AP Glossary #2 Flashcards
Definition foreshadowing
When an author gives hints about what will occur later in a story.
Example foreshadowing
In The Lord of the Rings, Bilbo’s pity is foreshadowed: Frodo: “What a pity that Bilbo did not stab that vile creature when he had a chance!”
Impact of foreshadowing
Foreshadowing increases a story’s sense of foreboding, tension, or suspense, as readers might not know what exactly is going to happen, but they know it’s going to be bad. Foreshadowing increases a story’s sense of anticipation, as readers want to know what will happen.
Definition Genre
The major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions of literature are prose, poetry, and drama. However, genres can be subdivided as well (poetry can be classified into lyric, dramatic, narrative, etc.).
Definition Gothic
Writing characterized by gloom, mystery, fear and/or death. Also refers to an architectural style of the middle ages, often seen in cathedrals of this period.
Example Gothic
The book Dracula by Bram Stoker
Definition Imagery
Word or words that create a picture in the reader’s mind. Usually this involves the five senses.
Example Imagery
“The sky was as blue as the ocean and the clouds sailed across it like white boats.” “Her perfume smelled like a garden of fresh roses in bloom.”
Impact of Imagery
Imagery enhances character, setting, meaning, and theme in literature. Sensory imagery adds emotional power to writing because it connects with personal experiences of the reader.
Definition Invective
A long, emotionally violent, attack using strong, abusive language.
Example Invective
Invective example in Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift “I cannot but conclude the bulk of your natives to be the most pernicious race of little odious vermin that nature ever suffered to crawl upon the surface of the earth.”
Impact of Invective
Invective is an important literary device in that the insult can arouse negative emotion in the audience as well as the target of the insult.
Definition Irony
When the opposite of what you expect to happen does.
Definition Verbal Irony
When you say something and mean the opposite/something different.
Example Verbal Irony
If your gym teacher wants you to run a mile in eight minutes or faster, but calls it a “walk in the park” it would be verbal irony.
Impact of Verbal Irony
Authors use verbal irony to reveal hidden layers about a character’s true thoughts and feelings.
Definition Dramatic Irony
When the audience of a drama, play, movie, etc. knows something that the character doesn’t and would be surprised to find out.
Example Dramatic Irony
In many horror movies the audience knows who the killer is, which the victim-to-be has no idea who is doing the slaying. Sometimes the character trusts the killer completely when (ironically) he/she shouldn’t.
Impact Dramatic Irony
Dramatic irony can create contrast, tension, and suspense in writing. It can also be used for comedy by letting readers in on a joke.
Definition Situational Irony
Found in the plot or story line of a book, or movie. Sometimes it makes you laugh because it’s funny how things turn out.
Example Situational Irony
Johnny spent two hours planning on sneaking into the movie theater and missed the movie. When he finally did manage to sneak inside he found out that kids were admitted free that day,
Impact Situational Irony
Situational irony highlights themes like the unpredictability of life and challenges preconceived notions.
Definition Juxtaposition
Placing things side by side for the purposes of comparison.
Example Juxtaposition
An author my juxtapose the average day of a typical American with that of someone in the third world in order to make a point of social commentary.
Impact Juxtaposition
Writers use juxtaposition as a literary device in literature to emphasize differences, stir emotions, highlight themes, foil characters, and make their stories richer.
Definition Mood
The atmosphere created by the literature and accomplished through word choice (diction).
Definition Motif
A recurring idea in a piece of literature.
Example Motif
In To Kill a Mockingbird, the idea that “you never really understand another person until you consider things from his or her point of view” is a motif, because the idea is brought up several times over the course of the novel.
Impact Motif
A motif can highlight something about a character, to help us understand them better, or it can help to establish the mood of the story.
Definition Oxymoron
When apparently contradictory terms are grouped together and suggest a paradox
Example oxymoron
“wise fool,” “eloquent silence,” “jumbo shrimp.”
Impact oxymoron
The use of oxymorons creates a dramatic effect and forces the reader to stop and think about the complexity of an idea.
Definition Pacing
The speed or tempo of an author’s writing.
Example pacing
The Therapist by B A Paris is an example of an exciting story that moves at pace to keep the reader engaged. There are lots of fast-moving action scenes, various dialogue-heavy chapters and a short snappy narrative. The end result is a fast-paced novel, encouraging readers to turn to the next page.
Impact Pacing
Pace plays a significant role in evoking emotions in readers.
Definition Paradox
A seemingly contradictory situation which is actually true.
Example Paradox
“You can’t get a job without experience, and you can’t get experience without getting a job.”
Impact Paradox
An author might use a paradox in order to draw in the reader to think unconventionally about an idea or concept presented in the text.
Definition Parallelism
Sentence construction which places equal grammatical constructions near each other, or repeats identical grammatical patterns.
Example parallelism
“Cinderella swept the floor, dusted the mantle, and beat the rugs.”
Impact Parallelism
Parallelism makes the idea easier for readers to process because they sense a pattern and know what to expect.
Definition Anaphora
Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences or clauses in a row
example Anaphora
“I came, I saw, I conquered.”
impact anaphora
This is a deliberate form of repetition and helps make the writer’s point more coherent.
definition chiasmus
When the same words are used twice in succession, but the second time, the order of the words is reversed.
example chiasmus
“Fair is foul and foul is fair.” “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”
impact chiasmus
The technique creates a memorable rhythm and deepens the idea through contrast.
Definition antithesis
Two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses, or even ideas, with parallel structure.
Example antithesis
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”
Impact Antithesis
Antithesis enhances your writing by illuminating differences and making your point more persuasive.
Definition Zuegma
When a single word governs or modifies two or more other words, and the meaning of the first word must change for each of the other words it governs or modifies.
Example Zuegma
“The butler killed the lights, and then the mistress.” “I quickly dressed myself and the salad.”
Impact Zuegma
The purpose of zeugma is usually to amuse or cause the reader to pause and think.
Definition Parenthetical Idea
Parentheses are used to set off an idea from the rest of the sentence. It is almost considered an aside…a whisper, and should be used sparingly for effect, rather than repeatedly.
Example Parenthetical Idea
“In a short time (and the time is getting shorter by the gallon) America will be out of oil.”
Impact Parenthetical Idea
Parentheses (or round brackets) can help fiction authors evoke a sense of simultaneity in their viewpoint character’s experience.
Definition Parody
An exaggerated imitation of a serious work for humorous purposes. It borrows words or phrases from an original, and pokes fun at it.
Example parody
The Simpsons often parody Shakespeare plays. Saturday Night Live also parodies famous persons and events
Definition Persona
The fictional mask or narrator that tells a story.
