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AP English Language and Composition Flashcards

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6770285024AllegoryThe device of using character and/or story elements symbolically.0
6770285025AntecedentWord, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.1
6770285026AntithesisOpposition or contrast of ideas through parallelism.2
6770285027AphorismEarly to bed and early to rise help make a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. -Ben Franklin3
6770285028Apostrophe"Oh, Captain, my Captain, our fearful trip is done..."4
6770285029Colloquial/ColloquialismThe use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.5
6770285030ConceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor.6
6770285031Euphemismcorrectional facility = jail between jobs = unemployed7
6770285032HomilyThis term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.8
6770285033InvectiveAn emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.9
6770285034Metonymya figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.10
6770285035AnaphoraThe exact repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive lines or sentences.11
6770285036PedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish12
6770285037Proseone of the major divisions of genre, prose refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms.13
6770285038SemanticsThe branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words.14
6770285039SyllogismA deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion.15
6770285040SynecdocheA figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole.16
6770285041SynesthesiaWhen one kind of sensory stimulus evokes the subjective experience of another.17
6770285042ApologiaA written or spoken defense of one's beliefs and actions.18
6770285043EpigramA brief witty statement.19
6770285044DigressionThe use of material unrelated to the subject of a work.20
6770285045EllipsisThe omission of a word or several words.21
6770285046Ad HominemAttacking a speaker's character instead of to their argument.22
6770285047AnachronismA person, scene, event or other element that fails to correspond with the appropriate time or era.23
6770285048DidacticHaving an instructive purpose; intending to convey information to teach a lesson usually in a dry, pompous manner.24
6770285049FallacyAn incorrect belief or supposition based on faulty data, defective evidence, or false information.25
6770285050HubrisExcessive pride that often brings about one's fall.26
6770285051AlliterationRepetition of consonant sounds, usually at the beginnings of words27
6770285052LitotesA form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity.28
6770285053ParadoxA statement or idea that seems contradictory but is in fact true.29
6770285054Non SequiturA statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before.30
6770285055AnecdoteA short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.31
6770285056JargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group.32
6770285057TaciturnNot talking much, reserved; silent, holding back in conversation.33
6770285058DogmaticInclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true.34
6770285059PerniciousHaving a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.35
6770285060BellicoseDemonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.36
6770285061VoraciousCraving or consuming large quantities of food.37
6770285062ZealousHaving or showing zeal.38
6770285063TacitUnderstood or implied without being stated.39
6770285064InnuendoAn allusive or oblique remark or hint, typically a suggestive or disparaging one.40
6770285065LackadaisicalDisplaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed.41
6770285066ConsecrateMake or declare (something, typically a church) sacred; dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose.42
6770285067ChiasmusA 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
6770285068Loose SentenceA sentence in which the subject and verb come at the front of the sentence.44
6770285069PetulantChildishly sulky or bad-tempered.45
6770285070Periodic SentenceA sentence in which the subject and verb come toward the end of the sentence.46
6770285071ExhortStrongly encourage or urge someone to do something.47
6770285072CloisteredKept away from the outside world; sheltered.48
6770285073SarcasmCaustic, bitter language--iterally means "to tear the flesh."49
6770285074Independent ClauseA complete sentence.50
6770285075Dependent ClauseIncludes a subordinate conjunction, such as because, while, etc.51
6770285076AllusionA reference to something (e.g., a book, a movie, an historical event) that is presumed to be well known to the audience.52
6770285077SatireA work that pokes fun human vices and follies in order to call attention to a larger problem.53
6770285078ParodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.54
6770285079Coup de GraceThe "death blow"--the culminating event in a bad situation.55
6770285080Coup d'EtatLiterally "blow to the state"--a violent overthrow.56
6770285081Faux PasA social misstep or inappropriate action.57
6770285082Laissez-FaireLiterally "allow to do"--letting things run their natural course; hands off.58
6770285083En MasseIn a body as a whole; as a group.59
6770285084ProprietaryCharacteristic of an owner of property; constituting property.60
6770285085ProprietyThe quality of behaving in a proper manner; obeying rules and customs.61
6770285086ImminentAbout to happen.62
6770285087EminentFamous, outstanding, distinguished.63
6770285088EgoAccording to Freud, the decision-making component of personality that operates according to the reality principle.64
6770285089SuperegoAccording to Freud, that facet of the psyche that represents the internalized ideals and values of one's parents and society65
6770285090IdLiterally the "It"--our base impulses, driven by selfishness and greed, for example.66
6770285091HamartiaA character's error in judgment that contributes to one's downfall.67
6770285092OrwellianThe manipulation of language and ideas to control and obstruct the truth.68
6770285093AutonomosIndependent, self-governing, not under the control of something or someone else.69

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