ap lang lit terms #2

allusion

A reference to another work of literature, person, or event

anaphora

the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses

apostrophe

A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.

conceit

a fanciful, particularly clever extended metaphor

Epistrophe

the repetition of a word at the end of successive clauses or sentences

figurative language

Language that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.

paradox

a statement that seems contradictory but is actually true

Parallelism

similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses

personification

A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes