Words

Question 1

What is Parallelism?

Answer 1

Similarity of structure in a pair of related words, phrases, or clauses. This basic principle of grammar and rhetorical demands that equivalent things be set forth in coordinate grammatical structures: nouns with nouns, prepositional phrases with prepositional phrases, adverb clauses with adverb clauses, etc.

Example:

Question 2

Isocolon

Answer 2

A scheme of parallel structure that occurs when the parallel elements are similar not only in grammatical structure but also in length ( number of words or number of syllables)

Example: Julius Caesar’s “veni, vidi, veci,” meaning, “I came, I saw, I conquered.”

Question 3

Antithesis

Answer 3

The Juxtaposition of contrasting ideas, often in parallel structure.

Example:

Question 4

Anastrophe

Answer 4

The inversion of natural world order, often with the purpose of surprising the reader, gaining attention, or (Most often) emphasizing certain words (Those at the beginning and the end of the sentence) It is most effective if the author rarely writes awkwardly because when set among well-structured sentences it emphasizes a inverted phrase.

Example:

Question 5

Parenthesis

Answer 5

insertion of some verbal unit in a position that interrupts the normal syntactical flow of the sentence, thereby sending the thought off on an important tangent that has pronounced rhetorical effect. Often involves literal parentheses ( ), but not always; there are other ways to insert a comment into a sentence. One might use commas, or dashes, for
example. The parenthetical remark, however, is off on a tangent, cut off from the thrust of the sentence and grammatically unrelated to the sentence

Example:

Question 6

Ellipsis

Answer 6

deliberate omission of a word or of words that are readily implied by the context and must be supplied by the reader or listener. While this can make clear, economical sentences, if the understood words are grammatically incompatible, the
resulting sentence may be awkward.

Example:

Question 7

Asyndeton

Answer 7

deliberate omission of conjunctions between a series of words, phrases, or clauses. The effects of this device are to emphasize each clause and to produce a punctuated rhythm in the sentence

Example: “I came, I saw, I conquered.” (Julius Caesar)

Question 8

Polysyndeton

Answer 8

deliberate use of many conjunctions (does not involve omission, but is grouped with its opposite, asyndeton)). The effect of polysyndeton is to speed up or add a frenetic quality to the rhythm of the sentence.

Example:

Question 9

Alliteration

Answer 9

repetition of initial consonants in two or more adjacent words. Not to be confused with Consonance which is the repetition of internal or ending consonant sounds. Used sparingly, alliteration provides emphasis. Overused, it sounds silly

Example:

Question 10

Assonance

Answer 10

the repetition of similar vowel sounds, preceded and followed by different consonants, in the stressed syllables of adjacent words.

Example:

Question 11

Anaphora

Answer 11

Repetition of the same word or groups of words at the beginnings of successive phrases. This device produces a strong emotional effect, especially in speech. It also establishes a marked change in rhythm.

Example:

Question 12

Epistrophe

Answer 12

repetition of the same word or group of words at the ends of
successive phrases. Like anaphora, epistrophe produces a strong rhythm and emphasis

Example:

Question 13

Epanalepsis

Answer 13

repetition of the same word or words at
both beginning and ending of a phrase, clause, or sentence. Like other schemes of
repetition, epanalepsis often produces or expresses strong emotion.

Example:

Question 14

Anadiplosis

Answer 14

repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause.

Example:

Question 15

Climax

Answer 15

arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in an order of increasing importance.

Example:

Question 16

Antimetabole

Answer 16

repetition of words, in successive clauses, in reverse grammatical order

Question 17

Chiasmus

Answer 17

reversal of grammatical structures in successive phrases or clauses. Chiasmus is similar to antimetabole in that it too involves a reversal of grammatical structures in successive phrases or clauses, but it is unlike antimetabole in that it does not involve a repetition of words. Both chiasmus and antimetabole can be used to reinforce antithesis.

Example:

Question 18

Polyptoton

Answer 18

repetition of words derived from the same root.

Example:

Question 19

Metaphor

Answer 19

implied comparison between two things of unlike nature without using like or as

Example: The sun was a roaring lion

Question 20

Simile

Answer 20

explicit comparison between two things of unlike nature, usually using “like” or “as”

Example: Her smile was as bright as the shining sun.

Question 21

Apostrophe

Answer 21

addressing someone or some personified abstraction that is not physically present

Example:

Question 22

Synesthesia

Answer 22

Mixing one type of sensory input with another in an impossible way, such as speaking of how a color sounds, or how a smell
looks

Example:

Question 23

Synecdoche

Answer 23

figure of speech in which a part stands for the whole

Example:

Question 24

Metonymy

Answer 24

substitution of some attributive or suggestive word for
what is actually meant.

Example:

Question 25

Antanaclasi

Answer 25

repetition of a word or phrase whose meaning
changes in the second instance. These are often “puns” as well.

Question 26

Personification

Answer 26

investing abstractions or inanimate objects with human qualities

Example:

Question 27

Hyperbole

Answer 27

the use of exaggerated terms for the purpose of emphasis or heightened
effect.

Example:

Question 28

Litotes

Answer 28

deliberate use of understatement through
negation

Example:

Question 29

Rhetorical Questions

Answer 29

Asking a question, not for the purpose of eliciting an answer but to assert or deny an answer implicitly

Example:

Question 30

Irony

Answer 30

Use of a word in such a way as to convey a meaning opposite to the literal meaning of the word.

Example:

Question 31

Onomatopoeia

Answer 31

Use of words whose sound echoes the sense

Example: “Snap, Crackle, Pop.”

Question 32

Oxymoron

Answer 32

The joining of two terms which are ordinarily contradictory

Example: Visible darkness, Sweet misery

Question 33

paradox

Answer 33

An apparently contradictory statement that nevertheless contains a measure of the truth

Example:

Question 34

Puns

Answer 34

A pun twists the meaning of words, often to create a humorous effect.

Example:

Question 35

Zeugma

Answer 35

Artfully using one verb with two or more different objects. If this changes the verbs initial meaning, the zeugma is sometimes called syllepsis

Question 36

Allegory

Answer 36

the device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an
abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. In some allegories, for example, an author may
intend the characters to personify an abstraction like hope or freedom. The allegorical
meaning usually deals with moral truth or a generalization about human existence.

Example:

Question 37

Allusion

Answer 37

a direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly
known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. Allusions can be historical,
literary, religious, topical, or mythical. There are many more possibilities, and a work may
simultaneously use multiple layers of allusion

Example:

Question 38

Ambiguity

Answer 38

a word, phrase, or statement which contains more than one meaning

Example:

Question 39

Analogy

Answer 39

a similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship
between them. An analogy can explain something unfamiliar by associating it with or
pointing out its similarity to something more familiar. Analogies can also make writing
more vivid, imaginative, or intellectually engaging

Example:

Question 40

Antecedent

Answer 40

the word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun. The AP language
exam occasionally asks for the antecedent of a given pronoun in a long, complex sentence
or in a group of sentences

Question 41

Aphorism

Answer 41

a terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a
moral principle

Question 42

Atmosphere

Answer 42

the emotional nod created by the entirety of a literary work, established
partly by the setting and partly by the author’s choice of objects that are described. Even
such elements as a description of the weather can contribute to the atmosphere. Frequently
atmosphere foreshadows events. Perhaps it can create a mood.

Question 43

Caricature

Answer 43

a verbal description, the purpose of which is to exaggerate or distort, for
comic effect or ridicule, a person’s distinctive physical features or other characteristics.

Question 44

Clause

Answer 44

a grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb. An independent, or
main, clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent,
or subordinate clause, cannot stand alone as a sentence and must be accompanied by an
independent clause. The point that you want to consider is the question of what or why the
author subordinates one element, and you should also become aware of making effective use
of subordination in your own writing.

Question 45

Colloquial/Colloquialism

Answer 45

the use of slang or informalities in speech or writing. Not
generally acceptable for formal writing, colloquialisms give a work a conversational,
familiar tone. Colloquial expressions in writing include local or regional dialects.

Example:
“Y’all”

Question 46

Conceit

Answer 46

a fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or
surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects, usually used in poetry. A conceit
displays intellectual cleverness as a result of the unusual comparison being made

Question 47

Diction

Answer 47

— related to style, diction refers to the writer’s word choices, especially with
regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness. For the AP exam, you should be
able to describe an author’s diction (for example, formal or informal, ornate or plain) and
understand the ways in which diction can complement the author’s purpose. Diction,
combined with syntax, figurative language, literary devices, etc., creates an author’s
style.

Question 48

Appositive

Answer 48

when a noun or word is followed by another noun or phrase that renames or
identifies it, this is called appositive. This is a literary device that appears before or after a
noun or noun phrase. It is always used with commas. Simply, we can define it as a noun
phrase or a noun that defines or explains another noun, which it follows.

Question 49

Didactic

Answer 49

an adjective that describes something as: intended to teach, having moral
instruction as a motive, or being done in the manner of a teacher. A didactic tone may
come across as patronizing

Question 50

Ethos

Answer 50

in writing and speaking, a persuasive appeal to the audience based on the
credibility, good character, etc., of the speaker/writer. One of three rhetorical appeals

Question 51

Euphemism

Answer 51

from the Greek for “good speech,” euphemisms are a more agreeable or less
offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept. The euphemism may be
used to adhere to standards of social or political correctness or to add humor or ironic
understatement. Saying “earthly remains” rather than “corpse” is an example of euphemism.

Question 52

Extended Metaphor

Answer 52

a metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or
throughout a work

Question 53

Generic Conventions

Answer 53

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. On the AP language exam, try to distinguish the
unique features of a writer’s work from those dictated by convention for that genre

Question 54

Genre

Answer 54

a category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by
similarities in form, style, or subject matter.

Question 55

Homily

Answer 55

this term literally means “sermon,” but more informally, it can include any
serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice. (One could say, “The
President delivered a homily to the American people last night.”)

Question 56

Idiom

Answer 56

a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from
those of the individual words. They frequently involve figurative language.

Example:
Its raining cats and dogs

Question 57

Imagery

Answer 57

the sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or
represent abstractions. On a physical level, imagery uses terms related to the five senses:
visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory, and olfactory. On a broader and deeper level, however,
one image can represent more than one thing. For example, a rose may present visual
imagery while also representing the color in a woman’s cheeks and/or symbolizing some
degree of perfection

Question 58

Inference/Infer

Answer 58

to draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented. When a
multiple choice question asks for an inference to be drawn from a passage, the most direct,
most reasonable inference is the safest answer choice. If an inference is implausible, it’s
unlikely to be the correct answer..

Question 59

Invective

Answer 59

an emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive
language.

Question 60

Logos

Answer 60

in writing and speaking, a persuasive appeal to the audience based on logic and
reason. One of three rhetorical appeals.

Question 61

Loose Sentence/Non-Periodic Sentence

Answer 61

— a type of sentence in which the main idea
(independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases
and clauses. If a period were placed at the end of the independent clause, the clause would
be a complete sentence. A work containing many loose sentences often seems informal,
relaxed, or conversational. Generally, loose sentences create loose style. The opposite of a
loose sentence is the periodic sentence. In the periodic sentence the sentence begins with
dependent grammatical units and waits until the end of the sentence to present the verb.

Question 62

Mood

Answer 62

the prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work. Setting, tone, and events
can affect the mood. Mood is similar to tone and atmosphere.

Question 63

Motif

Answer 63

repetition of a distinctive feature, dominant idea, or literary device in an artistic
or literary composition.
(A repeating theme)

Question 64

Narrative

Answer 64

the telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events. In political
speech, also used to suggest the “story-line” a politician wants people to hear: “The
President tried to push a narrative that he was raising taxes to help people.”

Question 65

Parody

Answer 65

a work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of
comic effect and/or ridicule. It exploits peculiarities of an author’s expression (propensity to
use too many parentheses, certain favorite words, etc.). Well-written parody offers
enlightenment about the original, but poorly written parody offers only ineffectual imitation.
Usually an audience must grasp literary allusion and understand the work being parodied in
order to fully appreciate the nuances of the newer work. Occasionally, however, parodies
take on a life of their own and don’t require knowledge of the original.

Question 66

Pathos

Answer 66

in writing and speaking, a persuasive appeal to the audience based on emotion. One
of three rhetorical appeals

Question 67

Pedantic

Answer 67

an adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly
scholarly, academic, or bookish (language that might be described as “show-offy”; using
big words for the sake of using big words).
(Someone correcting someone over little things trying to be smart)

Question 68

Prose

Answer 68

one of the major divisions of genre, prose refers to fiction and nonfiction,
including all its forms. In prose the printer determines the length of the line; in poetry, the
poet determines the length of the line.

(the sequence of the writing)