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AP English > Literary Terminology > Flashcards

Literary Terminology Flashcards

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0
Q

Allegory

A

A literary work in which characters, objects, or actions represent abstractions

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1
Q

Ad hominen

A

An argument attacking an individual’s character rather than his or her position on an issue.

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2
Q

Alliteration

A

The reptition of initial sounds in successive or neighboring words

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3
Q

Allusion

A

A reference to something literary, mythological, or historical

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4
Q

Analogy

A

A comparison between two different things which are similar in some way

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5
Q

Anaphora

A

The repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of consecutive lines or sentences

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6
Q

Anecdote

A

A brief personal narrative which focuses on a particular incident or event

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7
Q

Antithesis

A

A statement in which two opposing ideas are balanced

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8
Q

Aphorism

A

A concise statement that expresses a general truth or idea, often using rhyme or balance

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9
Q

Apostrophe

A

The act of speaking directly to an absent or imaginary person, or to some abstractions

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10
Q

Chiasmis

A

A statement consisting of two parts in which the second part is structurally reversed

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11
Q

Colloquialism

A

Informal words or expressions not usually acceptable in formal writing

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12
Q

Conceit

A

A fanciful, particularly clever extended metaphor

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13
Q

Connotation

A

The implied or associative meaning of a word

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14
Q

Denotation

A

The literal meaning of a word

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15
Q

Diction

A

Having to do with the word choices made by a writer

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16
Q

Didactic

A

Something which has as its primary purpose to teach or instruct

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17
Q

Ellipsis

A

Omission of a word or phrase which is grammatically necessary but can be deduced from context

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18
Q

Epiphany

A

A momenr of sudden revelation or insight

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19
Q

Euphemism

A

An indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant

20
Q

Genre

A

A major category or type of literature

21
Q

Hyperbole

A

Intentional exaggeration to create an effect

22
Q

Imagery

A

A concrete sensory details which contribute to the themes or ideas of a work

23
Q

Invective

A

An intensely vehement, highly emotional verbal attack

24
Q

Irony

A

A situation or statement where the truth is the opposite of appearances

25
Q

Litotes

A

A type of understatment in which something affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite

26
Q

Metaphor

A

A direct comparison of two different things which suggests they are somehow the same

27
Q

Metonymy

A

Substituting the name of one object for another object closely associated with it

28
Q

Motif

A

A standard theme or dramatic situation which recurs in various works

29
Q

Non sequitur

A

An inference that does not logically follow from the premise

30
Q

Onomatopoeia

A

A word formed from the imitation of natural sounds

31
Q

Oxymoron

A

An expression in which two words that contradict each other are joined

32
Q

Paradox

A

An apparently comtradictory statement which actually contains some truth

33
Q

Parody

A

A humorous imitation of a serious work

34
Q

Pathos

A

The quality in a work that prompts the reader to feel pity or sorrow

35
Q

Pedantic

A

Describing an excessive display of learning or scholarship

36
Q

Personification

A

Endowing non-human objects or creatures with human qualities or characteristics

37
Q

Sarcasm

A

Harsh, cutting language/tone designed to ridicule

38
Q

Satire

A

The use of humor to emphasize human weaknesses or imperfections in social institutions

39
Q

Style

A

The overall manner in which an individual writer expresses ideas

40
Q

Syllepsis

A

The linking of one word with two other words in two strinkingly different ways

41
Q

Syllogism

A

A logical argument in which a conclusion is based on a major premise and minor premise

42
Q

Symbol

A

An object that is something in itself yet is used to represent something else

43
Q

Synecdoche

A

Using ine part of an object to represent the entire object

44
Q

Syntax

A

The manner in which words are areanged by a writer into sentences

45
Q

Tautology

A

Needless repetition which adds no meaning or understanding

46
Q

Tone

A

Attitude of a writer, usually implied, toward the subject or audience

47
Q

Understatement

A

The deliberate representstion of something as less in magnitude than it really is

AP English (3 decks)

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