AP Terms Flashcards
Alliteration
The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words as in (she sells sea shells)
Allegory
The device of using character and or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction
Allusion
A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art
Ambiguity
The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word or phrase, sentence or passage.
Analogy
A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them. Can explain something unfamiliar
Anecdote
A short narrative dealing particulars of an interesting episode or event. Specified to an incident in the persons life
Antithesis
The opposition or contrast of ideas; the direct opposite
Aphorism
A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or moral principle. Can be a memorable summation of the authors point
Apostrophe
A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person of personified abstraction such as liberty or love.
Colloquial
The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing
Conceit
A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy
Connotation
The nonliteral, associative meaning of a word
Denotation
The strict literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion
Diction
Related to style, diction refers to the writers word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness.
Didactic
Literally means teaching. Works have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral principles
Euphemism
“Good speech” are a moral agreeable or less agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept.
Exposition
The purpose is to explain something
In drama is the introductory material which creates the tone, gives the setting, and introduces the characters and conflict
Extended metaphor
A metaphor developed at length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work
Genre
The major category into which literally works fits.
It’s a flexible terms
Fiction, narrative, dramatic,
Hyperbole
A figure or speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement
Imagery
The sensory details or figurative language used to describe arouse emotion or represent abstractions
Inference
To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented.
Invective
An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong abusive language
Irony
Contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant
Verbal irony
The words literally state the opposite of the writers/speaker true meaning
Situational irony
Event turns out opposite if what us expected
Dramatic irony
Facts of events are unknown to a character but are know to a reader
Litotes
A figure of speech in which understatement is employed for rhetorical effects, principally via double negatives
Metonymy
“Changed labels” or “substitute name”
Is a figure of speech in which the babe of one object us substituted for that if another closet associated with it
Mood
Is the prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work
Oxymoron
“Pointed foolish” a figure a speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox
Paradox
A statement that appears to be self contradictory or opposed to common sense
Parallelism
Referred to parallel structure “besides one another”
Rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences or paragraphs to give similar structure
Anaphora
Exact repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive lines or sentences
Parody
Closely imitates the style or content of another with a specific aim of comedic effect and or ridicule
Pedantic
An adjective that describes words phrases orca general tone that us overlay scholarly
Point of view
In literature the perspective from which the story is told
Prose
One of the major divisions of genre, prose of fiction and non fiction
Rhetoric
“Orator” this terms describe the principle governing the art of writing effectively
Rhetorical modes
The flexible term describes the variety the conventions and the purpose of major kinds of writing
Sarcasm
“To tear flesh” involves bitter caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something
Satire
Is best seen as a style of writing rather than a purpose of writing
Semantics
The branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words, their historical and psychological development
Style
The consideration has two purposes
Syllogism
“Reckoning together” is a deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises
Symbolism
Anything that represents itself and stands fir something else. Usually a symbol is something concrete that represents something more abstract
Synecdoche
Figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the cajole or occasionally the whole is used to represent a part
Synesthesia
When one kind of sensory stimulus evokes the subjective experience of another
Syntax
The way one chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences
Theme
The central idea or message of work
The idea the author wants you to take
Tone
Tone described the author attitude toward his material the audience or both
Understatement
The ironic minimizing of fact, understatement presents something a less significant than it is
