AP vocabulary Flashcards
device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to literal meaning
allegory
the repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words (e.g. “she sells sea shells”)
alliteration
a direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event,book,myth,place, or work of art
allusion
the multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage
ambiguity
similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them
analogy
the word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun
antecedent
a terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or moral principle
aphorism
a figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love
apostrophe
the emotional mood created by the entirety of literary work, established partly by the setting
atmosphere
from the Greek “changed label”, the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it (e.g. “the white house” for the president
metonymy
a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa, as in Cleveland won by six runs (meaning”Cleveland’s baseball team”).
synecdoche
a device used to produce figurative language
figure of speech
refers to traditions for each genre
generic conventions
the major category into which a literary work fits(e.g. prose, poetry, and drama).
genre
literally “sermon”, or any serious talk, speech, or lecture providing moral or spiritual advice
homily
a figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement.
hyperbole
the sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions.
imagery
to draw a reasonable conclusion from the information
infer
an emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language
invective
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.
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 (first person, third person
omniscient, or third person limited omniscient).
Point of view
one type of subject complement, an adjective, group of
adjectives, or adjective clause that follows a linking verb.
predicate verb
another type of subject complement, a noun, group of
nouns, or noun clause that renames the subject.
predicate nominative
genre including fiction, nonfiction, written in ordinary language.
prose
the duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of
language.
repetition
from the Greek for “orator,” the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.
rhetoric
the variety, conventions, and purposes of the major kinds of writing (exposition explains and analyzes information; argumentation proves validity of an idea; description re-creates, invents, or presents a person, place, event or action; narration tells a story or recount an event.
rhetorical modes
from the Greek for “to tear flesh,” involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something
sarcasm
a work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule
satire
the branch of linguistics which studies the meaning of words, their historical and psychological development (etymology), 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; or classification of authors
to a group and comparison of an author to similar authors.
style
a figure of speech in which an opposition or contrast by parallelism of words that are the opposite of, or strongly contrasted with, each other, such as “hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins”.
antithesis
the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of a successive clause.
anaphora
a short amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.
anecdote
a note of explanation or comment added to a text or diagram
annotation
the action or process of reasoning systematically in support of an idea, action, or theory
argumentation
the omission or absence of a conjunction between parts of a sentence
asyndeton
a proverb or short statement expressing a general truth
adage
an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meanng
connotation
agreement or compatibility between opinions or actions
consonance
a picture, description, or imitation of a person in which certain striking characteristics are exaggerated in order to create a comic or grotesque effect
caricature
a word or phrase that is not formal or literary, typically one used in ordinary or familiar conversation
colloquialisms
the action of mentioning a number of things one by one
enumeration
the repetition of a word at the end of successive clauses or sentences
epistrophe
the use of successive verbal constructions in poetry or prose which correspond in grammatical structure, sound, meter, meaning, etc.
parallelism
the excercise of analyzing processes to identify opportunities to improve the way they operate
process analysis
the presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.
understatement
anachronism is derived from the Greek word anachronous, which means “against time.” Therefore, an anachronism is an error of chronology or timeline in a literary piece. in other words, anything that is out of time and out of place is an anachronism
anachronism
a statement or proposition which is regarded as being established,accepted,or self-evidently true
axiom
story or statement of doubtful authenticity, although widely circulated as being true
Apocryphal
deriving ideas, style, or taste from abroad and diverse range of sources
eclectic
a dislike of humankind
misanthrope
stubbornly refusing to change one’s opinion or course of action
obdurate
courteous and refine in manner (typically used of a man)
urbane
(especially of fabric) light, delicate, and translucent
diaphanous
a person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions
Iconoclast
the process of analyzing and developing an idea or principle in detail
explication
inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true
Dogmatic
deriving ideas, style, or taste from a broad and diverse range of sources
eclectic
existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence
abstract
the action of deducting or subtracting something
deduction
the action or process of bringing about or giving rise to something
induction
special words or expressions that are used by particular profession or group and are difficult for others understand
Jargon
a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement of proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true
Paradox
the art of effective persuasive speaking or writing, especially the use of figures of speech and other compositional techniques
Rhetoric
sentence structures that are extraordinarily complex and involved
syntactic permutation
the process or a period of changing from one state or condition to another
transition/ transition words
something or someone that one vehemently dislikes
anathema
a tension or clash resulting from the combination of two disharmonious or unsuitable elements.
dissonance
Being overly kind or generous
Solicitous
benevolent, kind, great
Magnanimus
Grandios, wording
Grandiloquent
A flawed argument that is flawed due to a flawed element in the argument
Fallacy
The why that justifies the thesis
warrent
smart aleck, facetious
flippant
