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AP English Language Flashcards

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14617769952AllusionA reference to another work of literature, person, or event "I didn't have any bus fare, but fortunately some good Samaritan helped me out!"0
14617808595Anadiplosisrepetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause "They call for you: The general who became a slave; the slave who became a gladiator; the gladiator who defied an Emperor. Striking story."1
14617809709AnalogyA comparison of two different things that are similar in some way As light as a feather.2
14617820224Anaphorathe repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses "Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better and better."3
14617822828Asyndetonomission of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words "Are all thy conquests, glories, triumphs, spoils, Shrunk to this little measure?"4
14617828186Colloquialisminformal words or expressions not usually acceptable in formal writing "In Minnesota, people may refer to a casserole as a hotdish."5
14617833431DictionA writer's or speaker's choice of words and way of arranging the words in sentences "Ah, happy, happy boughs! that cannot shed Your leaves, nor ever bid the spring adieu."6
14617834123Ethosbeliefs or character of a group "As a doctor, I am qualified to tell you that this course of treatment will likely generate the best results."7
14617837749Epistrophethe repetition of a word at the end of successive clauses or sentences "May God bless you."8
14617840885EuphemismAn indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant "Passed away instead of died."9
14617841551Hyperboleexaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally. "He's running faster than the wind."10
14617856547IronyA contrast between expectation and reality "A fire station burns down."11
14617858722Jargonspecial words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand. "Bang for the buck"12
14617859130Logosan appeal based on logic or reason "The data is perfectly clear: this investment has consistently turned a profit year-over-year, even in spite of market declines in other areas."13
14617859805MetonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it "The pen is mightier than the sword."14
14617860739OxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase. "his is another fine mess you have got us into."15
14617863846ParadoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth. "Your enemy's friend is your enemy."16
14617864750Parallelismsimilarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses "She likes cooking, jogging, and reading." "She likes to cook, jog, and read."17
14617867175Pathosemotional appeal "If we don't move soon, we're all going to die! Can't you see how dangerous it would be to stay?"18
14617870834periodic sentenceA sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end. "In spite of heavy snow and cold temperatures, the game continued. "19
14617871894Polsyndetona style that employs a great many conjunctions "Let the whitefolks have their money and power and segregation and sarcasm and big houses and schools and lawns like carpets, and books, and mostly-mostly-let them have their whiteness."20
14617872669rhetorical questionA question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer "Is the pope Catholic?"21
14617873050SyntaxThe arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language. "The boy jumped happily."22
14617876308Synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa The word "sails" is often used to refer to a whole ship.23
14617877879Thesisa statement or theory that is put forward as a premise to be maintained or proved. "Because many children are unable to vaccinate due to illness, we must require that all healthy and able children be vaccinated in order to have herd immunity."24
14617878574ToneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels. Father: "We are going on a vacation." Son: "That's great!!!"25
14617879402Understatementthe presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is. "I have to have this operation. It isn't very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain."26
14617880623Zuegmause of two different words in a grammatically similar way that produces different, often incongruous, meanings "She broke his car and his heart."27

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