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AP English Language and Composition Flashcards

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10337253067Allegorystory or poem in which characters, settings, and events stand for other people or events or for abstract ideas or qualities0
10337253068Alliterationrepetition of the same or similar consonant sounds in words that are close together1
10337253069Allusionreference to someone or something that is known from history, literature, religion, politics, sports, science, or another branch of culture. An indirect reference to something2
10337253070Ambiguitydeliberately suggesting two or more different, and sometimes conflicting meanings in a work. An event or situation that may be interpreted in more than one way-this is done on purpose by the author, when it is not done on purpose, it is vague, and detracts from the work3
10337253071Analogycomparison made between two things to show how they are alike4
10337253072Anaphorarepetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences in a row. This is a deliberate form of repetition and helps make the writer's point more coherent5
10337253073Anastropheinversion of the usual, normal, or logical order of the parts of a sentence. Purpose is rhythm or emphasis or euphony. It is a fancy word for inversion6
10337253074Anecdotebrief story, told to illustrate a point or serve as an example of something, often shows character of an individual7
10337253075Antagonistopponent who struggles against or blocks the hero, or protagonist, in a story8
10337253076Antimetabolerepetition of words in successive clauses in reverse grammatical order9
10337253077Antithesisbalancing words, phrases, or ideas that are strongly contrasted, often by means of grammatical structure10
10337253078Antiherocentral character who lacks all the qualities traditionally associated with heroes. may lack courage, grace, intelligence, or moral scruples11
10337253079Anthropomorphismattributing human characteristics to an animal or inanimate object (personification)12
10337253080Aphorismbrief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life, or of a principle or accepted general truth. Also called maxim, epigram13
10337253081Apostrophecalling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person, or to a place or thing, or a personified abstract idea14
10337253082AppositionPlacing an immediately succeeding order of two or more coordinate elements, the latter of which is an explanation, qualification, or modification of the first15
10337253083Assonancethe repetition of similar vowel sounds followed by different consonant sounds especially in words that are together16
10337253084Asyndetoncommas used without conjunction to separate a series of words, thus emphasizing the parts equally: instead of X, Y, and Z... the writer uses X,Y,Z17
10337253085Balanceconstructing a sentence so that both halves are about the same length and importance. Sentences can be unbalanced to serve a special effect as well18
10337253086Chatacterizationthe process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character19
10337253087indirect characterizationthe author reveals to the reader what the character is like by describing how the character looks and dresses, by letting the reader hear what the character says, by revealing the character's private thoughts and feelings, by revealing the character's effect on other people, or by showing the character in action20
10337253088direct characterizationthe author tells us directly what the character is like21
10337253089Static Characteris one who does not change much in the course of the story22
10337253090Dynamic Characteris one who changes in some important way as a result of the story's action23
10337253091Flat Characterhas only one or two personality traits. They are one dimensional, like a piece of cardboard. They can be summed up in one phrase24
10337253092Round Characterhas more dimensions to their personalities---they are complex, just as real people are25
10337253093Chiasmusin poetry, a type or rhetorical balance in which the second part is syntactically balanced against the first, but with the parts reversed26
10337253094Clicheis a word or phrase, often a figure of speech, that has become lifeless because of overuse27
10337253095Colloquialisma word or phrase in everyday use in conversation and informal writing but is inappropriate for formal situations28
10337253096Comedyin general, a story that ends with a happy resolution of the conflicts faced by the main character or characters29
10337253097Conceitan elaborate metaphor that compares two things that are startlingly different. Often an extended metaphor30
10337253098Confessional Poetrya twentieth century term used to describe poetry that uses intimate material from the poet's life31
10337253099Conflictthe struggle between opposing forces or characters in a story32
10337253100External Conflictconflicts can exist between two people, between a person and nature or a machine or between a person and a whole society33
10337253101Internal Conflicta conflict involving opposing forces within a person's mind34
10337253102Connotationthe associations and emotional overtones that have become attached to a word or phrase, in addition to its strict dictionary definition35
10337253103Couplettwo consecutive rhyming lines of poetry36
10337253104Dialecta way of speaking that is characteristic of a certain social group of the inhabitants of a certain geographical area37
10337253105Dictiona speaker or writer's choice of words38
10337253106Didacticform of fiction or non fiction that teaches a specific lesson or moral or provides a model of correct behavior or thinking39
10337253107Elegya poem of mourning, usually about someone who has died40
10337253108Epanalepsisdevice of repetition in which the same expression is repeated both at the beginning and at the end of the line, clause, or sentence41
10337253109Epica long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society42
10337253110Epigrapha quotation or aphorism at the beginning of a literary work suggestive of the theme43
10337253111Epistrophedevice of repetition in which the same expression is repeated at the end of two or more lines, clauses, or sentences44
10337253112Epithetan adjective or adjective phrase applied to a person or thing that is frequently used to emphasize a characteristic quality45
10337253113Essaya short piece of nonfiction prose in which the writer discusses some aspect of a subject46
10337253114Argumentationone of the four forms of discourse which uses logic, ethics, and emotional appeals to develop an effective means to convince the reader to think or act in a certain way47
10337253115Persuasionrelies more on emotional appeals than on facts48
10337253116Argumentform of persuasion that appeals to reason instead of emotion to convince an audience to think or act in a certain way49
10337253117Casual Relationshipform of argumentation in which the writer claims that one thing results from another, often used as part of a logical argument50
10337253118Descriptiona form of discourse that uses language to create a mood or emotion51
10337253119Expositionone of the four major forms of discourse, in which something is explained or "set forth"52
10337253120Narrativethe form of discourse that tells about a series of events53
10337253121Explicationact or interpreting or discovering the meaning of a text, usually involves close reading and special attention to figurative language54
10337253122Fablea very short story told in prose or poetry that teaches a practical lesson about how to succeed in life55
10337253123Farcea type of comedy in which ridiculous and often stereotyped characters are involved in silly, far-fetched situations56
10337253124Figurative Languagewords which are inaccurate if interpreted literally, but are used to describe57
10337253125Flashbacka scene that interrupts the normal chronological sequence of events in a story to depict something that happened at an earlier time58
10337253126Foila character who acts as contrast to another character59
10337253127Foreshadowingthe use of hints and clues to suggest what will happen later in a plot60
10337253128Free Versepoetry that does not conform to a regular meter or rhyme scheme61
10337253129Hyperbolea figure of speech that uses an incredible exaggeration or overstatement, for effect62
10337253130Hypotacticsentence marked by the use of connecting words between clauses or sentences, explicitly showing the logical or other relationships between them63
10337253131Imagerythe use of language to evoke a picture or a concrete sensation of a person, a thing, a place, or an experience64
10337253132Inversionthe reversal of the normal word order in a sentence or phrase65
10337253133Ironya discrepancy between appearances and reality66
10337253134Verbal Ironyoccurs when someone says one thing but really means something else67
10337253135Situational Ironytakes place when there is a discrepancy between what is expected to happen, or what would be appropriate to happen, and what really does happen68
10337253136Dramatic Ironyis so called because it is often used on stage. A character in the play or story thinks one thing is true, but the audience or reader knows better69
10337253137Juxtapositionpoetic and rhetorical device in which normally unassociated ideas, words or phrases are placed next to one another, creating an effect of surprise and wit70
10337253138Juxtaposition 2also a form of contrast by which writers call attention to dissimilar ideas or images or metaphors71
10337253139Litotesis a form of understatement in which the positive form is emphasized through the negation of a negative form72
10337253140Local Colora term applied to fiction or poetry which tends to place special emphasis on a particular setting, including its customs, clothing, dialect and landscape73
10337253141Loose Sentenceone in which the main clause comes first, followed by furthur dependent grammatical units74
10337253142Lyric Poema poem that does not tell a story but expresses the personal feelings or thought of the speaker75
10337253143Metaphora figure of speech that makes a comparison between two unlike things without the use of such specific words or comparison as like, as, than, or resembles76
10337253144Implied Metaphordoes not state explicitly the two terms of the comparison77
10337253145Extended Metaphoris a metaphor that is extended or developed as far as the writer wants to take it78
10337253146Dead Metaphoris a metaphor that has been used so often that the comparison is no longer vivid79
10337253147Mixed Metaphoris a metaphor that has gotten out of control and mixes its terms so that they are visually or imaginatively incompatible80
10337253148Metonymya figure of speech in which a person, place, or thing is referred to by something closely associated with it81
10337253149Moodan atmosphere created by a writer's diction and the details selected82
10337253150Motifa recurring image, word, phrase, action,idea, object, or situation used throughout a work, unifying the work by tying the current situation to previous ones, or new ideas to the theme83
10337253151Motivationthe reasons for a character's behavoir84
10337253152Onomatopoeiathe use of words whose sounds echo their sense85
10337253153Oxymorona figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase86
10337253154Parablea relatively short story that teaches a moral, or lesson about how to lead a good life87
10337253155Paradoxa statement that appears self-contradictory, but that reveals a kind of truth88
10337253156Koanis a paradox used in Zen Buddhism to gain intuitive knowledge89
10337253157Parallel Structure(parallelism) the repetition of words or phrases that have similar grammatical structures90
10337253158Paratactic Sentencesimply juxtaposes clauses or sentenes91
10337253159Parodya work that makes fun or another work by imitating some aspect of the writer's style92
10337253160Periodicsentence that places the main idea or central complete thought at the end of the sentence, after all introductory elements93
10337253161Personificationa figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes94
10337253162Plotthe series of related events in a story or play, sometimes called the storyline95
10337253163Exposition 2introduces characters, situation, and setting96
10337253164Rising Actioncomplications in conflict and situations97
10337253165Climaxthat point in a plot that creates the greatest intensity, suspense, or interest. Also called "turning point"98
10337253166Resolutionthe conclusion of a story, when all or most of the conflicts have been settled; often called the denouement99
10337253167Point of Viewthe vantage point from which the writer tells the story100
10337253168First Person POVone of the characters tells the story101
10337253169Third Person POVan unknown narrator, tells the story, but this narrator zooms in to focus on the thoughts and feelings of only one character102
10337253170Omniscient POVan all knowing narrator tells the story, also using the third person pronouns. Instead of focusing on one character only, often tells us everything about many characters103
10337253171Objective POVa narrator who is totally impersonal and objective tells the story, with no comment on any characters or events104
10337253172Polysyndetonsentence which uses a conjunction with NO commas to separate the items in series105
10337253173Protagonistthe central character in a story, the one who initiates or drives the action. usually the hero or anti-hero106
10337253174Puna "play on words" based on the multiple meanings of a single word or on words that sound alike but mean different things107
10337253175Quatraina poem consisting of four lines, or four lines of a poem that can be considered as a unit108
10337253176Refraina word, phrase, line, or group of lines that is repeated, for effect, several times in a poem109
10337253177Rhythma rise and fall of the voice produced by the alternation of stressed and unstressed syllables in language110
10337253178Rhetoricart of effective communication, especially persuasive discourse111
10337253179Rhetorical Questiona question asked for an effect, and not actually requiring an answer112
10337253180Romancein general, a story in which an idealized hero or heroine undertakes a quest and is successful113
10337253181Satirea type of writing that ridicules the shortcomings of people or institutions in an attempt to bring about a change114
10337253182Similea figure of speech that makes an explicitly comparison between two unlike things, using words such as like, as, than, or resembles115
10337253183Soliloquya long speech made by a character in a play while no other characters are on stage116
10337253184Stereotypea fixed idea or conception of a character or an idea which does not allow for any individuality, often based on religious, social, or racial prejudices117
10337253185Stream of Consciousnessa style of writing that portrays the inner (often chaotic) workings of a character's mind118
10337253186Stylethe distinctive way in which a writer uses language: a writer's distinctive use of diction, tone, and syntax119
10337253187Suspensea feeling of uncertainty and curiosity about what will happen next in a story120
10337253188Symbola person, place, thing, or event that has meaning in itself and that also stands for something more than itself121
10337253189Synecdochea figure of speech in which a part represents the whole122
10337253190Syntactic Fluencyability to create a variety o sentence structures, appropriately complex and/or simple and varied in length123
10337253191Syntactic Permutationsentence structures that are extraordinarily complex and involved. often difficult for a reader to follow124
10337253192Tall Talean outrageously exaggerated, humorous story that is obviously unbelievable125
10337253193Telegraphic Sentencea sentence shorter than five words in length126
10337253194Themethe insight about human life that is revealed in a literary work127
10337253195Tonethe attitude a writer takes toward the subject of a work, the characters in it, or the audience, revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization128
10337253196Tragedyin general, a story in which a heroic character either dies or comes to some other unhappy ending129
10337253197Tricolonsentence of three parts or equal importance and length, usually three independent clauses130
10337253198Understatementa statement that says less than what is meant131
10337253199Unityunified parts of the writing are related to one central idea or organizing principle, dependent upon coherence132
10337253200Vernacularthe language spoken by the people who live in a particular locality133
10337253201Impressionisma nineteenth-century movement in literature and art which advocated a recording of the artist's personal impressions of the world, rather than a strict representation of reality134
10337253202Modernisma term for the bold new experimental styles and forms that swept the arts during the first third of the twentieth century135
10337253203Naturalisma nineteenth century literary movement that was an extension of realism and that claimed to portray life exactly as it was136
10337253204Plain Stylewriting style that stresses simplicity and clarity of expression (but still utilize allusions and metaphors), and was the main form of puritan writers137
10337253205Puritanismwriting style of America's early english-speaking colonists. emphasizes obedience to God and consists mainly of journals, sermons, and poems138
10337253206Rationalisma movement that began in europe in the seventeenth century, which held that we can arrive at truth by using our reason rather than relying on the authority of the past, on the authority of the Church, or an institution139
10337253207Realisma style of writing, developed in the nineteenth century, that attempts to depict life accurately without idealizing or romanticizing it140
10337253208Regionalismliterature that emphasizes a specific geographic setting and that reproduces the speech, behavior, and attitudes of the people who live in that region141
10337253209Romanticisma revolt against Rationalism that affected literature and the other arts, beginning in the late eighteenth century and remaining strong throughout most of the nineteenth century142
10337253210Surrealisma movement in art or literature that started in europe during the 1920s. they wanted to replace conventional realism with the full expression of the unconscious mind, which they considered to be more real than the real world of appearances143
10337253211Symbolisma literary movement that originated in late nineteenth century France, in which writers rearranged the world of appearances in order to reveal a more truthful version of reality144
10337253212Transcendentalisma nineteenth century movement in the Romantic tradition, which held that every individual can reach ultimate truths through spiritual intuition which transcends reasons and sensory experience145
103372532131620-1770spuritanism146
103372532141770s-early 1800sneoclassic147
10337253215early 1800s-1870sromanticism148
103372532161850s-early 1900srealism149
103372532171884-early 1900sregionalism150
10337253218late 1800s-mid 1900snaturalism151
103372532191920s-[1945]modernism152
103372532201945-...post modernism153

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