Glossary of Terms Flashcards
The device of using character and or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. In some of these, for example, an author may intend the characters to personify an obstruction like hope or freedom. The meaning usually deals with moral truth or a generalization about human existence
Allegory
The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words (as in “she sells sea shells”. Although the term is not used frequently in the multiple-choice section, you can look for it in any essay passage. The repetition can reinforce meaning, unify ideas, supply musical sound, and or echo the sense of the passage
Alliteration
A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. This can be historical, literary, religious, topical, or mythical. There are many more possibilities, and a work may simultaneously use multiple layers of _____
Allusion
The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage
Ambiguity
The repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause
Anadiplosis
A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them. This could explain something unfamiliar by associating it with or pointing out its similarity to something more familiar. This can also make writing more vivid, imaginative, or intellectually engaging
Analogy
One of the devices of repetition, in which the same expression is repeated at the beginning of two or more lines, clauses, or sentences
Anaphora
A short narrative detailing particulars of an interesting episode or event. The term most frequently refers to an incident in the life of a person
Anecdote
The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun. The AP language exam occasionally asks for the ________ of a given pronoun in a long, complex sentence or in a group of sentences
Antecedent
A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or moral principal. (If the authorship is unknown, the statement is generally considered to be a folk proverb). An _______ can be a memorable summation of the authors point
Aphorism
A figure of speech that directly addresses and absent or imaginary person or personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. It is an address to someone or something that cannot answer. The effect may add familiarity or emotional intensity.
Apostrophe
Emotional mood created by an entirely of literary work, establish partly by the settling and partly by the authors choice of objects that are described. Even such elements as description of the weather can contribute to the _____. Frequently ________ foreshadows events. Perhaps it can create a mood
Atmosphere
A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb. An independent, or main, ________ expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent, or subordinate _______ cannot stand alone as a sentence and mush be accomplished by an independent _______. The point that you want to consider is the question of what or why the author subordinates one element to the other. You should also become aware of making effective use of subordination in your own writing.
Clause
The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing. Not generally acceptable for formal writing, this gives a work a conversational, familiar tone. It includes local or regional dialects
Colloquial/colloquialism
A principle demanding that the parts of any composition be arranged so that the meaning of the while may be immediately clear and intelligible. Words, phrases, clauses within the sentence; and sentences, paragraphs, and chapters in larger pieces are united that, by their progressive and logical argument, make for ________
Coherence
A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects. A _______ displays intellectual cleverness as a result of the unusual comparison being made
Conceit
The nonliteral, associative meaning of the word; the implied, suggested meaning. This may involve ideas, emotions, or attitudes
Connotation
The strict, literal, dictionary definition in a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color
Denotation
This refers to the writers word choices, especially with regard to the correctness, clearness or effectiveness. For the AP exam you should be able to describe an authors _______ and understand the ways in which they can complement the authors purpose. This, combined with syntax, figurative language, literary devices, etc. creates an author’s style
Diction
Literally means teaching. These works have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles
Didactic
The opposite of anaphors, repetition at the end of successive clauses
Epistrophe
These are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept. It may be used to adhere to standards of social or political correctness or to add humor or ironic understatement
Euphemism
In essays, one of the four chief types of composition, others being argumentation, description, and narration. The purpose of this is to explain something. In drama, the ______ is the introductory material, which creates the tone, gives the setting, and introduces the characters and conflict
Exposition
A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work
Extended metaphor
Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid
Figurative language
A device used to produce figurative language. Many compare dissimilar things. Includes apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, metonymy, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, synecdoche, and understatement
Figure of speech
This term describes traditions for each genre. These conventions help to define each genre; for example, they differentiate an essay and journalistic writing or an autobiography and political writing.
Generic conventions
The major category into which literary work fits.
Genre
This term literally means “sermon”, but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice
Homily
A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. These often have a comic effect; however, a serious effect is also possible. Often produces irony
Hyperbole
The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions.
Imagery
To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented
Inference/infer
An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language
Invective
The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant
Irony/ironic
A type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by the dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses
Loose sentence
A figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity
Metaphor
A figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.
Metonymy
The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events
Narrative
A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words
Onomatopoeia
A figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox
Oxymoron
A statement that appears to be self contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validly
Paradox
The grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity
Parallelism
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
First meaning is grammatical and deals with verbal units and a speakers attitude. The second meaning is literary, meaning the prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work.
Mood
A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end. This independent clause is preceded by a phrase or clause that cannot stand alone
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
Point of view
One type of subject complement– an adjective, group of adjectives, or adjective clause that follows a linking verb.
Predicate adjective
A second type of subject complement – a noun, group of nouns, or noun clause that renames the subject. It, like the predicate adjective, follows a linking verb and is located in the predicate of the sentence
Predicate nominative
One of the major divisions of genre, this refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms.
Prose
The duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence or grammatical pattern.
Repetition
The speaker who uses elements of rhetoric effectively in oral or written test
Rhetor
The principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively
Rhetoric
This flexible term describes the variety, the conventions, and the purposes of the major kinds of writing
Rhetorical modes
This involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something. It may use irony as a device, but not all ironic statements are intended to ridicule
Sarcasm
A work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule
Satire
The branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words, their historical and psychological development, their connotations, and their relation to one another
Semantics
A deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion
Syllogism
Like all clauses, this word group contains both a subject and a verb, but unlike the independent clause it cannot stand alone; it does not express a complete thought
Subordinate (dependent) Clause
The word or clauses that follows a linking verb and complements, or completes, the subject of the sentence by either renaming it or describing it
Subject complement
An evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices. It can also be described as a classification of authors to a group and comparison of an author to similar authors
Style
Generally anything that represents itself and stands for something else
Symbol
The way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences
Syntax
The central idea of message of a work, the insight it offers into life
Theme
In expository writing this is the sentence or group of sentences that directly express the authors opinion, purpose, meaning it position
Thesis
Similar to mood, this describes the authors attitude toward his material, the audience, or both
Tone
A word or phrase that links different ideas; this effectively signals a shift from one idea to another
Transition
An artful variation from expected modes of expression of thoughts and ideas, a figure of speech involving a turn or change of sense- a use of the word in a sense other than its proper or literal one
Trope
The ironic minimizing of a fact, this presents something as less significant than it is. The effect can frequently by humorous and emphatic; opposite of hyperbole
Understatement
An attitude that may lie under the ostensible tone of the piece.
Undertone
An untrustworthy or naïve commentator on events and characters in a story
Unreliable narrator
In modern usage, intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights. This is humorous, while suggesting the speakers verbal power in creating ingenious and perceptive remarks.
Wit
A trope, one word (usually a noun or main verb) governs two other words not related in meaning
Zeugma
The fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect.
Juxtaposition
