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Take the AP English Language & Composition Literary Terms Quiz Now!

Explore key AP English literary terms and devices - see how you score!

Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art of books letters and pencil on teal background for AP English Language Composition literary terms quiz

Ready to ace AP English Language & Composition? Test your command of terms ap english language and composition with our interactive free english composition terms quiz! You'll tackle ap english literary terms, explore literary devices ap lang quiz questions, and solidify vital ap language composition terminology. Whether you're reviewing key concepts or aiming for a top score, this quiz provides instant feedback and extra resources. Dig deeper into terms for ap language and composition or pair up with those ap literature vocabulary terms lists to amplify your prep. Take the challenge now and see how high you can score!

What is a metaphor?
A direct comparison between two unlike things
The repetition of initial consonant sounds
An exaggeration for emphasis
A figure of speech using 'like' or 'as'
A metaphor directly compares two unrelated things without using "like" or "as," implying they are the same to highlight shared qualities. Unlike similes, metaphors assert an identity between subject and comparison. They create vivid imagery and deeper meaning in literature. Learn more.
What is a simile?
A metaphorical statement without 'like' or 'as'
A comparison using 'like' or 'as'
A play on words
An understatement using negation
A simile explicitly compares two unlike things using the words "like" or "as" to highlight similarities. It differs from a metaphor, which makes direct comparisons without those words. Similes are common in poetry and everyday language for vivid description. Learn more.
Which term describes the repetition of initial consonant sounds in closely positioned words?
Alliteration
Onomatopoeia
Assonance
Consonance
Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words to create rhythm or mood. It differs from consonance, which can occur anywhere in the word. Poets often use alliteration for emphasis or musicality. Learn more.
What is personification?
A harsh, discordant mixture of sounds
An extreme exaggeration
Attributing human traits to non-human entities
A word that imitates a sound
Personification gives human qualities or abilities to animals, objects, or ideas, making them relatable. It enhances imagery and emotional connection. Writers use it to bring concepts to life. Learn more.
Which figure of speech involves intentional exaggeration for effect?
Metonymy
Hyperbole
Zeugma
Litotes
Hyperbole is an extreme exaggeration used for emphasis or effect. It is not meant to be taken literally but to highlight intensity. Hyperbole can create humor or drama in writing. Learn more.
What is onomatopoeia?
A word that imitates a natural sound
A question posed for effect
The repetition of vowel sounds
A direct comparison without 'like' or 'as'
Onomatopoeia describes words that phonetically imitate or suggest the sound they describe. Examples include "buzz" and "sizzle." It enhances sensory detail. Learn more.
What is irony?
A direct comparison using 'like' or 'as'
A contrast between expectation and reality
A play on words
An embellished statement not meant to be taken literally
Irony involves a discrepancy between what is expected and what actually occurs. It can be verbal, situational, or dramatic. Irony often adds humor or poignancy. Learn more.
Which term refers to two contradictory words placed together?
Oxymoron
Metaphor
Euphemism
Allusion
An oxymoron pairs contradictory terms (e.g., "deafening silence") to create a paradoxical effect. It highlights complexity or humor. Writers use oxymorons for emphasis and depth. Learn more.
What is an idiom?
A common phrase with a meaning different from its literal words
A summary of a text
The repetition of consonant sounds
A formal, elevated style of speech
An idiom is a phrase whose meaning cannot be deduced from the literal meanings of its words. For example, "kick the bucket" means to die. Idioms add color to language. Learn more.
What is a symbol in literature?
A pun or play on words
An object or element that represents a larger idea
A direct statement of theme
An extreme exaggeration
A symbol uses concrete objects or images to represent abstract ideas or themes, such as a dove for peace. Symbols add depth and layers of meaning. Readers interpret symbols in context. Learn more.
In literature, what does 'tone' refer to?
The central idea of the text
The grammatical perspective of narration
The author's attitude toward the subject
The general feeling evoked in the reader
Tone conveys the author's attitude or feelings about a subject, revealed through word choice and style. It differs from mood, which is the emotional atmosphere. Tone shapes reader perception. Learn more.
What is 'mood' in a literary work?
A recurring idea or message
The author's perspective
The emotional atmosphere experienced by the reader
The time and place of the story
Mood is the feeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader through descriptive details and imagery. It differs from tone, which is about the author's attitude. Mood influences how readers emotionally connect. Learn more.
Which term describes descriptive language that appeals to the senses?
Diction
Imagery
Syntax
Irony
Imagery uses vivid and descriptive language to evoke sensory experiences (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell). It enhances visualization and emotional impact. Writers rely on imagery for immersive storytelling. Learn more.
What does 'point of view' refer to in literature?
The central theme
The sequence of events
The perspective from which a story is told
The use of symbolic language
Point of view is the narrative perspective (first, second, third person) that determines how a story is presented. It shapes readers' understanding and intimacy with characters. Changing POV alters narrative tone and engagement. Learn more.
What is a theme in literary terms?
A minor decorative detail
The underlying central idea or message
The rhyme scheme
The narrative structure
A theme is the main message or underlying insight about life and human nature in a text. It transcends plot specifics and resonates universally. Authors subtly develop themes through characters and events. Learn more.
What does 'diction' refer to?
The author's choice of words and style of expression
The emotional tone of a text
The arrangement of words into sentences
The moral lesson of a story
Diction involves word choice, vocabulary, and phrasing used by an author to convey tone and style. Precise diction can establish formality, mood, and voice. It is essential for clear communication. Learn more.
What is anaphora?
Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses
Repetition at the end of clauses
Use of multiple conjunctions
Omission of conjunctions
Anaphora repeats a word or phrase at the start of successive sentences or clauses to create rhythm and emphasis. It enhances persuasion and emotional impact in speeches and poetry. Martin Luther King's speech uses powerful anaphora. Learn more.
What is epistrophe?
Repetition at the beginning of clauses
Use of contrasting ideas
A sudden interruption in thought
Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses
Epistrophe involves repeating words or phrases at the end of successive clauses or sentences for emphasis. It mirrors anaphora's effect but at the clause ends. Politicians often use it for impactful rhetoric. Learn more.
What is chiasmus?
A-B-B-A structure in phrases or clauses
Repetition of adjacent consonant sounds
A question followed by its answer
A type of pun
Chiasmus arranges ideas in an A-B-B-A pattern, reversing parallel clauses to highlight contrast or irony. For example, "Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You." It adds symmetry and impact. Learn more.
What is antithesis?
Overstated expression
Bitter harsh sounds
Contrast of ideas in parallel structure
Giving human traits to objects
Antithesis juxtaposes contrasting ideas in balanced grammatical structures to emphasize differences. For example, "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times." It sharpens arguments. Learn more.
What is synecdoche?
Repetition of vowel sounds
Naming something by association
An extreme understatement
Using a part to represent the whole
Synecdoche uses a part (like 'wheels') to represent the whole ('car'). It creates shorthand imagery and vividness. It is a common rhetorical device. Learn more.
What is metonymy?
Exaggeration for effect
Substituting something closely related
A direct comparison without 'as'
Omission of conjunctions
Metonymy replaces a word with something closely associated, like 'the White House' for the U.S. executive branch. It provides a concise reference. Writers use it for stylistic effect. Learn more.
What is an epithet?
A question posed by the speaker
A figure of speech using sound imitation
A descriptive term expressing a quality
A sudden break in syntax
An epithet is a descriptive adjective or phrase that highlights a characteristic of a person or thing, like 'rosy-fingered dawn.' It adds vivid detail. Learn more.
What is apostrophe?
Addressing an absent or inanimate entity
Contrasting ideas side by side
Repetition at the start of clauses
A short statement expressing a general truth
Apostrophe occurs when a speaker directly addresses a person who is not present, an abstract idea, or an object, as if it were alive. It's common in poetry and drama. Learn more.
What is polysyndeton?
Omitting conjunctions between clauses
Repetition of a word at end
Repetition at the beginning
Using many conjunctions in close succession
Polysyndeton uses multiple conjunctions (like 'and', 'or') to link clauses, slowing rhythm and adding emphasis. It contrasts with asyndeton. Joyce uses it in Ulysses. Learn more.
What is asyndeton?
Omission of conjunctions between clauses
Use of excessive adjectives
Repetition of consonant sounds
A-B-B-A structure
Asyndeton omits conjunctions between related clauses or phrases to create a concise and dramatic effect. For example, 'I came, I saw, I conquered.' It's used for speed and emphasis. Learn more.
What is zeugma?
Repetition of vowel sounds
A rhetorical question
A direct comparison
A single word governing two others in different ways
Zeugma involves one word (usually a verb) applied to two or more objects, blending together grammatically and logically different ideas, e.g., 'He stole my heart and my wallet.' Learn more.
What is litotes?
Overstatement for emphasis
Repetition at clause start
Understatement by negating the opposite
Play on words
Litotes expresses an affirmative by negating its opposite, like 'not bad' for good. It softens statements. It's common in ironic or nuanced expression. Learn more.
What is isocolon?
A play on words
Repetition at end
Parallel structures of equal length
Contrast of ideas
Isocolon is a succession of parallel clauses of equal length and structure, creating a balanced rhythm, as in 'Easy come, easy go.' Learn more.
What is parallelism?
Repetition of similar grammatical structures
Sudden shift in narrative
Omission of conjunctions
Use of harsh sounds
Parallelism involves repeating a chosen grammatical form within a sentence or across sentences to create pattern and balance, e.g., 'She likes dancing, singing, and painting.' Learn more.
What is juxtaposition?
A question answered by the author
Repeating a word at the beginning
Placing elements side by side for contrast
A figure of speech using sound imitation
Juxtaposition places two ideas, characters, or images close together to highlight contrasts or comparisons, enriching thematic depth. It's common in poetry and prose. Learn more.
What is anadiplosis?
Use of multiple conjunctions
Broken sentence structure
Omitting articles
Repetition of the last word of a clause at the start of the next
Anadiplosis repeats the last word of a clause at the beginning of the next clause, creating a link, as in 'Fear leads to anger; anger leads to hate.' Learn more.
What is antanaclasis?
Repetition of a word in two different senses
An extreme exaggeration
A sudden change of subject
A direct comparison
Antanaclasis repeats a word or phrase but changes its meaning in the second instance, like 'If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you'll be fired.' It's a punning device. Learn more.
What is cacophony?
Harsh, discordant sounds in literature
Repetition of vowel sounds
A pleasant sounding phrase
A change in narrative time
Cacophony uses jarring, harsh-sounding words to create an unsettling effect, often reflecting disorder or violence. It contrasts with euphony. Learn more.
What is euphony?
Sudden interruption in syntax
Pleasant, harmonious sounds in language
Repetition at clause ends
Harsh, discordant sounds
Euphony refers to pleasant, melodic sounds and smooth word choices that are pleasing to the ear. It often appears in poetry and prose. Learn more.
What is epanalepsis?
A two-word rhyme
Repetition of the initial word at the end of a clause
Part of speech reordering
A question followed by an answer
Epanalepsis repeats the first word or phrase of a sentence at its end, creating emphasis and framing the statement, e.g., 'Beloved is mine; she is beloved.' Learn more.
What is hypophora?
Repeating at the start
Asking a question and then answering it
A sudden shift in tone
Omitting conjunctions
Hypophora poses a question and immediately provides an answer, guiding the audience and emphasizing key points. It's common in speeches. Learn more.
What is prolepsis in narrative?
Flash-forward to future events
Understatement for effect
Naming by association
Repetition at clause end
Prolepsis involves a flash-forward, narrating future events before returning to the present timeline. It builds suspense and dramatic irony. Learn more.
What is tautology?
A direct comparison
A terse statement
Redundant repetition of meaning
A figure based on sound imitation
Tautology repeats the same idea in different words, like 'free gift.' It is often considered a fault, causing redundancy. Writers avoid it for conciseness. Learn more.
What is pleonasm?
A humorous play on words
Use of more words than necessary
Omission of articles
Sudden break in thought
Pleonasm uses superfluous words, such as 'I saw it with my own eyes.' It can add emphasis or be stylistically redundant. Learn more.
What is aporia?
Repetition at clause start
Sudden change in paragraph
A pun
Expressing doubt about an idea
Aporia is the rhetorical expression of doubt about a question, often feigned, to engage the audience. It signals rhetorical deliberation. Learn more.
What is diacope?
Immediate repetition
Use of harsh sounds
Balancing clauses
Repetition of a word with one or two between
Diacope repeats a word or phrase after a brief interval, like 'to be free, you must be free.' It emphasizes concepts with rhythmic effect. Learn more.
What is parataxis?
Repetition at clause ends
A humorous jab
Placing clauses side by side without conjunctions
Using complex subordinate clauses
Parataxis lists clauses or phrases without conjunctions or with coordinating ones, creating a rapid, straightforward style. It contrasts with hypotaxis. Learn more.
What is hypotaxis?
Use of subordinate clauses to show relationships
Omission of conjunctions
A sudden shift in syntax
A play on words
Hypotaxis uses subordinate conjunctions or clauses to indicate hierarchical relationships between ideas. It produces a more complex and explanatory style. Learn more.
What is antimetabole?
A sudden narrative break
Repetition at clause ends
Repetition of words in reverse order
Understatement
Antimetabole repeats words in successive clauses, but in reverse grammatical order, like 'Eat to live, not live to eat.' It highlights contrasts and balances ideas. Learn more.
What is epizeuxis?
Immediate repetition of a word for emphasis
Repetition with intervening words
An abrupt ending
Use of multiple conjunctions
Epizeuxis is the direct, immediate repetition of a word or phrase, such as 'Never, never, never.' It intensifies emotion or urgency. Learn more.
What is polyptoton?
Repetition of a root word with different endings
Repetition at beginning
A series of balanced clauses
Strong contrast
Polyptoton repeats words derived from the same root but with different inflections, like 'strong' and 'strength.' It reinforces central themes. Learn more.
What is bathos?
Repeating a word at end
A witty remark
A noble descent
An abrupt shift from serious to trivial
Bathos is an unintentional drop from the sublime to the ridiculous, often producing anticlimax. It can create humor or awkwardness. Learn more.
What is syllepsis?
A form of zeugma where a word is applied differently to two others
Use of harsh sounds
A pun
Repetition at clause start
Syllepsis is a specialized zeugma where a single word governs two others in different senses, like 'She blew my nose and my mind.' It's subtle and sophisticated. Learn more.
What is paronomasia?
A classical allusion
A dramatic irony
A pun or play on words
Repetition of vowel sounds
Paronomasia is the use of words that sound alike but have different meanings, creating a pun. It adds wit and multiple layers of meaning. Learn more.
What is hypallage?
Transferring an adjective to a noun it does not logically describe
Repetition at the end
A question answered by the author
A broken syntax
Hypallage (transferred epithet) describes a noun with an adjective meant for another noun, like 'restless night.' It shifts descriptive emphasis. Learn more.
What is anacoluthon?
Reversal of word order
Use of harmonious sounds
Repetition of alliteration
Interruption in sentence structure creating broken syntax
Anacoluthon abandons one syntactic structure for another mid-sentence, reflecting natural speech or thought. It creates dramatic effect or confusion. Learn more.
What is metanoia as a rhetorical device?
An elaborate metaphor
Emphasizing a point by retracting and restating more strongly
A type of parallelism
A sudden shift in tense
Metanoia corrects a statement to intensify its impact, e.g., 'I hate you - no, I despise you.' It adds rhetorical emphasis. Learn more.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Essential Literary Devices -

    Recognize and recall core elements such as metaphor, irony, and allusion, ensuring solid comprehension before taking the quiz.

  2. Define AP English Language and Composition Terminology -

    Articulate precise definitions for terms ap english language and composition, reinforcing your vocabulary and boosting retention.

  3. Analyze Literary Devices in Context -

    Examine sample passages to see how devices function in real texts and prepare effectively for the literary devices AP Lang quiz.

  4. Differentiate Overlapping Literary Terms -

    Distinguish between similar ap english literary terms to reduce confusion and improve accuracy on assessments.

  5. Apply Literary Terms in Composition -

    Use key devices purposefully in your own writing to sharpen style, structure, and argumentation.

  6. Evaluate Rhetorical Strategies -

    Assess authorial choices and effects using ap language composition terminology, enhancing critical reading and analytical skills.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Rhetorical Appeals (Ethos, Pathos, Logos) -

    Ethos establishes the speaker's credibility, Pathos taps into audience emotions, and Logos relies on logic and evidence. Remember the mnemonic "EPL" to keep the trio in mind. For example, citing a peer-reviewed study boosts Logos, while a heartfelt anecdote appeals to Pathos.

  2. Rhetorical Modes (Exposition, Narration, Description, Argumentation) -

    These four modes organize how writers present ideas: Exposition explains concepts, Narration tells a story, Description paints sensory details, and Argumentation persuades with claims and evidence. Recognize each mode by its central purpose - e.g., a narrative might open with "Once upon a time," while an argument begins with a clear thesis. College Board materials emphasize mastering all four for versatile writing.

  3. Figurative Language: Simile vs. Metaphor -

    Similes compare using "like" or "as," as in "brave as a lion," while metaphors make direct comparisons - "Time is a thief." Both enrich prose and are key AP English literary terms. A handy trick: if you can add "like" or "as," you've got a simile; if not, it's a metaphor.

  4. Schemes: Parallelism and Antithesis -

    Parallelism balances grammatical structures for rhythm ("I came, I saw, I conquered"), while antithesis sets contrasting ideas side by side ("It was the best of times, it was the worst of times"). These devices heighten impact and clarity. Purdue OWL notes that spotting schemes earns strong analysis points on the AP exam.

  5. Diction and Syntax -

    Diction is word choice - formal or colloquial - and syntax is sentence arrangement, from simple to complex. For instance, short, choppy sentences can create urgency, while long, periodic clauses build suspense. Understanding how tone shifts with a single adjective or sentence inversion is crucial for AP English composition terminology.

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