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AP English Language and Composition Flashcards

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14011821014AllegoryThe device of using character and/or story elements symbolically.0
14011821015AntecedentWord, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.1
14011821016AntithesisOpposition or contrast of ideas through parallelism.2
14011821017AphorismEarly to bed and early to rise help make a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. -Ben Franklin3
14011821018Apostrophe"Oh, Captain, my Captain, our fearful trip is done..."4
14011821019Colloquial/ColloquialismThe use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.5
14011821020ConceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor.6
14011821021Euphemismcorrectional facility = jail between jobs = unemployed7
14011821022HomilyThis term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.8
14011821023InvectiveAn emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.9
14011821024Metonymya figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.10
14011821025AnaphoraThe exact repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive lines or sentences.11
14011821026PedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish12
14011821027Proseone of the major divisions of genre, prose refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms.13
14011821028SemanticsThe branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words.14
14011821029SyllogismA deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion.15
14011821030SynecdocheA figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole.16
14011821031SynesthesiaWhen one kind of sensory stimulus evokes the subjective experience of another.17
14011821032ApologiaA written or spoken defense of one's beliefs and actions.18
14011821033EpigramA brief witty statement.19
14011821034DigressionThe use of material unrelated to the subject of a work.20
14011821035EllipsisThe omission of a word or several words.21
14011821036Ad HominemAttacking a speaker's character instead of to their argument.22
14011821037AnachronismA person, scene, event or other element that fails to correspond with the appropriate time or era.23
14011821038DidacticHaving an instructive purpose; intending to convey information to teach a lesson usually in a dry, pompous manner.24
14011821039FallacyAn incorrect belief or supposition based on faulty data, defective evidence, or false information.25
14011821040HubrisExcessive pride that often brings about one's fall.26
14011821041AlliterationRepetition of consonant sounds, usually at the beginnings of words27
14011821042LitotesA form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity.28
14011821043ParadoxA statement or idea that seems contradictory but is in fact true.29
14011821044Non SequiturA statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before.30
14011821045AnecdoteA short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.31
14011821046JargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group.32
14011821047TaciturnNot talking much, reserved; silent, holding back in conversation.33
14011821048DogmaticInclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true.34
14011821049PerniciousHaving a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.35
14011821050TruculentAggressive; confrontational36
14011821051VoraciousCraving or consuming large quantities of food.37
14011821052ZealousHaving or showing zeal.38
14011821053TacitUnderstood or implied without being stated.39
14011821054InnuendoAn allusive or oblique remark or hint, typically a suggestive or disparaging one.40
14011821055IndolentLazy; slow and relaxed.41
14011821056ConsecrateMake or declare (something, typically a church) sacred; dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose.42
14011821057ChiasmusA type of parallelism in which elements are reversed. "Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country."43
14011821058Loose SentenceA sentence in which the subject and verb come at the front of the sentence.44
14011821059PetulantChildishly sulky or bad-tempered.45
14011821060Periodic SentenceA sentence in which the subject and verb come toward the end of the sentence.46
14011821061ExhortStrongly encourage or urge someone to do something.47
14011821062CloisteredKept away from the outside world; sheltered.48
14011821063SarcasmCaustic, bitter language--iterally means "to tear the flesh."49
14011821064Independent ClauseA complete sentence.50
14011821065Dependent ClauseIncludes a subordinate conjunction, such as because, while, etc.51
14011821066AllusionA reference to something (e.g., a book, a movie, an historical event) that is presumed to be well known to the audience.52
14011821067SatireA work that pokes fun human vices and follies in order to call attention to a larger problem.53
14011821068ParodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.54
14011821069Coup de GraceThe "death blow"--the culminating event in a bad situation.55
14011821070Coup d'EtatLiterally "blow to the state"--a violent overthrow.56
14011821071Faux PasA social misstep or inappropriate action.57
14011821072Laissez-FaireLiterally "allow to do"--letting things run their natural course; hands off.58
14011821073En MasseIn a body as a whole; as a group.59
14011821074ProprietaryCharacteristic of an owner of property; constituting property.60
14011821075ProprietyThe quality of behaving in a proper manner; obeying rules and customs.61
14011821076ImminentAbout to happen.62
14011821077EminentFamous, outstanding, distinguished.63
14011821078EgoAccording to Freud, the decision-making component of personality that operates according to the reality principle.64
14011821079SuperegoAccording to Freud, that facet of the psyche that represents the internalized ideals and values of one's parents and society65
14011821080IdLiterally the "It"--our base impulses, driven by selfishness and greed, for example.66
14011821081HamartiaA character's error in judgment that contributes to one's downfall.67
14011821082OrwellianThe manipulation of language and ideas to control and obstruct the truth.68
14011821083AutonomosIndependent, self-governing, not under the control of something or someone else.69

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