AP Vocabulary 98-120 Flashcards
Catharsis
An emotional discharge through which one can achieve a state of moral or spiritual renewal or achieve a sate of liberation from anxiety and stress. Catharsis is a Greek word and it means cleansing. In literature, it is used for the cleansing of emotions of the characters. It can also be any other radical change that leads to emotional rejuvenation of a person.
Cliché
Refers to an expression that has been overused to the extent that it loses its original meaning or novelty. A cliché may also refer to actions and events which are predictable because of some previous events.
Concession
Concession is a literary device used in argumentative writing where one acknowledges a point made by one’s opponent. It is not necessarily a “ counter argument,” but an extension of a counter- argument where a writer attempts to find some “ common ground.”
Concession 2
Concession writing style also show that the writer is a logical and fair- minded person, able to realize that every argument has several sides to consider before it is presented. This type of writing can be considered strong as it finds common ground between you and your opponent.
Portmanteau
Portmanteau is a literary device in which two or more words are joined together to coin a new word. A portmanteau word is formed by blending parts of two or more words but it always refers to a single concept.
The Coinage of Portmanteau
Involves the linking and blending of two or more words and the new word formed in the process shares the same meanings as the original words. It is different from a compound word in that it could have a completely different meaning from the words that it was coined from.
Litotes
Understatement, esp. that in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary, as In “ not bad at all.”
Chiasmus
Rhetoric reversal of the order of words in the second of two parallel phrases: he came in triumph and in defeat departs; he went to the country, to the town went he
Anadiplosis
A rhetorical term for the repetition of the last word of one line or clause to begin the next. Example: “ Fear is the path to the dark side. Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. I sense much fear in you.” ( Frank Oz as Yoda in star wars episode 1: The phantom Menace) : “ when I give I give myself.” ( Walt Whitman); “ I Sam, Sam I am.” (Dr.Sues, Green Eggs and Ham); “ the land of my fathers. My fathers can have it.” ( Dylan Thomas on Wales)
Invective
A verbally abusive attack
Circumlocution
The use of an unnecessarily large number of words or an indirect means of expression to express an idea so as to effect an evasion In speech.
Begging the Question
Supporting a claim with a reason that is really a restatement of the claim in different words.
Adage
A saying or proverb embodying a piece of common wisdom based on experience and often couched in metaphorical language ( ex: it is always darkest before the dawn.)
Verisimilitude
Similar to truth; the equality of realism in a work that persuades the reader that he/she is getting a vision of life as it is.
Malapropism
A confused, comically inaccurate use of a long word or words. Ex: Romeo and Juliet the nurse says “ I desire some confidence with you sir.”
