AP Lang. Vocabulary 41-60 Flashcards
Adage
a short pointed and memorable saying based on facts and is considered a veritable truth by the majority of people. Famous adages become popular due to their usage over a long period of time. In fact, an adage expresses a general fact or truth about life. As it becomes popular it is then accepted as a universal truth.
Pendantic
derived from the French word, pendant, meaning “to reach or to act as a pedagogue.” A pendantic is someone who is concerned with precision, formalism, accuracy, minute details in order to make an arrogant and ostentatious show of learning.
Flippant
lacking proper respect for seriousness. this is often associated with the impatience of youth. here are some examples:
Synonyms- cute, facetious, wise-ass, smart-aleck,
smart-ass.
Antonyms- earnest, sincere.
Related words- flighty, cocky, impertinent, impish.
Evocotive
the use of language that”suggests” meanings other than the denotive. the language that connects with emotions or feelings not associated with the actual meaning of the word.
Syntactical Inversion
inversion also called, anastrophe, in literary style and in rhetoric, the syntactic reversal of the normal order of words and phrases in a sentence, as, in English, the placing of the adjective after the noun it modifies (“the form divine”) a verb before its subject (“cam the dawn”)
Apposition
is a grammatical construction in which two elements, normally noun phrases, are placed side by side, with one element serving to identify the other in a different way. The two elements are said to be in apposition.
Didatic
didatic is frequently used for those literary texts which are overloaded with informative or realistic matter and are marked by the omission of graceful and pleasing details. Didatic, therefore, becomes a derogatory term referring to forms of literature that are ostentatiously dull and erudite. However, some literary texts are entertaining as well as didatic.
Conceit
a figure of speech in which two vastly different objects are likened together with the help of similes or metaphors. Thus, conceit can have a surprising or shocking effect on the readers because they are novel comparisons unlike the conventional comparisons made in similes and metaphors.
Periodic Sentence
a periodic sentence has the main clause or predicate at the end. This is used for emphasis and can be persuasive by putting reasons for something at the beginning before the final point is made. it can also create suspense or interest for the readers. Ex: “ in spite of heavy snow, the game continued”
Paradox
it is the statement that appears to be self-contradictory or silly but may include a latent truth, it is also used to illustrate an opinion or statement contrary to accepted traditional ideas. A paradox is often used to make a reader think over an idea in an innovative way. Ex:” I must be cruel to be nice”
Irony
irony is a figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words. It may also be a situation that may end up differently than generally anticipated. In simple words, it is a difference between appearance and reality.
parenthesis
a stylistic device that comes from a Greek word that means to place or alongside. parenthesis is a qualifying or explanatory sentence, clause or word that writers insert into a paragraph or passage.
sardonic
grimly mocking, sarcastic, satirical, mocking in a humorous manner. This is one of those “TONE” words that describe writing that fits the meaning.
satire
a technique employed by writers to expose and criticize foolishness and corruption of an individual or society by using humor, irony, exaggeration or ridicule. it tends to improve humanity by criticizing its follies and foibles.
polemical
relating to or involving strongly critical, controversial, or disputatious writing or speech. “a polemical essay” could be any of the following (synonyms): critical, hostile, caustic, trenchant
ambiguity
ambiguity or fallacy of ambiguity is a word, phrase, or statement which contains more than one meaning. Skilled writers use ambiguity with purpose and intent.
archetype
a universal symbol may be character, theme, symbol, or even setting. many literary critics believe that archetypes, which have a common and recurring representation in a particular human culture or the entire human race, shape the structure and function of a literary work.
function of archetype
the use of archetypical characters and situations give a literary work a universal acceptance, as readers identify the characters and in their social and cultural context.
tragic flaw
a literary device that can be defined as a trait in a character that leads to his/her downfall and the character is often the hero of the literary piece. this trait could be a lack of self-knowledge, lack of judgment, and often is hubris(pride).
assertion
when someone makes a statement investing his strong belief in it, as if it is true though it may not be, he is making an assertion. assertion is a stylistic approach or technique involving a strong declaration, a forceful or confident statement regarding a belief or fact
