Words Flashcards
What is Parallelism?
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:
Isocolon
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.”
Antithesis
The Juxtaposition of contrasting ideas, often in parallel structure.
Example:
Anastrophe
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.
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Parenthesis
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
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Ellipsis
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.
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Asyndeton
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)
Polysyndeton
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.
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Alliteration
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
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Assonance
the repetition of similar vowel sounds, preceded and followed by different consonants, in the stressed syllables of adjacent words.
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Anaphora
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.
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Epistrophe
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:
Epanalepsis
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.
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Anadiplosis
repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause.
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Climax
arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in an order of increasing importance.
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Antimetabole
repetition of words, in successive clauses, in reverse grammatical order
Chiasmus
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.
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Polyptoton
repetition of words derived from the same root.
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Metaphor
implied comparison between two things of unlike nature without using like or as
Example: The sun was a roaring lion
Simile
explicit comparison between two things of unlike nature, usually using “like” or “as”
Example: Her smile was as bright as the shining sun.
Apostrophe
addressing someone or some personified abstraction that is not physically present
Example:
Synesthesia
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
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Synecdoche
figure of speech in which a part stands for the whole
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Metonymy
substitution of some attributive or suggestive word for
what is actually meant.
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Antanaclasi
repetition of a word or phrase whose meaning
changes in the second instance. These are often “puns” as well.
Personification
investing abstractions or inanimate objects with human qualities
Example:
Hyperbole
the use of exaggerated terms for the purpose of emphasis or heightened
effect.
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Litotes
deliberate use of understatement through
negation
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Rhetorical Questions
Asking a question, not for the purpose of eliciting an answer but to assert or deny an answer implicitly
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Irony
Use of a word in such a way as to convey a meaning opposite to the literal meaning of the word.
Example:
Onomatopoeia
Use of words whose sound echoes the sense
Example: “Snap, Crackle, Pop.”
Oxymoron
The joining of two terms which are ordinarily contradictory
Example: Visible darkness, Sweet misery
paradox
An apparently contradictory statement that nevertheless contains a measure of the truth
Example:
Puns
A pun twists the meaning of words, often to create a humorous effect.
Example:
Zeugma
Artfully using one verb with two or more different objects. If this changes the verbs initial meaning, the zeugma is sometimes called syllepsis
Allegory
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:
Allusion
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:
Ambiguity
a word, phrase, or statement which contains more than one meaning
Example:
Analogy
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:
Antecedent
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
Aphorism
a terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a
moral principle
Atmosphere
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.
Caricature
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.
Clause
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.
Colloquial/Colloquialism
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”
Conceit
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
Diction
— 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.
Appositive
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.
Didactic
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
Ethos
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
Euphemism
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.
Extended Metaphor
a metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or
throughout a work
Generic Conventions
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
Genre
a category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by
similarities in form, style, or subject matter.
Homily
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.”)
Idiom
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
Imagery
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
Inference/Infer
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..
Invective
an emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive
language.
Logos
in writing and speaking, a persuasive appeal to the audience based on logic and
reason. One of three rhetorical appeals.
Loose Sentence/Non-Periodic Sentence
— 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.
Mood
the prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work. Setting, tone, and events
can affect the mood. Mood is similar to tone and atmosphere.
Motif
repetition of a distinctive feature, dominant idea, or literary device in an artistic
or literary composition.
(A repeating theme)
Narrative
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.”
Parody
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.
Pathos
in writing and speaking, a persuasive appeal to the audience based on emotion. One
of three rhetorical appeals
Pedantic
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)
Prose
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)
