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AP English Language Literary Terms Flashcards

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6697090263Allegorya work that functions on a symbolic level0
6697090264Alliterationuse of the same consonant at the beginning of each stressed syllable in a line of verse1
6697090265Allusiona reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art2
6697090266Analogydrawing a comparison in order to show a similarity in some respect3
6697090267Anaphorathe repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of consecutive lines or sentences4
6697090268Anecdoteshort story of an amusing or interesting event5
6697090269Antecedenta preceding occurrence or cause or event6
6697090270Antithesisan opposition or contrast of ideas that is often expressed in balanced phrases or clauses7
6697090271Aphorisma brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life8
6697090272Apostrophea technique by which a writer addresses an inanimate object, an idea, or a person who is either dead or absent9
6697090273Argumenta fact or assertion offered as evidence that something is true10
6697090274Assonancethe repetition of similar vowels in the stressed syllables of successive words11
6697090275AsyndetonCommas 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. Asyndeton takes the form of X, Y, Z as opposed to X, Y, and Z. Ex: "Be one of the few, the proud, the Marines." Marine Corps Ex: "We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardships, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty." John F. Kennedy12
6697090276Attitudethe relationship an author has toward his or her subject, and/or his or her audience13
6697090277Characterperson or animal that takes part in the action of a literary work14
6697090278ChiasmusArrangement of repeated thoughts in the pattern of X Y Y X. It is often short and summarizes a main idea.15
6697090279Clichean overused saying or idea16
6697090280Colloquialismcharacteristic of spoken or written communication that seeks to imitate informal speech17
6697090281Connotationa meaning or association suggested by a word beyond its definition18
6697090282Consonancerepetition of identical consonant sounds within two or more words in close proximity, as in boost/best; it can also be seen within several compound words, such as fulfill and ping-pong19
6697090283Deductionreasoning from the general to the particular (or from cause to effect)20
6697090284Denotationthe literal meaning of a word21
6697090285Dependent Clausea clause in a complex sentence that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and that functions within the sentence as a noun or adjective or adverb22
6697090286Descriptionthe 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.23
6697090287Dictionthe author's choice of words24
6697090288Direct Objectthe object that receives the direct action of the verb25
6697090289Dramatic Ironyoccurs when another character(s) and/or the audience know more than one or more characters on stage about what is happening26
6697090290Ethosthe appeal of a text to the credibility and character of the speaker, writer, or narrator27
6697090291Euphemisman indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant28
6697090292Extended Metaphorthe comparison between two things is continued beyond the first point of comparison; this extends and deepens a description.29
6697090293Genretype or category of literary work (e.g., poetry, essay, short story, novel, drama)30
6697090294Homilya sermon, or a moralistic lecture31
6697090295Cacophonyharsh, jarring, discordant sound; dissonance32
6697090296Hyperbolea figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor33
6697090297Independent Clausea clause in a complex sentence that can stand alone as a complete sentence34
6697090298Indirect Objectthe object that is the recipient or beneficiary of the action of the verb35
6697090299InvectiveAn intensely vehement, highly emotional verbal attack36
6697090300Logosan appeal based on logic or reason37
6697090301Metaphora figure of speech in which an expression is used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity38
6697090302Metonymysymbolism; one thing is used as a substitute for another with which it is closely identified (the White House)39
6697090303Mooda prevailing emotional tone or general attitude40
6697090304Narrationthe act of recounting the particulars of an event in the order of time or occurrence41
6697090305Narrativeconsisting of or characterized by the telling of a story42
6697090306Onomatopoeiathe use of words that mimic sounds. they appeal to our sense of hearing and they help bring a description to life. a string of syllables the author has made up to represent the way a sound really sounds. example: caarackle!43
6697090307Oxymorona figure of speech consisting of two apparently contradictory terms44
6697090308Paradoxa statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.45
6697090309Parallelismrefers to the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity.46
6697090310Parodya composition that imitates somebody's style in a humorous way47
6697090311Pathosquality in drama, speech, literature, music, or events that arouses a feeling of pity or sadness48
6697090312Personificationa figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes49
6697090313Point of Viewthe perspective from which the writer tells the story (1st, 2nd, 3rd person; omniscient, limited omniscient)50
6697090314Predicatetells what the subject is or does51
6697090315Predicate Adjectivefollows a linking verb and describes the subject52
6697090316Predicate Nounfollows a linking verb and defines or renames the subject53
6697090317Prounoun/Antecedentthe antecedent is the word the pronoun replaces54
6697090318Proseordinary speech or writing without rhyme or meter; referring to speech or writing other than verse55
6697090319Repetitionsounds, words, phrases, lines or stanzaz are repeated for emphasis56
6697090320Rhetoricthe art or study of effective use of language for communication and persuasion57
6697090321Sarcasmfrom 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 device58
6697090322Satirelanguage or writing that exposes follies or abuses by holding them up to ridicule59
6697090323Situational Ironyan outcome that turns out to be very different from what was expected, the difference between what is expected to happen and what actually does60
6697090324Stream-of-consciousnessa narrative technique that places the reader in the mind and thought process of the narrator, no matter how random or spontaneous that may be61
6697090325Subjecttells whom or what the sentence is about62
6697090326Syllogismdeductive reasoning in which a conclusion is derived from two premises63
6697090327Symbolanything that stands for or represents something else64
6697090328Synecdocheusing a part of something to represent the whole thing65
6697090329Syntaxthe rules for combining words into grammatically sensible sentences in a given language.66
6697090330Themecentral idea of a work of literature67
6697090331Thesisan unproved statement put forward as a premise in an argument68
6697090332Third Person Limitedpoint of view which represents the feelings of only one character, presenting only the actions of all remaining characters69
6697090333Tonethe author's attitude toward the subject or audience, either stated or implied70
6697090334Understatementthe opposite of exaggeration; it is a technique for developing irony and/or humor where one writes or says less than intended71
6697090335Verbal Ironyin this type of irony, the words literally state the opposite of the writer's true meaning72
6697090336Voicecan 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.73

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