diff --git a/dexlib2/src/main/java/org/jf/dexlib2/iface/Annotation.java b/dexlib2/src/main/java/org/jf/dexlib2/iface/Annotation.java
index 810fb048..251ac123 100644
--- a/dexlib2/src/main/java/org/jf/dexlib2/iface/Annotation.java
+++ b/dexlib2/src/main/java/org/jf/dexlib2/iface/Annotation.java
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ import java.util.Set;
 /**
  * This class represents a specific instance of an annotation applied to a class/field/method/parameter
  */
-public interface Annotation extends Comparable<Annotation> {
+public interface Annotation extends BasicAnnotation, Comparable<Annotation> {
     /**
      * Gets the visibility of this annotation.
      *
diff --git a/dexlib2/src/main/java/org/jf/dexlib2/iface/BasicAnnotation.java b/dexlib2/src/main/java/org/jf/dexlib2/iface/BasicAnnotation.java
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4433b6a6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/dexlib2/src/main/java/org/jf/dexlib2/iface/BasicAnnotation.java
@@ -0,0 +1,27 @@
+package org.jf.dexlib2.iface;
+
+import javax.annotation.Nonnull;
+import java.util.Set;
+
+/**
+ * This represents a basic annotation, and serves as a common superclass for Annotation and AnnotationEncodedValue
+ */
+public interface BasicAnnotation {
+    /**
+     * Gets the type of this annotation.
+     *
+     * This will be the type descriptor of the class that defines this annotation.
+     *
+     * @return The type of this annotation
+     */
+    @Nonnull String getType();
+
+    /**
+     * Gets a set of the name/value elements associated with this annotation.
+     *
+     * The elements in the returned set will be unique with respect to the element name.
+     *
+     * @return A set of AnnotationElements
+     */
+    @Nonnull Set<? extends AnnotationElement> getElements();
+}
diff --git a/dexlib2/src/main/java/org/jf/dexlib2/iface/value/AnnotationEncodedValue.java b/dexlib2/src/main/java/org/jf/dexlib2/iface/value/AnnotationEncodedValue.java
index bda7583e..c59b387a 100644
--- a/dexlib2/src/main/java/org/jf/dexlib2/iface/value/AnnotationEncodedValue.java
+++ b/dexlib2/src/main/java/org/jf/dexlib2/iface/value/AnnotationEncodedValue.java
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 package org.jf.dexlib2.iface.value;
 
 import org.jf.dexlib2.iface.AnnotationElement;
+import org.jf.dexlib2.iface.BasicAnnotation;
 
 import javax.annotation.Nonnull;
 import javax.annotation.Nullable;
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ import java.util.Set;
 /**
  * This class represents an encoded annotation value.
  */
-public interface AnnotationEncodedValue extends EncodedValue {
+public interface AnnotationEncodedValue extends EncodedValue, BasicAnnotation {
     /**
      * Gets the type of this annotation.
      *