AP English Language Vocabulary Set #1 Flashcards
Visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work
Imagery
A question asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to make a point rather than to get an answer
Rhetorical Question
The characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or community as manifested in its beliefs and aspirations.
Ethos
Appeals to the emotions and ideals of the audience and elicits feelings that already reside in them
Pathos
An appeal to rational discourse that relies on inductive and deductive reasoning
Logos
The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing
Diction
The mood implied by an author’s language and word choice, or to the way that the text can make a reader feel.
Tone
A comparison of two otherwise unlike things based on resemblance of a particular aspect
Analogy
A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable
Metaphor
A figure of speech that directly compares two things
Simile
The fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect
Juxtaposition
A short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.
Anecdote
A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political on
Allegory
The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words
Alliteration
A figure of speech, in which an object or circumstance from an unrelated context is referred to covertly or indirectly.
Allusion
The simple repeating of a word, within a short space of words, with no particular placement of the words to secure emphasis
Repetition
Using the same pattern of words to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance
Parallel Structure
The attribution of a personal nature or human characteristics to something nonhuman, or the representation of an abstract quality in human form
Personification
A rhetorical device that consists of repeating a sequence of words at the beginnings of neighboring clauses, thereby lending them emphasis
Anaphora
A type of communication that does not use a word’s strict or realistic meaning
Figurative Language
Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally
Hyperbole
The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities
Symbolism
The arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language
Syntax
A version of metaphor that extends over the course of multiple lines, paragraphs, or stanzas of prose or poetry.
Extended Metaphor
A device in which the last word or phrase of one clause, sentence, or line is repeated at the beginning of the next
Anadiplosis
A division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different
Dichotomy
A statement that seems to go against common sense but may still be true
Paradox
The expression of one’s meaning by using language that normally signifies the opposite, typically for humorous or emphatic effect
Irony
Opinions or interests shared by each of two or more parties
Common Ground
An exhortation or stimulus to do something in order to achieve an aim or deal with a problem.
Call to Action
A pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.”.
Aphorism
The addressing of an absent person as if present or of a personified thin
Apostrophe
The linguistic style used for casual communication
Colloquial
The writer establishes a comparison between two very different concepts or objects
Conceit
Intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive
Didactic
The appeal of higher authority such as a god.
Religious Appeal
The repetition of a word at the end of successive clauses or sentence
Epistrophe
A mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.
Euphemism
The language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region
Vernacular
The quality of being open to more than one interpretation; inexactness
Ambiguity
The background information on the characters and setting explained at the beginning of the story
Exposition
A speech or piece of writing in which someone complains about the state of something or tells people how they ought to behave.
Homily
Insulting, abusive, or highly critical language
Invective
A complex sentence in which the main clause, or main point, occurs at the end of the sentence instead of the beginning.
Periodic Sentence
The substitution of the name of an attribute or adjunct for that of the thing meant, for example suit for business executive, or the track for horse racing.
Metonymy
The formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named (e.g. cuckoo, sizzle)
Onomatopoeia
A figure of speech in which apparently contradictory terms appear in conjunction (e.g. faith unfaithful kept him falsely true )
Oxymoron
An imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect.
Parody
Excessively concerned with formalism ,accuracy and precision or an ostentatious and arrogant show of learning.
Pedantic
The use of irony to mock or convey contempt
Sarcasm
The use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people’s stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.
Satire
A figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa, as in Cleveland won by six runs (meaning “Cleveland’s baseball team”)
Synecdoche
The presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.
Understatement
An underlying quality or tone
Undertone
The use of clever statements, sarcasm, irony, and other humor-based statements in order to lay off judgment on a situation and make the listener enjoy the rhetoric analysis.
Wit
A figure of speech in which a word applies to two others in different senses (e.g., John and his license expired last week ) or to two others of which it semantically suits only one (e.g., with weeping eyes and hearts ).
Zeugma
A type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases
Loose Sentence
An instance of a form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn (whether validly or not) from two given or assumed propositions (premises), each of which shares a term with the conclusion, and shares a common or middle term not present in the conclusion (e.g., all dogs are animals; all animals have four legs; therefore all dogs have four legs)
Syllogism
An idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning
Connotation
The literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests
Denotation
