AP Lang - ALL TERMS Flashcards
The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. An author may intend the characters to personify an abstraction like hope or freedom.
ex. Animal Farm is a _____ for the Russian Revolution
allegory
The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words.
ex. she sells sea shells by the sea shore
alliteration
A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. These can be historical, literary, religious, topical, or mythical.
allusion
A word, phrase, sentence, or passage having multiple meanings–either intentional or unintentional.
ambiguity
A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them. Can explain something unfamiliar by associating it with or pointing out its similarities to something more familiar.
analogy
The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.
ex. Charles rode his bike to the store
“his” refers to Charles
antecedent
A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle. Can be a memorable summation of the author’s point. (A well-known phrase).
ex. “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”
aphorism
A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or personified abstraction such as liberty or love; an address to someone/something that cannot answer.
ex. “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” (Romeo is not present, he cannot answer)
apostrophe
The emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the author’s choice of objects that are described.
atmosphere
A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb.
clause
The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.
colloquialism
A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects. Displays intellectual cleverness as a result of the unusual comparison being made.
conceit
The non-literal associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning.
connotation
The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color.
denotation
Related to style, refers to the writer’s word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness.
diction
A work having the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially teaching moral or ethical principles.
didactic
A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept.
ex. “passed away” rather than “died”
euphemism
A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work.
extended metaphor
Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid.
figurative language
A device used to produce figurative language. Many compare dissimilar things. Includes apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, metonymy, etc.
figure of speech
Term describing traditions for each genre. Help to define each genre.
ex. differentiates an essay from a journal
generic conventions
The major category into which a literary work fits.
genre
Usually a sermon, however it includes any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.
homily
A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement, often having a comic effect, sometimes producing irony.
hyperbole
The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions.
imagery
To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented.
inference
An emotionally violent verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.
invective
The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant. Three major types include verbal, situational, and dramatic. Used for many reasons but frequently for poignancy or humor.
irony
A type of sentence in which the main idea comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses.
loose sentence
A figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity.
metaphor
A figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.
metonymy
The emotion felt by the audience due to the writer’s choice of words and description.
mood
The telling of a story or an account of an event.
narrative
A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.
ex. buzzzzz, hiss, crack!, boom
onomatopoeia
A figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox.
ex. jumbo shrimp
oxymoron
A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity.
paradox
Term referring to the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity.
parallelism
A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.
parody
An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish; almost annoying
ex. Katie
pedantic
A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end.
periodic sentence
A figure of speech in which the author presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions.
personification
The perspective from which a story is told.
point of view
A type of subject complement–an adjective, group of adjectives, or adjective clause that follows a linking verb. In the predicate of a sentence and modifies or describes the subject.
predicate adjective
A second type of subject complement–a noun, group of nouns, or noun clause that renames the subject. It follows a linking verb and is located in the predicate of the sentence.
predicate nominative
One of the major divisions of genre, this refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms.
prose
The duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern.
repetition
Term describes the principle governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.
rhetoric
Describes the variety, the conventions, and the purposes of the major kinds of writing; the main four being exposition, argumentation, persuasion, and description.
rhetorical modes
Involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something. When well done it can be witty and insightful, but when poorly done is simply cruel.
sarcasm
A work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule.
satire
The branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words, their historical and psychological development, their connotations, and their relation to one another.
semantics
An evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices.
style
The word or clauses that follow a linking verb and complements, or completes, the subject of the sentence by either renaming it or describing it.
subject complement
A deductive system of formal logic that presents to premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion.
syllogism
Anything that represents itself and stands for something else.
symbolism
The way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences; sentence structure.
syntax
The central idea or message of a work, the insight it offers into life.
theme
The sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author’s opinion, purpose, meaning, or position.
thesis
Describes the author’s attitude toward their material, the audience, or both.
tone
A word or phrase that links different ideas.
transition
The ironic minimalizing of fact, presents something as less significant than it is. The effect can frequently be humorous and emphatic. Opposite of hyperbole.
understatement
Intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights.
wit
