AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

AP English Language and Composition Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
9824965224AllegoryThe device of using character and/or story elements symbolically.0
9824965225AntecedentWord, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.1
9824965226AntithesisOpposition or contrast of ideas through parallelism.2
9824965227AphorismEarly to bed and early to rise help make a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. -Ben Franklin3
9824965228Apostrophe"Oh, Captain, my Captain, our fearful trip is done..."4
9824965229Colloquial/ColloquialismThe use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.5
9824965230ConceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor.6
9824965231Euphemismcorrectional facility = jail between jobs = unemployed7
9824965232HomilyThis term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.8
9824965233InvectiveAn emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.9
9824965234Metonymya figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.10
9824965235AnaphoraThe exact repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive lines or sentences.11
9824965236PedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish12
9824965237Proseone of the major divisions of genre, prose refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms.13
9824965238SemanticsThe branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words.14
9824965239SyllogismA deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion.15
9824965240SynecdocheA figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole.16
9824965241SynesthesiaWhen one kind of sensory stimulus evokes the subjective experience of another.17
9824965242ApologiaA written or spoken defense of one's beliefs and actions.18
9824965243EpigramA brief witty statement.19
9824965244DigressionThe use of material unrelated to the subject of a work.20
9824965245EllipsisThe omission of a word or several words.21
9824965246Ad HominemAttacking a speaker's character instead of to their argument.22
9824965247AnachronismA person, scene, event or other element that fails to correspond with the appropriate time or era.23
9824965248DidacticHaving an instructive purpose; intending to convey information to teach a lesson usually in a dry, pompous manner.24
9824965249FallacyAn incorrect belief or supposition based on faulty data, defective evidence, or false information.25
9824965250HubrisExcessive pride that often brings about one's fall.26
9824965251AlliterationRepetition of consonant sounds, usually at the beginnings of words27
9824965252LitotesA form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity.28
9824965253ParadoxA statement or idea that seems contradictory but is in fact true.29
9824965254Non SequiturA statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before.30
9824965255AnecdoteA short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.31
9824965256JargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group.32
9824965257TaciturnNot talking much, reserved; silent, holding back in conversation.33
9824965258DogmaticInclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true.34
9824965259PerniciousHaving a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.35
9824965260BellicoseDemonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.36
9824965261VoraciousCraving or consuming large quantities of food.37
9824965262ZealousHaving or showing zeal.38
9824965263TacitUnderstood or implied without being stated.39
9824965264InnuendoAn allusive or oblique remark or hint, typically a suggestive or disparaging one.40
9824965265LackadaisicalDisplaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed.41
9824965266ConsecrateMake or declare (something, typically a church) sacred; dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose.42
9824965267ChiasmusA 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
9824965268Loose SentenceA sentence in which the subject and verb come at the front of the sentence.44
9824965269PetulantChildishly sulky or bad-tempered.45
9824965270Periodic SentenceA sentence in which the subject and verb come toward the end of the sentence.46
9824965271ExhortStrongly encourage or urge someone to do something.47
9824965272CloisteredKept away from the outside world; sheltered.48
9824965273SarcasmCaustic, bitter language--iterally means "to tear the flesh."49
9824965274Independent ClauseA complete sentence.50
9824965275Dependent ClauseIncludes a subordinate conjunction, such as because, while, etc.51
9824965276AllusionA reference to something (e.g., a book, a movie, an historical event) that is presumed to be well known to the audience.52
9824965277SatireA work that pokes fun human vices and follies in order to call attention to a larger problem.53
9824965278ParodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.54
9824965279Coup de GraceThe "death blow"--the culminating event in a bad situation.55
9824965280Coup d'EtatLiterally "blow to the state"--a violent overthrow.56
9824965281Faux PasA social misstep or inappropriate action.57
9824965282Laissez-FaireLiterally "allow to do"--letting things run their natural course; hands off.58
9824965283En MasseIn a body as a whole; as a group.59
9824965284ProprietaryCharacteristic of an owner of property; constituting property.60
9824965285ProprietyThe quality of behaving in a proper manner; obeying rules and customs.61
9824965286ImminentAbout to happen.62
9824965287EminentFamous, outstanding, distinguished.63
9824965288EgoAccording to Freud, the decision-making component of personality that operates according to the reality principle.64
9824965289SuperegoAccording to Freud, that facet of the psyche that represents the internalized ideals and values of one's parents and society65
9824965290IdLiterally the "It"--our base impulses, driven by selfishness and greed, for example.66
9824965291HamartiaA character's error in judgment that contributes to one's downfall.67
9824965292OrwellianThe manipulation of language and ideas to control and obstruct the truth.68
9824965293AutonomosIndependent, self-governing, not under the control of something or someone else.69

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!