AP Lang college board terms Flashcards
abstract language
intangible ideas rather than real world objects
allegory
a story or poem in which characters, settings, and events stand for other people, events, or abstract ideas
alliteration
the repetition of the same or similar consonant sounds in words that are close together
allusion
a reference to someone or something that is known from history, literature, religion, politics, sports, science, or some other branch of culture
ambiguity
a technique by which a writer deliberately suggests 2 or more different, and sometimes conflicting, meanings in a work
analogy
a comparison made between 2 things to show how they are alike
annotation
a note of explanation or comment added to a text or diagram
antecedent
the noun to which a pronoun refers
antithesis
a contrast or opposition between two things
aphorism
a brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life
appositive
a noun or noun phrase that renames or adds identifying information to a noun it immediately follows
apostrophe
a technique by which a writer addresses an inanimate object, an idea, or a person who is either dead or absent
atmosphere
the way an author uses settings, objects, or internal thoughts of characters to create emotion or mood
attitude
how an author or character feels about something in a novel
clause
a group of related words that contains a subject and predicate
cliche
a word or phrase, often a figure of speech that has become lifeless because of overuse
colloquialism
a word or expression appropriate to informal conversation but not usually suitable for academic or business writing
conceit
an elaborate metaphor that compares 2 things that are startling different
concrete detail
specific and observable facts
connotation
the associations and emotional overtones that have become attached to a word or phrase, in addition to its strict dictionary definition
denotation
the literal or primary meaning of a word
dependent clause
a groups of words that includes a subject and verb but is a subordinate to an independent clause in a sentence
diction
a speaker or writer’s choice of words
didactic
intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive
equivocation
the use of ambiguous language to conceal the truth or to avoid committing oneself
euphemism
an inoffensive words or phrases substituted for one considered offensive
extended metaphor
a metaphor that extends over the course of multiple lines, paragraphs, or stanzas
figurative language
a type of descriptive language used to convey meaning in a way that differs from its literal meaning
genre
a category of artistic composition characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject manner
gerund
the -ing form of a verb that functions as a noun
hyperbole
a figure of speech that uses an incredible exaggeration or overstatement for effect
imagery
the use of language to evoke a picture or a concrete sensation of a person, a thing, a place, or an experience
inference
a conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning
invective
insulting, abusive, or highly critical language
inversion
the reversal of the normal word order in a sentence or phrase
irony
a discrepancy between appearances and reality
loose sentence
a sentence that begins with the main idea then attaches modifiers, qualifiers, and additional details
metaphor
a figure of speech that makes a comparison between 2 unlike things without the use of specific words of comparison
mood
the general feeling or atmosphere that a piece of writing creates within the reader
motif
recurring images, quotes, or concepts that take on a figurative or symbolic meaning in a story
narrative
the form of discourse that tells about a series of events
non sequitur
a statement or conclusion that does not logically arise from the thought that precedes it
onomatopoeia
the use of sounds that echo their sense
oxymoron
a figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase
paradox
a statement that appears self-contradictory, but that reveals a kind of truth
parallel structure
the repetition of words or phrases that have similar grammatical structures
parody
a work that makes fun of another work by imitating some aspect of the writer’s style
pedantic
excessive use of academic or big words
periodic sentence
a sentence that expresses the main idea at the end
personification
the attribution of human characteristics to something nonhuman
point of view
the vantage point from which the writer tells a story
predicate
the verb and its related words in a clause or sentence
prose
written or spoken language in its ordinary form
refute
prove a statement to be wrong or false
repetition
action of repeating something that has already been said or written
rhetoric
the art of effective or persuasive writing
sarcasm
the use of irony to mock or convey contempt
satire
a type of writing that ridicules the shortcomings of people or institutions in an attempt to bring about a change
semantics
branch of linguistics and logic concerned with meaning
simile
a figure of speech that makes an explicit comparison between 2 unlike things using a word such as like, as, than, or resembles
stream of consciousness
a style of writing that portrays the inner workings of a characters mind
style
the distinctive way in which a writer uses language
subordinate clause
a clause dependent on the main clause in a sentence
syllogism
an instance of a form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn from 2 premises
symbolism
a thing that has meaning in itself and also stands for something more than itself
synecdoche
a figure of speech in which a part represents the whole
syntax
the order or arrangement of words in a sentence
theme
the insight about human life that is revealed in a literary work
thesis
a statement or theory that is put forward as a premise to be maintained or proved
tone
the attitude a writer takes toward the subject or a work, the characters in it, or the audience
transition
a word or group of words that aids coherence in writing by showing the connections between ideas
understatement
a statement that says less than what is meant
voice
the attribute of a verb that indicates whether whether its subject is active or passive
wit
mental sharpness and inventiveness
