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AP English Language and Composition Flashcards

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9478930505AllegoryThe device of using character and/or story elements symbolically.0
9478930506AntecedentWord, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.1
9478930507AntithesisOpposition or contrast of ideas through parallelism.2
9478930508AphorismEarly to bed and early to rise help make a man healthy, wealthy, and wise. -Ben Franklin3
9478930509Apostrophe"Oh, Captain, my Captain, our fearful trip is done..."4
9478930510Colloquial/ColloquialismThe use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.5
9478930511ConceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor.6
9478930513HomilyThis term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.7
9478930514InvectiveAn emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.8
9478930516AnaphoraThe exact repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive lines or sentences.9
9478930517PedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish10
9478930518Proseone of the major divisions of genre, prose refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms.11
9478930519SemanticsThe branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words.12
9478930520SyllogismA deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion.13
9478930521SynecdocheA figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole.14
9478930522SynesthesiaWhen one kind of sensory stimulus evokes the subjective experience of another.15
9478930523ApologiaA written or spoken defense of one's beliefs and actions.16
9478930524EpigramA brief witty statement.17
9478930525DigressionThe use of material unrelated to the subject of a work.18
9478930526EllipsisThe omission of a word or several words.19
9478930527Ad HominemAttacking a speaker's character instead of to their argument.20
9478930528AnachronismA person, scene, event or other element that fails to correspond with the appropriate time or era.21
9478930529DidacticHaving an instructive purpose; intending to convey information to teach a lesson usually in a dry, pompous manner.22
9478930530FallacyAn incorrect belief or supposition based on faulty data, defective evidence, or false information.23
9478930531HubrisExcessive pride that often brings about one's fall.24
9478930532AlliterationRepetition of consonant sounds, usually at the beginnings of words25
9478930533LitotesA form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity.26
9478930534ParadoxA statement or idea that seems contradictory but is in fact true.27
9478930535Non SequiturA statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before.28
9478930536AnecdoteA short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.29
9478930537JargonSpecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group.30
9478930538TaciturnNot talking much, reserved; silent, holding back in conversation.31
9478930539DogmaticInclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true.32
9478930540PerniciousHaving a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.33
9478930541BellicoseDemonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.34
9478930542VoraciousCraving or consuming large quantities of food.35
9478930543ZealousHaving or showing zeal.36
9478930544TacitUnderstood or implied without being stated.37
9478930545InnuendoAn allusive or oblique remark or hint, typically a suggestive or disparaging one.38
9478930546LackadaisicalDisplaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed.39
9478930547ConsecrateMake or declare (something, typically a church) sacred; dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose.40
9478930548ChiasmusA 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."41
9478930549Loose SentenceA sentence in which the subject and verb come at the front of the sentence.42
9478930550PetulantChildishly sulky or bad-tempered.43
9478930551Periodic SentenceA sentence in which the subject and verb come toward the end of the sentence.44
9478930552ExhortStrongly encourage or urge someone to do something.45
9478930553CloisteredKept away from the outside world; sheltered.46
9478930554SarcasmCaustic, bitter language--iterally means "to tear the flesh."47
9478930555Independent ClauseA complete sentence.48
9478930556Dependent ClauseIncludes a subordinate conjunction, such as because, while, etc.49
9478930557AllusionA reference to something (e.g., a book, a movie, an historical event) that is presumed to be well known to the audience.50
9478930558SatireA work that pokes fun human vices and follies in order to call attention to a larger problem.51
9478930559ParodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.52
9478930560Coup de GraceThe "death blow"--the culminating event in a bad situation.53
9478930561Coup d'EtatLiterally "blow to the state"--a violent overthrow.54
9478930562Faux PasA social misstep or inappropriate action.55
9478930563Laissez-FaireLiterally "allow to do"--letting things run their natural course; hands off.56
9478930564En MasseIn a body as a whole; as a group.57
9478930565ProprietaryCharacteristic of an owner of property; constituting property.58
9478930566ProprietyThe quality of behaving in a proper manner; obeying rules and customs.59
9478930567ImminentAbout to happen.60
9478930568EminentFamous, outstanding, distinguished.61
9478930569EgoAccording to Freud, the decision-making component of personality that operates according to the reality principle.62
9478930570SuperegoAccording to Freud, that facet of the psyche that represents the internalized ideals and values of one's parents and society63
9478930571IdLiterally the "It"--our base impulses, driven by selfishness and greed, for example.64
9478930572HamartiaA character's error in judgment that contributes to one's downfall.65
9478930573OrwellianThe manipulation of language and ideas to control and obstruct the truth.66
9478930574AutonomosIndependent, self-governing, not under the control of something or someone else.67
9927623850Maxim- A concise statement, often offering advice; an adage - A brief statement that conveys a general truth68

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