Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT a figure of speech?

1. Apostrophe

2. Iambic

3. Onomatopoeia

4. Hyperbole

The correct answer is: Iambic

Iambic is indeed not a figure of speech; rather, it refers to a metrical foot used in poetry. Specifically, an iamb consists of an unstressed syllable followed by a stressed syllable, commonly found in English verse. This concept is essential for analyzing the rhythm and structure of poems but does not function as a figure of speech, which typically involves using language in imaginative ways to convey meaning or create effects. In contrast, apostrophe, onomatopoeia, and hyperbole are all literary devices used to enhance writing by adding emphasis, sound, or exaggeration. Apostrophe addresses someone or something not present, onomatopoeia imitates natural sounds, and hyperbole involves deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or effect. Thus, identifying iambic as a metrical term rather than a figure of speech clarifies its distinct role in literature.