VOCAB 1 Flashcards
Allegory
a story in which a second meaning is to be read beneath the surface
alliteration
the repetition of one or more initial consonants in a group of words or lines in a poem
allusion
a reference to a person, place, or event meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of an idea
ambiguity
a vagueness of meaning; a conscious lack of clarity meant to evoke multiple meanings or interpretations
anachronism
a person, scene, event, or other element that fails to correspond with the appropriate time or era
anaphora
repeating a certain word or phrase at the beginning of sentences or clauses that follow each other
analogy
a comparison that points out similarities between two dissimilar things
anecdote
a brief narrative often used to illustrate an idea or make a point
antecedent
the word to which pronoun refers
antithesis
a rhetorical opposition or contrast of ideas by means of a grammatical arrangement of words, clauses, or sentences
aphorism
a short, pithy statement of generally accepted truth or sentiment (also: maxim; adage; axiom; proverb; epigram)
apostrophe
speech that addresses a person or personified thing not present
archetype
an abstract or ideal conception of a type; a perfectly typical example; an original model or form
assonance
the repetition of two or more vowel sounds in a group of words in prose or poetry
asyndeton
omission of the conjunctions that ordinarily join coordinate words or clauses
audience
the group to whom the speaker or writer is communicating their message
bias
prejudice or predisposition toward one side of a subject or issue
caricature
a grotesque or exaggerated likeness of striking qualities in persons and things
circumlocution
literally ‘talking around’ a subject; discourse that avoids direct reference to a subject
clause
a structural element of a sentence, consisting of a grammatical subject and a predicate (independent vs. dependent/subordinate; adjective, noun, and/or adverbial)
