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AP English Language and Composition Flashcards

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9960238581AllegoryThe device of using character and/or story elements symbolically.0
9960238582AntecedentWord, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.1
9960238583AntithesisOpposition or contrast of ideas through parallelism.2
9960238584AphorismEarly to bed and early to rise help make a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. -Ben Franklin3
9960238585Apostrophe"Oh, Captain, my Captain, our fearful trip is done..."4
9960238586Colloquial/ColloquialismThe use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.5
9960238587ConceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor.6
9960238588Euphemismcorrectional facility = jail between jobs = unemployed7
9960238589HomilyThis term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.8
9960238590InvectiveAn emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.9
9960238591Metonymya figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.10
9960238592AnaphoraThe exact repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive lines or sentences.11
9960238593PedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish12
9960238594Proseone of the major divisions of genre, prose refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms.13
9960238595SemanticsThe branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words.14
9960238596SyllogismA deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion.15
9960238597SynecdocheA figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole.16
9960238598SynesthesiaWhen one kind of sensory stimulus evokes the subjective experience of another.17
9960238599ApologiaA written or spoken defense of one's beliefs and actions.18
9960238600EpigramA brief witty statement.19
9960238601DigressionThe use of material unrelated to the subject of a work.20
9960238602EllipsisThe omission of a word or several words.21
9960238603Ad HominemAttacking a speaker's character instead of to their argument.22
9960238604AnachronismA person, scene, event or other element that fails to correspond with the appropriate time or era.23
9960238605DidacticHaving an instructive purpose; intending to convey information to teach a lesson usually in a dry, pompous manner.24
9960238606FallacyAn incorrect belief or supposition based on faulty data, defective evidence, or false information.25
9960238607HubrisExcessive pride that often brings about one's fall.26
9960238608AlliterationRepetition of consonant sounds, usually at the beginnings of words27
9960238609LitotesA form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity.28
9960238610ParadoxA statement or idea that seems contradictory but is in fact true.29
9960238611Non SequiturA statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before.30
9960238612AnecdoteA short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.31
9960238613JargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group.32
9960238614TaciturnNot talking much, reserved; silent, holding back in conversation.33
9960238615DogmaticInclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true.34
9960238616PerniciousHaving a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.35
9960238617BellicoseDemonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.36
9960238618VoraciousCraving or consuming large quantities of food.37
9960238619ZealousHaving or showing zeal.38
9960238620TacitUnderstood or implied without being stated.39
9960238621InnuendoAn allusive or oblique remark or hint, typically a suggestive or disparaging one.40
9960238622LackadaisicalDisplaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed.41
9960238623ConsecrateMake or declare (something, typically a church) sacred; dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose.42
9960238624ChiasmusA 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
9960238625Loose SentenceA sentence in which the subject and verb come at the front of the sentence.44
9960238626PetulantChildishly sulky or bad-tempered.45
9960238627Periodic SentenceA sentence in which the subject and verb come toward the end of the sentence.46
9960238628ExhortStrongly encourage or urge someone to do something.47
9960238629CloisteredKept away from the outside world; sheltered.48
9960238630SarcasmCaustic, bitter language--iterally means "to tear the flesh."49
9960238631Independent ClauseA complete sentence.50
9960238632Dependent ClauseIncludes a subordinate conjunction, such as because, while, etc.51
9960238633AllusionA reference to something (e.g., a book, a movie, an historical event) that is presumed to be well known to the audience.52
9960238634SatireA work that pokes fun human vices and follies in order to call attention to a larger problem.53
9960238635ParodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.54
9960238636Coup de GraceThe "death blow"--the culminating event in a bad situation.55
9960238637Coup d'EtatLiterally "blow to the state"--a violent overthrow.56
9960238638Faux PasA social misstep or inappropriate action.57
9960238639Laissez-FaireLiterally "allow to do"--letting things run their natural course; hands off.58
9960238640En MasseIn a body as a whole; as a group.59
9960238641ProprietaryCharacteristic of an owner of property; constituting property.60
9960238642ProprietyThe quality of behaving in a proper manner; obeying rules and customs.61
9960238643ImminentAbout to happen.62
9960238644EminentFamous, outstanding, distinguished.63
9960238645EgoAccording to Freud, the decision-making component of personality that operates according to the reality principle.64
9960238646SuperegoAccording to Freud, that facet of the psyche that represents the internalized ideals and values of one's parents and society65
9960238647IdLiterally the "It"--our base impulses, driven by selfishness and greed, for example.66
9960238648HamartiaA character's error in judgment that contributes to one's downfall.67
9960238649OrwellianThe manipulation of language and ideas to control and obstruct the truth.68
9960238650AutonomosIndependent, self-governing, not under the control of something or someone else.69

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