ap lang essay vocab Flashcards
the moment or event that motivates someone to write or to speak about a specific issue, problem, or situation
exigence/exigency
language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect on its audience, but often regarded as lacking in sincerity or meaningful content.
rhetoric
indirect reference to something (usually literary text) that the reader should be familiar with
allusion
a brief recounting of a relevant episode, often inserted into text to either develop a point or inject humor
ex. That reminds me of when the entire family gathered around the TV to watch Nixon resign.
anecdote
the word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun
ex. “If i could command the wealth of all the world by lifting my finger, I would not pay such a price for it.”
-the wealth
antecedent
***IMPORTANT THING ABOUT DICTION- diction is word choice so do NOT say in argument that the author uses diction, describe the type of diction instead ex. the author’s colloquial diction, ornate diction, plain diction, etc.
literal explicit meaning of a word
denotation
associations suggested by a word, implied meaning and not literal meaning
connotation
used to describe fiction nonfiction or poetry that teaches a specific lesson or moral/provides a model of correct behavior or thinking ex. aesop’s fables
didactic
a story in which characters, things, and events represent qualities or concepts, the interaction of those characters, things, and events is meant to reveal an abstraction/truth
ex. animal farm
allegory
a folk saying with a lesson ex. a rolling stone gathers no moss = people pay a price for being always on the move/ people who keep moving avoid picking up responsibilities and cares.
- the early bird gets the worm aka don’t be late to things
adage
- less offensive substitute for offensive words or concepts ex. “physically challenged” in place of derogatory word “crippled”
or “vertically challenged” instead of short (sometimes adds humor)
euphemism
- form of figurative language
- comparison of one pair of variables to a parallel set
- argues that the relationship between the first pair of variables is the same as the relationship between the second pair of variables
ex. “America is to the world as the hippo is to a jungle”
analogy
blatant exaggeration ex. my mom will kill me if i get another bad grade
hyperbole
common, often used expression that just doesn’t check out if you take it literally ex. i got chewed out by my coach
idiom
- makes an implied comparison
- does NOT use “like” or “as”
- ex. my feet are popsicles
metaphor
when the metaphor is continued later in the written work
- “You’re a snake! Everything you hiss out of your mouth is a lie. You frighten children, and you have no spine.”
extended metaphor
replacing an actual word or idea with a related word or concept
ex. I couldn’t understand his tongue aka his language
metonymy
- a kind of metonymy when a whole is represented by naming one of its parts or vice versa ex. check out my new wheels
- The phrase “hired hands” can be used to refer to workers. .
synecdoche
- uses like/as, makes a direct comparison to two different things
simile
- a description involving a crossing of the senses ex. a purplish scent filled the room OR I was deafened by his brightly colored clothing
synesthesia
word/words used to create a picture in the reader’s mind which involves the 5 senses
- often used in conjunction with metaphors, similes, or figures of speech
imagery
long, emotionally violent attack using strong and abusive language ex. swear words, vitriol
invective
when the opposite of what you expect to happen does
irony
- when you say something and mean the opposite.
- if the tone is bitter, it’s sarcasm
verbal irony
when the audience of a drama, play, movie etc knows something that the character doesn’t and would be surprised to find out
dramatic irony
- found in the plot/story line of a book, story. or movie
- sometimes it makes you laugh because it’s funny how things turn out
situational irony
- placing things side by side for the purposes of comparison to MAKE A POINT!!!
- ex. placing the average day of the typical American vs someone in a 3rd world country for social commentary
juxtaposition
- the atmosphere created by the literature and accomplished via diction
- syntax often enhances this because of word order, sentence length, strength, and complexity affect pacing
-setting, tone, and events all affect these
mood