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AP English Language Glossary Flashcards

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4985340235PersonificationThe assigning of human qualities to inanimate objects or concepts. An example: Wordsworth's "the sea that bares her bosom to the moon."0
4985340236Antithesisthe presentation of two contrasting images. The ideas are balanced by phrase, clause, or paragraphs. "To be or not to be . . ." "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times . . ." "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country . . ."1
4985340237OxymoronFrom the Greek for "pointedly foolish," ___ is a figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms. Simple examples include "jumbo shrimp" and "cruel kindness."2
4985340238Sarcasmfrom the Greek meaning "to tear flesh," ___ involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something. It may use irony as a device.3
4985340239Synecdoche. a figure of speech that utilizes a part as representative of the whole. "All hands on deck" is an example.4
4985340240Hyperbolea figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement5
4985340241Anaphorarepetition 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 coherent.6
4985340242Euphonythe pleasant, mellifluous presentation of sounds in a literary work.7
4985340243ThemeThe central idea or message of a work, the insight it offers into life. Usually, __ is unstated in fictional works, but in nonfiction, the __ may be directly stated, especially in expository or argumentative writing.8
4985340244Metonomya term from the Greek meaning "changed label" or "substitute name" __ is a figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it. For example: a news release that claims "The White House declared" rather than "The President declared"9
4985340245ParadoxA statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity.10
4985340246Transitiona word or phrase that links one idea to the next and carries the reader from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph.11
4985340247Onomatopoeiaa figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Simple examples include such words as buzz, hiss, hum.12
4985340248Cacophonyharsh and discordant sounds in a line or passage in a literary word.13
4985340249Metaphora direct comparison between dissimilar things. "Your eyes are stars" is an example.14
4985340250Symbolgenerally, anything that represents, stands for, something else. Usually, a ___ is something concrete—such as an object, action, character, or scene—that represents something more abstract.15
4985340251Begging the QuestionOften called circular reasoning, __ occurs when the believability of the evidence depends on the believability of the claim.16
4985340252Invectivean emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.17
4985340253Understatementthe opposite of exaggeration. It is a technique for developing irony and/or humor where one writes or says less than intended.18
4985340254Either-or reasoningWhen the writer reduces an argument or issue to two polar opposites and ignores any alternatives.19
4985340255HomilyThis term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.20
4985340256PedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.21
4985340257Causal RelationshipIn __, a writer asserts that one thing results from another. To show how one thing produces or brings about another is often relevant in establishing a logical argument.22
4985340258EquivocationWhen a writer uses the same term in two different senses in an argument.23
4985340259ImageryThe sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions. On a physical level, __ uses terms related to the five senses; we refer to visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory, or olfactory. For example, a rose may present visual __ while also representing the color in a woman's cheeks.24
4985340260Euphemisma more acceptable and usually more pleasant way of saying something that might be inappropriate or uncomfortable. "He went to his final reward" is a common __ for "he died." They are also used to obscure the reality of the situation.25
4985340261Figure of SpeechA device used to produce figurative language. Many compare dissimilar things. Examples are apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, metonomy, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, synecdoche, and understatement.26
4985340262IronyThe contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant. The difference between what appears to be and what actually is true.27
4985340263SatireA work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and convention for reform or ridicule. Regardless of whether or not the work aims to reform humans or their society, ___ is best seen as a style of writing rather than a purpose for writing. The effect of __, often humorous, is thought provoking and insightful about the human condition.28
4985340264AlliterationThe repetition of initial consonant sounds, such as "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers."29
4985340265EpigraphThe use of a quotation at the beginning of a work that hints at its theme. Hemingway begins The Sun Also Rises with two. One of them is "You are all a lost generation" by Gertrude Stein.30
4985340266Periodic SentenceA sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end. The independent clause is preceded by a phrase or clause that cannot stand alone. The effect is to add emphasis and structural variety.31
4985340267NarrativeThe telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events.32
4985340268Ethosan appeal based on the character of the speaker. An __-driven document relies on the reputation of the author.33
4985340269Situational Ironya type of irony in which events turn out the opposite of what was expected.34
4985340270ConsonanceRepetition of a consonant sound within two or more words in close proximity.35
4985340271Pathosan appeal based on emotion.36
4985340272SyllogismFrom the Greek for "reckoning together," a __ is a deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion.37
4985340273Logosan appeal based on logic or reason38
4985340274Verbal IronyIn this type of irony, the words literally state the opposite of the writer's true meaning39
4985340275AnecdoteA story or brief episode told by the writer or a character to illustrate a point.40
4985340276Abstract LanguageLanguage describing ideas and qualities rather than observable or specific things, people, or places.41
4985340277Ad HominemIn an argument, this is an attack on the person rather than on the opponent's ideas. It comes from the Latin meaning "against the man."42
4985340278Denotationthe literal or dictionary meaning of a word43
4985340279CumulativeSentence which begins with the main idea and then expands on that idea with a series of details or other particulars44
4985340280Dramatic IronyIn this type of irony, facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or a piece of fiction but known to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work45
4985340281ParodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.46
4985340282Connotationthe interpretive level or a word based on its associated images rather than its literal meaning.47
4985340283RepetitionThe duplication, either exact or approximate, or any element of language, such as sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern.48
4985340284SyntaxThe grammatical structure of prose and poetry.49
4985340285AssonanceRepetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity50
4985340286Voicecan refer to two different areas of writing. One refers to the relationship between a sentence's subject and verb (active and passive). The second refers to the total "sound" of the writer's style.51
4985340287InferTo draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented.52
4985340288ArgumentA single assertion or a series of assertions presented and defended by the writer53
4985340289AllusionA reference contained in a work54
4985340290GenreThe major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions of literature are prose, poetry, and drama.55
4985340291Stream-of-consciousnessThis is a narrative technique that places the reader in the mind and thought process of the narrator, no matter how random and spontaneous that may be.56
4985340292AllegoryA work that functions on a symbolic level57
4985340293ExplicationThe act of interpreting or discovering the meaning of a text. __ usually involves close reading and special attention to figurative language.58
4985340294Parallelismrefers to the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity.59
4985340295SemanticsThe branch of linguistics that studies that meaning of words, their historical and psychological development, their connotations, and their relation to one another.60
4985340296Rhetorical ModesThe flexible term describes the variety, the conventions, and the purposes of the major kinds of writing.61
4985340297Analogya literary device employed to serve as a basis for comparison. It is assumed that what applies to the parallel situation also applies to the original circumstance. In other words, it is the comparison between two different items.62
4985340298Figurative LanguageWriting or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid.63
4985340299Examplean individual instance taken to be representative of a general pattern64
4985340300DescriptionThe purpose of this rhetorical mode is to re-create, invent, or visually present a person, place, event, or action so that the reader can picture that being described. Sometimes an author engages all five senses.65
4985340301Narrative DeviceThis term describes the tools of the storyteller, such as ordering events to that they build to climatic movement or withholding information until a crucial or appropriate moment when revealing in creates a desired effect.66
4985340302Ethical AppealWhen a writer tries to persuade the audience to respect and believe him or her based on a presentation of image of self through the text.67
4985340303ExpositionThe purpose of this rhetorical mode is to explain and analyze information by presenting an idea, relevant evidence, and appropriate discussion.68
4985340304Attitudethe relationship an author has toward his or her subject, and/or his or her audience69
4985340305BackingSupport or evidence for a claim in an argument70
4985340306EllipsisIndicated by a series of three periods, the __ indicates that some material has been omitted from a given text.71
4985340307ArgumentationThe purpose of this rhetorical mode is to prove the validity of an idea, or point of view, by presenting sound reasoning, discussion, and argument that thoroughly convince the reader.72
4985340308Didacticwriting whose purpose is to instruct or to teach. A ___ work is usually formal and focuses on moral or ethical concerns.73
4985340309Ambiguityan event or situation that may be interpreted in more than one way.74
4985340310NarrationThe purpose of this type of rhetorical mode is to tell the story or narrate an event or series of events.75
4985340311Rhetoricfrom the Greek for "orator," this term describes the principle governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.76
4985340312Third Person Limited OmniscientThis type of point of view presents the feelings and thoughts of only one character, presenting only the actions of all remaining characters77
4985340313Third Person OmniscientIn ___, the narrator, with a godlike knowledge, presents the thoughts and actions of any or all characters.78
4985340314Comic Reliefthe inclusion of a humorous character or scene to contrast with the tragic elements of a work, thereby intensifying the next tragic event.79
4985340315Characterthose who carry out the action of the plot in literature. Major, minor, static, and dynamic are the types.80
4985340316Colloquialthe use of slang in writing, often to create local color and to provide an informal tone. Huckleberry Finn in written in a __ style.81
4985340317Antecedentthe word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers.82
4985340318Stylean evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices.83
4985340319ThesisThe sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or proposition.84
4985340320AuthorityArguments that draw on recognized experts or persons with highly relevant experience.85
4985340321ChiasmusArrangement of repeated thoughts in the pattern of X Y Y X. It is often short and summarizes a main idea.86
4985340322Deconstructiona critical approach that debunks single definitions of meaning based on the instability of language. It "is not a dismantling of a structure of a text, but a demonstration that it has already dismantled itself."87
4985340323Balancea situation in which all parts of the presentation are equal, whether in sentences or paragraphs or sections of a longer work.88
4985340324Conflicta clash between opposing forces in a literary work, such as man vs. man; man vs. nature; man vs. God; man vs. self89
4985340325ToneSimilar to mood, __ describes the author's attitude toward his or her material, the audience, or both.90
4985340326ProseOne of the major divisions of genre, ___ refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms, because they are written in ordinary language and most closely resemble everyday speech.91
4985340327Dialectthe recreation of regional spoken language, such as a Southern one. Hurston uses this in Their Eyes Were Watching God.92
4985340328AsyndetonCommas used (with no conjunction) to separate a series of words. The parts are emphasized equally when the conjunction is omitted; in addition, the use of commas with no intervening conjunction speeds up the flow of the sentence. X, Y, Z as opposed to X, Y, and Z.93
4985340329WitIn modern usage, intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights. Usually uses terse language that makes a pointed statement.94
4985340330Point of ViewIn literature, the perspective from which a story is told.95
4985340331DeductionThe process of moving from a general rule to a specific example.96
4985340332Annotationexplanatory notes added to a text to explain, cite sources, or give bibliographical data.97
4985340333MoodThis term has two distinct technical meanings in English writing. The first meaning is grammatical and deals with verbal units and a speaker's attitude. The second meaning is literary, meaning the prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work.98
4985340334Dictionthe author's choice of words that creates tone, attitude, and style, as well as meaning99

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