Generic Conventions: This term describes traditions for each genre. These conventions (established and universally accepted traditions) help define each genre; for example, they differentiate between an essay and journalistic writing or an autobiography and political writing. On the AP Language exam, try to distinguish the unique features of a writer's work from those dictated by convention.
Genre: The major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions of literature are: 1)Prose, 2) Poetry, and 3) Drama. However, genre is a flexible term; within these broad boundaries exist many subdivisions that are often called genres themselves. For example, prose can be divided into fiction (novels, short stories, etc.) or non-fiction (essays, biographies, etc.) Poetry can be divided into lyric, dramatic, narrative, epic, etc. Drama can be divided into tragedy, comedy, melodrama, farce, etc. On the AP Language exam, expect the majority of the passages to be from the following genres: autobiography, biography, diaries, letters, criticism, essays, and journalistic, political, scientific, and nature writing.
Homily: This term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.
Hyperbole: A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. Hyperboles often have a comic effect; however, a serious effect is also possible. Often, hyperbole produces irony at the same time.
Imagery: The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions. On a physical level, imagery uses terms related to the five senses; we refer to visual, auditory, tactile (touch), gustatory (taste), or olfactory (smell) imagery. On a broader and deeper level, however, one image can represent more than one thing. For example, a rose may represent visual imagery while also representing the color in a woman's cheeks. An author, therefore, may use complex imagery while simultaneously employing other figures of speech, especially simile and metaphor. In addition, this term can apply to the total of all the images in a work. On the AP exam, pay attention to how an author creates imagery and to the effect of that imagery.
Inference / Infer: To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented. When a multiple-choice question asks for an inference to be drawn from a passage, the most direct, most reasonable inference is the safest answer choice. If an inference is implausible, it's unlikely to be the correct answer. NOTE: If the answer choice is directly stated in the passage, it is not inferred, and is therefore the wrong answer!
Invective: An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.
Irony / Ironic: The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant. The difference between what appears to be and what actually is true. In general, there are three major types of irony used in language: 1) in verbal irony, the words literally state the opposite of the writer's (or speaker's) true meaning. 2) In situational irony, events turn out the opposite of what was expected. What the characters and readers think ought to happen is not what does happen. 3) In dramatic irony, facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or piece of fiction but known to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work. Irony is used for many reasons, but frequently, it's used to create poignancy or humor.
Loose Sentence: A type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses. If a period were placed at the end of the independent clause, the clause would be a complete sentence. A work containing many loose sentences often seems informal, relaxed, and conversational.
Metaphor: A figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity. Metaphorical language makes writing more vivid, imaginative, thought provoking, and meaningful.
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