AP Terms Flashcards
allegory
story or poem in which characters, settings, and events stand for other people or events or for abstract ideas or qualities
alliteration
repetition of the same similar consonant sounds in words that are close together
allusion
indirect reference to something
analogy
comparison made between two thing to show how they are alike
anecdote
brief story, told to illustrate a point or serve as an example of something, often shows character of an individual
anthropomorphism
attributing human characteristics to an animal or inanimate object
aphorism
brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life, or of a principle or accepted general truth
assonance
the repetition of similar vowel sounds followed by different consonant sounds especially in words that are together
asyndeton
commas used without conjunction to separate a series of words, thus emphasizing the parts equally
balance
constructing a sentence so that both halves are about the same length and importance
characterization
the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character
indirect characterization
the author reveals to the reader what the character is like by describing how the character looks and dresses, by letting the reader hear what the character says, by revealing the character’s private thoughts and feelings, by revealing the characters effect on other people, or by showing the character in action
direct characterization
the author tells us directly what the character is like
static character
one who does not change much in the course of the story
dynamic character
one who changes in some important way as a result of the story’s action
flat character
has only one or two personality traits
round character
has more dimension to their personalities, they are complex
