AP Spanish Literature Figures of Speech

Aliteration

• A stylistic device characterized by the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in a series of words.
• Example: "Allen ate apples awkwardly."

Hyperbole

• An intentional and extreme exaggeration used to emphasize a point.
• Example: "I literally died."

Metaphor

• A figure of speech that asserts that one thing is another, highlighting similarities without using "like" or "as."
• Example: "Freddie is a pig when he eats."

Onomatopoeia

• The use of words that phonetically imitate or suggest the sound they describe.
• Example: "Boo!"

Personification

• Attributing human qualities to animals, objects, or abstract ideas.
• Example: "The fire ran wild."

Simile

• A comparison between two different things using "like" or "as" for emphasis and vividness.
• Example: "I'm as brave as a lion."

Anaphora

• The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences or lines for rhetorical effect.
• Example: "I have a dream that..."

Antithesis

• A device that contrasts two opposing ideas for a striking effect.
• Example: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."

Apostrophe

• A literary device addressing a person or entity not present in the conversation.
• Example: "Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are..."

Circumlocution (or Periphrasis)

• An indirect, wordy way of expressing an idea, often used to avoid precision.
• Describes elaborate imagery, as in describing a jungle or conditions of the land.

Ellipsis

• The omission of a word or series of words that is understood in context, often indicated by three dots (...).

Enumeration

• A complete and organized listing of items in a collection.
• Example: "Get eggs, rice, cheese, butter, and milk please."

Euphemism

• A milder or softer term used to replace a harsh or blunt one regarding unpleasant topics.
• Example: "Passed away" instead of "died."

Gradation

• A scale or sequence in which elements are arranged in order of increasing significance or intensity.

Hyperbaton

• An inversion of the normal word order in a sentence for emphasis.
• Example: "This I must see."

Asyndeton

• The deliberate omission of conjunctions between parts of a sentence to speed up the rhythm.
• Example: "I came, I saw, I conquered."

Cacophony

• The use of harsh, discordant sounds in language, primarily through consonants.
• Example from a Lewis Carroll poem.

Epitheton

• A descriptive adjective or phrase that characterizes a person or thing.
• Example: "Sailing across the wine-dark sea."

Metonymy

• A figure of speech where a thing is referred to by the name of an associated concept.
• Example: "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears."

Paradox

• A statement that contradicts itself but may still hold truth.
• Example: "I must be cruel to be kind."

Polysyndeton

• The use of multiple conjunctions where they could be omitted, to create a sense of multiplicity.
• Example: "He ran and jumped and laughed for joy."

Synecdoche

• A figure of speech where a part of something represents the whole, or vice versa.
• Example: "She organized her life around the little yellow ball."

Synesthesia

• A literary technique where writers evoke sensory experiences that appeal to multiple senses simultaneously.
• Example: Descriptions of colors in relation to words and sensations.

Retruécano

• A form of wordplay or pun that exploits similar-sounding words for humorous effect.
• Example: "The two pianists had a good marriage. They always were in a chord."

This quiz focuses on key rhetorical figures commonly encountered in AP Spanish Literature, including aliteración, hipérbole, and metáfora. Enhance your understanding of these literary devices to excel in your analysis and interpretation of texts. Perfect for students preparing for AP exams.