make a comparison between "she" and "a lion,".
Symbolism-Refers to the use of an object, figure, event, situation, or other idea in a written work to represent something else—typically a broader message or deeper meaning that differs from its literal meaning.
Example- In F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel The Great Gatsby, the green light that sits across from Gatsby's mansion symbolizes Gatsby's hopes and dreams.
Soliloquy- A type of monologue that's often used in dramas, a soliloquy is when a character speaks aloud to himself, thereby revealing his inner thoughts and feelings.
Example-In Romeo and Juliet, Juliet's speech on the balcony that begins with, "O Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou Romeo?" is a soliloquy, as she is speaking aloud to herself.
Irony: When a statement is used to express an opposite meaning than the one literally expressed by it. There are three types of irony in literature: Verbal irony: When someone says something but means the opposite (similar to sarcasm). Situational irony: When something happens that's the opposite of what was expected or intended to happen. Dramatic irony: When the audience is aware of the true intentions or outcomes, while the characters are not. As a result, certain actions and/or events take on different meanings for the audience than they do for the characters involved.
Example: Verbal irony: One example of this type of irony can be found in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Cask of Amontillado." Situational irony: A girl wakes up late for school and quickly rushes to get there. As soon as she arrives, though, she realizes that it's Saturday and there is no school. Dramatic irony: In William Shakespeare's Romeo and Juliet, Romeo commits suicide in order to be with Juliet
synecdoche- A literary device in which part of something is used to represent the whole, or vice versa. It's similar to a metonym (see above)
Example: "Help me out, I need some hands!" In this case, "hands" is being used to refer to people (the whole human, essentially).
Malapropism - Happens when an incorrect word is used in place of a word that has a similar sound. This misuse of the word typically results in a statement that is both nonsensical and humorous; as a result, this device is commonly used in comedic writing.
Example: "I just can't wait to dance the flamingo!" Here, a character has accidentally called the flamenco (a type of dance) the flamingo (an animal).
Hyperbole- An exaggerated statement that's not meant to be taken literally by the reader. It is often used for comedic effect and/or emphasis.
Example: "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse." The speaker will not literally eat an entire horse (and most likely couldn't), but this hyperbole emphasizes how starved the speaker feels.
Euphemism: when a more mild or indirect word or expression is used in place of another word or phrase that is considered harsh, blunt, vulgar, or unpleasant.
Example: "I'm so sorry, but he didn't make it." The phrase "didn't make it" is a more polite and less blunt way of saying that someone has died.
Litotes- Ironic understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary.
Example: "It's not the best weather today" or "He's not the sharpest knife in the drawer, if you know what I mean."
Allusion: When an author makes an indirect reference to a figure, place, event, or idea originating from outside the text. Many allusions make reference to previous works of literature or art.
Example: "Stop acting so smart—it's not like you're Einstein or something." This is an allusion to the famous real-life theoretical physicist Albert Einstein.
Epanalepsis: Using the same words at the beginning and the end of a sentence or phrase.
Example: "The king is dead, long live the king!
Metonymy- When a related word or phrase is substituted for the actual thing to which it's referring. This device is usually used for poetic or rhetorical effect.
Example: "The pen is mightier than the sword." This statement, which was coined by Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839.
Personification- When a nonhuman figure or other abstract concept or element is described as having human-like qualities or characteristics. Personification is used to help the reader create a clearer mental picture of the scene or object being described.
Example: "The wind moaned, beckoning me to come outside." In this example, the wind—a nonhuman element—is being described as if it is human (it "moans" and "beckons").
Anachronism: occurs when there is an (intentional) error in the chronology or timeline of a text. This could be a character who appears in a different time period than when he actually lived, or a technology that appears before it was invented. Anachronisms are often used for comedic effect.
Example: A Renaissance king who says, "That's dope, dude!" would be an anachronism, since this type of language is very modern and not actually from the Renaissance period.
Asyndeton: When the writer leaves out conjunctions (such as "and," "or," "but," and "for") in a group of words or phrases so that the meaning of the phrase or sentence is emphasized. It is often used for speeches since sentences containing asyndeton can have a powerful, memorable rhythm.
Example: Abraham Lincoln ends the Gettysburg Address with the phrase by leaving out certain conjunctions, he ends the speech on a more powerful, melodic note.
Imagery- When an author describes a scene, thing, or idea so that it appeals to our senses (taste, smell, sight, touch, or hearing). Often used to help the reader clearly visualize parts of the story by creating a strong mental picture.
Example: An example of imagery can taken from William Wordsworth's famous poem "I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud"
Allegory: A story that is used to represent a more general message about real-life (historical) issues and/or events. It is typically an entire book, novel, play, etc.)
Example: Animal Farm (an allegory for the events preceding the Russian Revolution and the Stalinist era in early 20th century Russia.)
Onomatopoeia: A word that represents a sound and actually resembles or imitates the sound it stands for. It is often used for dramatic, realistic, or poetic effect.
Example: Buzz, boom, chirp, creak, sizzle, zoom, etc.
Oxymoron- A combination of two words that, together, express a contradictory meaning. Often used for emphasis, for humor, to create tension, or to illustrate a paradox.
Example: Deafening silence, organized chaos, cruelly kind, insanely logical, etc.
Polysyndeton-Using several conjunctions in a sentence.
Example: Example: "I wore a sweater, and a hat, and a scarf, and a pair of boots, and mittens."
Paradox- A statement that appears illogical or self-contradictory but, upon investigation, might actually be true or plausible. A paradox is an entire phrase or sentence, whereas an oxymoron is a combination of just two words.
Example: Here's a famous paradoxical sentence: "This statement is false." If the statement is true, then it isn't actually false (as it suggests). But if it's false, then the statement is true! Thus, this statement is a paradox because it is both true and false at the same time.
Mood- The general feeling the writer wants the audience to have. The writer can achieve this through description, setting, dialogue, and word choice.
Example: Here's a passage from J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit
Epistrophe: is similar to anaphora, but in this case, the repeated word or phrase appears at the end of successive statements. Like anaphora, it is used to evoke an emotional response from the audience.
Example: In Lyndon B. Johnson's speech, "The American Promise,"
Tone- While mood is what the audience is supposed to feel, tone is the writer or narrator's attitude towards a subject.
Example: In an essay disdaining Americans and some of the sites they visit as tourists, Rudyard Kipling begins with the line, "Today I am in the Yellowstone Park, and I wish I were dead." If you enjoy Yellowstone and/or national parks, you may not agree with the author's tone in this piece.
Anthropomorphism: occurs when something nonhuman, such as an animal, place, or inanimate object, behaves in a human-like way.
Example: Mickey and Minnie Mouse can speak, wear clothes, sing, dance, drive cars, etc. Real mice can't do any of these things.
Juxtaposition- The comparing and contrasting of two or more different (usually opposite) ideas, characters, objects, etc. This literary device is often used to help create a clearer picture of the characteristics of one object or idea by comparing it with those of another.
Example: One of the most famous literary examples of juxtaposition is the opening passage from Charles Dickens' novel A Tale of Two Cities
Foreshadowing: When an author indirectly hints at things such as dialogue, description, or characters' actions—what's to come later on in the story. This device is often used to introduce tension to a narrative.
Example: Say you're reading a fictionalized account of Amelia Earhart. "Be safe. Wouldn't want you getting lost—or worse." This line would be an example of foreshadowing because it implies that something bad will happen to Earhart.
Satire- A genre of writing that criticizes something, such as a person, behavior, belief, government, or society. Satire often employs irony, humor, and hyperbole to make its point.
Example: The Onion is a satirical newspaper and digital media company. It uses satire to parody common news features such as opinion columns, editorial cartoons, and click bait headlines.
Repetition- When a word or phrase is written multiple times, usually for the purpose of emphasis. It is often used in poetry.
Example: When Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the score for the hit musical Hamilton, gave his speech at the 2016 Tonys.
Anaphora-when a word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of multiple sentences throughout a piece of writing. It's used to emphasize the repeated phrase and evoke strong feelings in the audience.
Example: Winston Churchill's "We Shall Fight on the Beaches'' speech.
flashback- An interruption in a narrative that depicts events that have already occurred, either before the present time or before the time at which the narration takes place. Often used to give the reader more background information and details about specific characters, events, plot points, and so on.
Example: Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë is a flashback from the point of view of the housekeeper, Nelly Dean, as she engages in a conversation with a visitor named Lockwood.
Colloquialism: The use of informal language and slang. It's often used by authors to lend a sense of realism to their characters and dialogue. Forms of colloquialism include words, phrases, and contractions that aren't real words (such as "gonna" and "ain't").
Examples: "Hey, what's up, man?" This piece of dialogue is an example of a colloquialism, since it uses common everyday words and phrases, namely "what's up" and "man."
Epigraph: When an author inserts a famous quotation, poem, song, or other short passage or text at the beginning of a larger text (e.g., a book, chapter, etc.).
Examples: At the beginning of Ernest Hemingway's book The Sun Also Rises is an epigraph that consists of a quotation from poet Gertrude Stein, which reads, "You are all a lost generation," and a passage from the Bible.