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| 4883282714 | Allegory (Allegorical Meaning) | The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. In some ______ , for example, an author may intend the characters to personify an abstraction lie hope or freedom. The _________ meaning usually deals with moral truth or a generalization about human existence (ex: Animal Farm) | 0 | |
| 4883282715 | Alliteration | The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonants in tow or more neighboring words (as in "she sells sea shells"). Although the term is not used frequently in the multiple-choice section, you can look for ________ in any essay passage. The repetition can reinforce meaning, unify ideas, supply a musical sound, and/or echo the sense of the passage | 1 | |
| 4883282716 | Allusion | A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. ________ can be historical, literary, religious, topical, or mythical. There are many more possibilities, and a work may simultaneously use multiple layers of ________ (ex: "Plan ahead: it wasn't raining when Noah built the ark") | 2 | |
| 4883282717 | Ambiguity | The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage | 3 | |
| 4883282718 | Analogy | A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them. An ________ can explain something unfamiliar by associating it with or pointing out its similarity to something more familiar. ________ can also make writing more vivid, imaginative, or intellectually engaging (ex: He that voluntarily continues ignorance is guilty of all the crimes which ignorance produces, as to him that should extinguish the tapers of a lighthouse might justly be imputed the calamities of shipwrecks) | 4 | |
| 4883282719 | Anaphora | One of the devices of repetition, in which the same expression (word or words) is repeated at the beginning of two or more lines, clauses, or sentences (ex: "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times") (ex: "They are masters who instruct us without rod or ferule, with angry words, with clothes or money") | 5 | |
| 4883282720 | Anecdote | A short narrative detailing particulars of an interesting episode or event. The term most frequently refers to an incident in the life of a person | 6 | |
| 4883282721 | Antecedent | The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun. The AP Language exam occasionally asks for the ________ of a given pronoun in a long, complex sentence or in a group of sentences | 7 | |
| 4883282722 | Antithesis | Figure of balance in which two contrasting ideas are intentionally juxtaposed, usually through parallel structure; a contrasting of opposing ideas in adjacent phrases, clauses, or sentences. ________ creates a definite and systematic relationship between ideas (ex: "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose") (ex: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind") | 8 | |
| 4883282723 | Aphorism | A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle. (If the authorship is unknown, the statement is generally considered to be a folk proverb). An ________ can be a memorable summation of the author's point | 9 | |
| 4883282724 | Apostrophe | A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. It is an address to someone or something that cannot answer. The effect is to give vent to or display intense emotion, which can no longer be held back: (ex: William Wordsworth addresses John Milton as he writes: "Milton, thou shouldst be living at this hour:/England hath need of thee") (ex: "O value of wisdom that fadeth not away with time, virtue ever flourishing that cleanseth its possessor from all venom! O heavenly gift of the divine bounty, descending from the Father of lights, that thou mayest exalt the rational soul to the very heavens! Thou art the celestial nourishment of the intellect...") | 10 | |
| 4883282725 | Asyndeton | Consists of omitting conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses. This can give the effect of unpremeditated multiplicity, of an extemporaneous rather than a labored account. These types of lists can be more emphatic than if a conjunction were used (ex: On this return he received medals, honours, treasures, titles, fame.) (ex: They spent the day wondering, searching, thinking, understanding) | 11 | |
| 4883282726 | Atmosphere | The emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the author's choice of objects that are described. Even such elements as description of the weather can contribute to the ________ . Frequently ________ foreshadows events. Perhaps it can create a mood | 12 | |
| 4883282727 | Bombast | A pejorative term for pompous and inflated speech or writing. Pompous or overblown in language; full of high-sounding words intended to conceal a lack of ideas | 13 | |
| 4883282728 | Chiasmus | (From the Greek word for "criss-cross,"). ________ is a figure of speech in which two successive phrases or clauses are parallel in syntax, but reverse the order of the analogous words. (ex: "The land was ours before we were the land's") (ex: "Pleasure's a sin, and sometimes sin's a pleasure") (ex: "Sitting together at lunch, the kids talked incessantly; but they said nothing at all sitting in the dentist's office") | 14 | |
| 4883282729 | Clause | A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb. An independent, or main, ________ expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent, or subordinate ________ cannot stand alone as a sentence and must be accompanied by an independent ________ . The point that you want to consider is the question of what or why the author subordinates one element to the other. You should also become aware of making effective use of subordination in your own writing | 15 | |
| 4883282730 | Colloquialism | The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing. Not generally acceptable for formal writing, ________ give a work a conversational, familiar tone. These types of expressions in writing include local or regional dialects | 16 | |
| 4883282731 | Coherance | A principle demanding that the parts of any composition be arranged so that the meaning of the whole may be immediately clear and intelligible. Words phrases, clauses within the sentence; and sentences, paragraphs, and chapters in larger pieces of writing are the unit that by their progressive and logical arrangement, make for ________ | 17 | |
| 4883282732 | Conceit | A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects. A ________ displays intellectual cleverness as a result of the unusual comparison being made | 18 | |
| 4883282733 | Connotation | The nonliteral, associative meaning of a word; the implied suggested meaning. ________ may involve ideas, emotions, or attitudes | 19 | |
| 4883282734 | Cumulative/Loose Sentence | A type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clauses) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses. If a period were placed at the end of the independent clause, the clause would be a complete sentence. A work containing many ________ often seems informal, relaxed, and conversational. Generally ________ create a relaxed style. (ex: He was offered a sponsorship after winning three gold medals at the Olympics and breaking the existing record for the backstroke) | 20 | |
| 4883282735 | Denotation | The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or colour | 21 | |
| 4883282736 | Diacope | Repetition of a word or phrase after an intervening word or phrase: word/phrase X, ... , word/phrase X. (ex: We will do it, I tell you; we will do it) (ex: We give thanks to Thee, O God, we give thanks) | 22 | |
| 4883282737 | Diction | Related to style, ________ refers to the writer's word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness. For the AP Exam, you should be able to describe an author's ________ (for example, formal or informal, ornate or plain) and understand the ways in which ________ can complement the author's purpose. ________ , combined with syntax, figurative language, literary devices, etc., creates an author's style | 23 | |
| 4883282738 | Didactic | From the Greek, ________ literally means "teaching." ________ works have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles | 24 | |
| 4883282739 | Dramatic Irony | (3) In ________ , facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or piece of fiction, but known to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work. Irony is used for many reasons, but frequently, it's used to create poignancy or humor | 25 | |
| 4883282740 | Enumeratio | Figure of amplification in which a subject is divided into constituent parts or details, and may include a listing of causes, effects, problems, solutions, conditions, and consequences; the listing or detailing of the parts of something (ex: I love her eyes, her hair, her nose, her cheeks, her lips) (ex: Who's gonna turn down a Junior Mint? It's chocolate; it's peppermint, it's delicious...It's very refreshing!) | 26 | |
| 4883282741 | Epistrophe | the repetition of a word at the end of successive clauses or sentences | 27 | |
| 4883282742 | Esoteric | Intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest. | 28 | |
| 4883282743 | Expletive | Figure of emphasis in which a single word or short phrase, usually interrupting normal speech, is used to lend emphasis to the words on either side of the ________. (ex: In fact, of course, to be sure, indeed, I suppose, I hope, you know, you see, clearly, in any event, in effect, certainly, remarkably) | 29 | |
| 4883282744 | Euphemism | From the Greek for "good speech," ________ are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept. The ________ may be sued to adhere to standards of social or political correctness or to add humor or ironic understatement (ex: Saying "earthly remains" rather than "corpse" is an example of ________) (ex: Save the ________ and just call me fat instead of "horizontally challenged" all right pally?) | 30 | |
| 4883282745 | Extended Metaphor | A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout the work | 31 | |
| 4883282746 | Farce | A comic dramatic work using buffoonery and horseplay and typically including crude characterization and ludicrously improbable situations | 32 | |
| 4883282747 | Figurative Language | Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid | 33 | |
| 4883282748 | Figure of Speech | A device used to produce figurative language. Many compare dissimilar things. ________ include apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, metonymy, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, synecdoche, and understatement | 34 | |
| 4883282749 | Generic Convention | ________ describes traditions for each genre. ________ help define each genre; for example, they differentiate the essay and journalistic writing or an autobiography and political writing. On the AP Language Exam, try to distinguish the unique features of a writer's work from those dictated by convention | 35 | |
| 4883282750 | Genre | The major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions of literature are prose, poetry, and drama. However, ________ is a flexible term; within these broad boundaries exist many subdivisions that are often called ________ themselves. For example, prose can be divided into fiction (novels and short stories) or nonfiction (essays, biographies, autobiographies, etc). Poetry can be divided into lyric, dramatic, narrative, epic, etc. Drama can be divided into tragedy, comedy, melodrama, farce, etc. On the AP Language exam, expect the majority of the passages to be from the following genres: autobiography, biography, diaries, criticism, essays, and journalistic, political, scientific, and nature writing | 36 | |
| 4883282751 | Homily | The term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice | 37 | |
| 4883282752 | Hyperbole | A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. ________ often have a comic effect; however, a serious effect is also possible. Often ________ produces irony. (ex: This stuff is used motor oil compared to the coffee you make, my love) | 38 | |
| 4883282753 | Hypophora | Figure of reasoning in which one or more questions is/are asked and then answered, often at length, by one and the same speaker; raising and responding to one's own question(s). A common usage is to ask the question at the beginning of a paragraph and then use the paragraph to answer it. You can use ________ to raise questions which you think the reader obviously has on his/her mind and would like to see formulated and answered (ex: "When the enemy struck on that June day of 1950, what did America do? It did what it always has done in all its times of peril. It appealed to heroism of its youth") | 39 | |
| 4883282754 | Imagery | The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions. On a physical level, ________ uses terms related to the fives senses; we refer to visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory, or olfactory ________ . On a broader and deeper level, however, one image can represent more than one thing. For example, a rose may present visual ________ while also representing the colour in a woman's cheeks and/or symbolizing some degree of perfection (It is the highest flower on the Great Chain of Being). An author may use complex ________ while simultaneously employing other figures of speech, especially metaphor and simile. In addition, this term can apply to the total of all the images in a work. On the AP Exam, pay attention to how an author creates ________ and to the effect of this ________ | 40 | |
| 4883282755 | Inference | To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented. When a multiple-choice question asks for an ________ to be drawn from a passage, the most direct, most reasonable ________ is the safest answer choice. If an ________ is implausible, it's unlikely to be the correct answer. Note that if the answer choice is directly stated, it is NOT an ________ and is wrong. You must be careful to note the connotation -- negative or positive -- of the choices | 41 | |
| 4883282756 | Intangible | Incapable of being perceived by the sense of touch, as incorporeal or immaterial things; impalpable | 42 | |
| 4883282757 | Invective | An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attach using strong, abusive language | 43 | |
| 4883282758 | Irony | The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant. The difference between what appears to be and what actually is true. In general, there are three major types of ________ used in language: (1) In verbal ________ , the words literally state the opposite of the writer's (or speaker's) true meaning. (2) In situational ________ , events turn out the opposite of what was expected. What the characters and the readers think ought to happen. (3) In dramatic ________ , facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or piece of fiction, but known to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work. ________ is used for many reasons, but frequently, it's used to create poignancy or humor | 44 | |
| 4883282759 | Juxtaposition | When two words, phrases, images, ideas are placed close together or side by side for comparison or contrast | 45 | |
| 4883282760 | Litotes | From the Greek word "simple" or "plain." ________ is a figure of thought in which a point is affirmed by negating to opposite. It is a special form of understatement, where the surface denial serves, through ironic contrast, to reinforce the underlying assertion (ex: He's no fool (which implies he is wise)) (ex: Not uncommon (which implies that the act is frequent)) | 46 | |
| 4883282761 | Metaphor | A figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity. This type of language makes writing more vivid, imaginative, thought provoking, and meaningful | 47 | |
| 4883282762 | Metonymy | A 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. A news release that claims "the White House declared" rather than "the President declared" is using ________ . The substituted term generally carries a more potent emotional response | 48 | |
| 4883282763 | Mood | This term has two distinct technical meanings in English writing: The first meaning is grammatical and deals with verbal units and a speaker's attitude. (1) The indicative ________ is used only for factual sentences. (ex: "Joe eats too quickly.") (2) The subjective ________ is used to express conditions contrary to the fact and more opinionated. (ex: "If I were you, I'd get another job.") (3) The imperative ________ is used for commands. (ex: "Shut the door!") The second meaning of the movie is the literary, meaning the prevailing atmosphere or emotional or at work. Setting, tone, and events can affect the ________. In this usage, ________ is similar to tone and atmosphere | 49 | |
| 4883282764 | Onomatopoeia | A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Simple examples include such words as buzz, hiss, hum, crack, whinny, and murmur. If you note examples of ________ in an essay passage, note the effect | 50 | |
| 4883282765 | Oxymoron | From the Greek for "pointedly foolish," an ________ is a figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox. Simple example to include "jumbo shrimp "and "cruel kindness. "This term does not usually appear in the multiple-choice questions, but there's a chance that you might find it in an essay. Take note of the effect which the author achieved with this term | 51 | |
| 4883282766 | Paradox | A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection putting some degree of truth or validity (ex: "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others") (ex: "Child is father of the man") | 52 | |
| 4883282767 | Parallelism (Parallel Construction / Parallel Structure) | This term comes from Greek roots meaning "beside one another." It refers to the grammatical and rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity. This can involve, but is not limited to repetition of a grammatical element such as a preposition or verbal phrase. A famous example of ________ begins Charles Dicken's novel "A Tale of Two Cities" : "it was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity..." The effects of ________ are numerous, but frequently they act as an organizing force to attract the reader's attention, add emphasis and organization, or simply provide a musical rhythm. | 53 | |
| 4883282768 | Parody | A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule. As comedy, ________ distorts or exaggerates distinctive features of the original. As ridicule, it mimics the work by repeating and borrowing words, phrases, or characteristics in order to illuminate weaknesses in the original. Well-written ________ offers enlightenment about the original, but poorly written ________ offers only ineffectual imitation. Usually an audience must grasp literary allusion and understand the work being parodied in order to fully appreciate the nuances of the newer work. Occasionally, however, ________ take on a life of their own and don't require knowledge of the original | 54 | |
| 4883282769 | Pedantic | An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish | 55 | |
| 4883282770 | Periodic Sentence | A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end, often times with the placement of the verb.This independent clause is preceded by a phrase or clause that cannot stand alone. This can sometimes make it uncomfortable to read, because the anxiousness of finding the verb. The effect of a ________ is to add emphasis and structural variety. It is also a much stronger sentence than the loose. (ex: "Halfway between West Egg and New York City sprawls a desolate plain, a gray valley where New York's ashes are dumped") (ex: "Out of the bosom of the Air / Out of the cloud-folds of her garment shaken / Over the woodlands brown and bare / Over the harvest-fields forsaken / Silent and soft, and slow / Descends the snow.") (ex: "To believe your own thought, to believe that what is true for you in your private heart is true for all men, that is genius" -Emerson) | 56 | |
| 4883282771 | Personification | A figure of speech in which the author presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions. ________ is used to make these abstractions, animal, or objects appear more vivid to the reader | 57 | |
| 4883282772 | Polysyndeton | Figure of addition and emphasis which intentionally employs a series of conjunctions (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) not normally found in successive words, phrases, or clauses; the deliberate and excessive use of conjunctions in successive words and clauses. The effect is a feeling of multiplicity, energetic enumeration, and building up--a persistence or intensity (ex: They read and studied and wrote and drilled. I laughed and talked and flunked) (ex: "Football is a way of life, really, to those particular people who are a part of it. It's more than a game, and regardless of what level it's played upon, it still demands those attributes of courage and stamina and coordinated efficiency and goes even beyond that for it is a means--it provides a mental and physical relaxation to everybody that watches it, like yourself") | 58 | |
| 4883282773 | First Person | The ________ narrator tells the story with the ________ pronoun, "I," and is a character in the story. This narrator can be the protagonist, a participant (character in a secondary role), or an observer ( a character who merely watches the action) | 59 | |
| 4883282774 | Second Person | The ________ narrator tells the story primarily with the pronoun "you" | 60 | |
| 4883282775 | Third Person Omniscient | The ________ narrator relates the events with the ________ pronouns, "he," "she," and "it." In the ________ point of view, the narrator, with godlike knowledge, presents the thoughts and actions of any or all characters. This all-knowing narrator can reveal what each character feels and thinks at any given moment. | 61 | |
| 4883282776 | Third Person Limited Omniscient | The ________ point of view, as its name implies, presents the feelings and thoughts of only character, presenting only the actions of all remaining characters. This definition applies in question in the multiple-choice section. However, on the essay portion of the exam, the "point of view" carries an additional meaning. When you are asked to analyze the author's point of view, the appropriate point for you to address is the author's attitude | 62 | |
| 4883282777 | Point of View | In literature, the perspective from which a story is told. There are two general divisions of ________, and many subdivisions within those: (1) First Person (2) Second Person (3) Third Person Omniscient (4) Third Person Limited Omniscient | 63 | |
| 4883282778 | Predicate Adjective | One type of subject complement is an adjective, group of adjectives, or adjective clause that follows a linking verb. It is an the predicate of the sentence, and modifies, or describes, the subject | 64 | |
| 4883282779 | Predicate Nominative | A second type of subject complement--a noun, group of nouns or noun clause that names the subject. It, like the predicate adjective, follows a linking verb and is located in the predicate of the sentence | 65 | |
| 4883282780 | Prose | One of the major divisions of genre, ________refers to fiction and non-fiction, including all its forms. In ________ the printer determines the length of the line; in poetry, the poet determines the length of the line | 66 | |
| 4883282781 | Repetition | The duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern | 67 | |
| 4883282782 | Rhetoric | From the Greek for "orator," this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively | 68 | |
| 4883282783 | Rhetorical Modes | This flexible term describes the variety, the conventions, and purposes of the major kinds of writing. These four modes are sometimes referred to as mode of discourse. The four most common ones are: (1) Exposition (2) Argumentation (3) Description (4) Narration | 69 | |
| 4883282784 | Rhetorical Question (Erotesis) | Differs from hypophora in that it is not answered by the writer because its answer is obvious or obviously desired, and usually just a yes or no answer would suffice. It is used for effect, emphasis, or provocation, or for drawing a conclusionary statement from the fact at hand (ex: We shrink from change; yet is there anything that can come into being without it? What does Nature hold dearer, or more proper to herself? Could you have a hot bath unless the firewood underwent some change? Could you be nourished if the food suffered no change? Do you not see, then, that change in yourself is the same order, and no less necessary to Nature?) | 70 | |
| 4883282785 | Sarcasm | From 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, but not all ironic statements are ________, that is, intended to ridicule. When well done, ________ can be witty and insightful; when done poorly, it's simply cruel | 71 | |
| 4883282786 | Satire | A work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule. Regardless of whether or not the work aims to reform human behaviour, ________ is best seen as a style of writing rather than a purpose for writing. It can be recognized by the many devices used effectively by the writer: irony, wit, parody, caricature, hyperbole, understatement, and sarcasm. The effects of ________ vary, depending on the writer's goal, but good ________, often humorous, is thought provoking and insightful about the human condition | 72 | |
| 4883282787 | Semantics | The branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words, their historical and psychological development, their connotations, and their relation to one another | 73 | |
| 4883282788 | Situational Irony | In ________ , events turn out the opposite of what was expected. What the characters and the readers think ought to happen. | 74 | |
| 4883282789 | Style | The consideration of ________ has two purposes: (1) An evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices. Some authors' ________ are so idiosyncratic that we can quickly recognize works by the same author (or a writer emulating that author's style). Compare, for example, Jonathan's Swift to George Orwell or William Faulkner to Ernest Hemingway. We can analyze and describe an author's personal ________ and make judgments on how appropriate it is to the author's purpose. ________ can be called flowery, explicit, succinct, rambling, bombastic, commonplace, incisive, or laconic, to name only a few examples. (2) Classification of authors to a group and comparison of an authors to similar authors. By means of such classification and comparison, we can see how an author's ________ reflects and helps to define a historical period, such as the Renaissance or the Victorian period, or a literary movement, such as the romantic, transcendental, or realist movement | 75 | |
| 4883282790 | Subject Complement | The word (with any accompanying phrases) or clauses that follows a linking verb and complements, or completes, the subject of the sentence by either renaming it or describing it. The former is technically a predicate nominative, the latter a predicate adjective. Multiple-choice questions | 76 | |
| 4883282791 | Subordinate/Dependent Clause | Like all clauses, this word group contains both, this word group contains both a subject and a verb (plus any accompanying phrases or modifiers), but unlike the independent clause, the ________ cannot stand alone; it does not express a complete thought. ________ depends on a main clause, sometimes called an independent clause, to complete its meaning. Easily recognized key words and phrases usually begin these clauses. For example: although, because, unless, if, even though, since, as soon as, while, who, where, how, and that. | 77 | |
| 4883282792 | Syllogism (syllogistic-reasoning or syllogistic logic) | From the Greek for "reckoning together," a ________ is a deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises (the first one called "major" and the second, "minor") that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion. A frequently cited example proceeds as follows: Major premise: All men are mortal Minor premise: Socrates is a man Conclusion: Therefore, Socrates is mortal A ________'s conclusion is valid only if each of the two premises is valid. ________ may also present the specific idea first ("Socrates") and the general second ("All men") | 78 | |
| 4883282793 | Symbol (Symbolism) | Generally, anything that represents itself and stands for something else. Usually a ________ is something concrete--such as object, action, character, or scene--that represents something more abstract. However, ________ can be much more complex. One system classifies ________ in three categories: (1) Natural (2) Conventional (3) Literary | 79 | |
| 4883282794 | Synecdoche | ________ is a type of metaphor in which that part stands for the whole, the whole for a part, the genus for the species, the species for the genus, the material for the thing made, or in short, any portion, section, or main quality for the whole or the thing itself (or vice versa) (ex: Farmer Joes has two hundred head of cattle [whole cattle], and the three hired hands [whole people]) (ex: If we had some wheels [whole vehicle], I'd put on my best threads [clothes] and ask for Jane's hand [hopefully her whole person] in marriage) | 80 | |
| 4883282795 | Syntax | The way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences. ________ is simliar to diction, but you can differentiate them by thinking of ________ as the groups of words, while diction refers to the individual words. In the multiple-choice section, expect to be asked some questions about how an author manipulates ________ . In the essay section, you will need to analyze how ________ produces effects | 81 | |
| 4883282796 | Theme | The 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 | 82 | |
| 4883282797 | Thesis | In expository writing, the ________ statement is the sentence or a group of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or position. Expository writing is usually judged by analyzing how accurately, effectively, and thoroughly a writer has proven the ________ | 83 | |
| 4883282798 | Tone | Similar to mood, ________ describes the author's attitude towards his material, the audience, or both. ________ is easier to determine in spoken language than in written language. Considering how a work would wound if it were read aloud can help in identifying an author's ________ . Some words describing ________ are playful, serious, businesslike, sarcastic, humorous, formal, ornate, sardonic, and somber | 84 | |
| 4883282799 | Transition | A word or phrase that links different ideas. Used especially, although not exclusively, in expository and argumentative writing, ________ effectively signal a shift from one idea to another. A few commonly used ________ words and phrases are furthermore, consequently, nevertheless, for example, in addition, likewise, similarly and on the contrary. More sophisticated writers use more subtle means of ________ | 85 | |
| 4883282800 | Understatement | The ironic minimizing of fact, ________ presents something as less significant than it is. The effect can frequently be humorous and emphatic. ________ is the opposite of hyperbole. (ex: The 1906 San Francisco earthquake interrupted business somewhat in the downtown area) (ex: Last week I saw a woman flayed, and you will hardly believe how much it altered her person for the worse) | 86 | |
| 4883282801 | Undertone | An attitude that may lie under the ostensible tone of the piece. Under a cheery surface, for example, a work may have threatening ________. William Blake's "The Chimney Sweeper" from the Songs of Innocence has a grim ________. | 87 | |
| 4883282802 | Verbal Irony | In ________ , the words literally state the opposite of the writer's (or speaker's) true meaning. | 88 | |
| 4883282803 | Wit | In modern usage, intellectually amazing language that surprise and delights. A ________ statement is humorous, while suggesting the speaker's verbal power in creating ingenious and perceptive remarks. ________ usually uses terse language that makes a pointed statement. Historically, ________ originally meant basic understanding. Its meaning evolved to include speed of understanding, and finally (in the early seventeenth century), it grew to mean quick perception including creative fancy and a quick tongue to articulate an answer that demanded the same quick perception | 89 | |
| 4883282804 | Natural Symbol | ________ are objects and occurrences from nature to represent ideas commonly associated with them (dawn symbolizing hope or a new beginning, a rose symbolizing love, a tree symbolizing knowledge). | 90 | |
| 4883282805 | Conventional Symbol | ________ are those that have been invested with meaning by a group (religious symbols such as a cross or Star of David; national symbols, such as a flag or an eagle; or group symbols, such as a skull and crossbones for pirates or the scales of justice for lawyers). | 91 | |
| 4883282806 | Literary Symbol | ________ are sometimes also conventional in the sense that they are found in a variety of works and are generally recognized. However, a work's symbols may be more complicated as is the whale in Moby Dick and the jungle in Heart of Darkness. On the AP exam, try to determine what abstraction an object is a symbol for and to what extent it is successful in representing that abstraction | 92 | |
| 4883282807 | Argumentation | The purpose of _________ is to prove the validity of an idea, or point of view, by presenting sound reasoning, discussion, and argument that thoroughly convinces the reader. Persuasive writing is a type of __________ having an additional aim of urging some form of action | 93 | |
| 4883282808 | Description | The purpose of _________ is to re-create, invent, or visually present a person a person, place, event, or action so that the reader can picture that being described. Sometimes an author engages all five sense in _________ ; good _________ writing can be sensuous and picturesque. _________ writing may be straightforward and objective or highly emotional and subjective | 94 | |
| 4883282809 | Exposition | In essays, one of the four chief types of composition. The purpose of ________ is to explain something. In drama, the ________ is the introductory material, which creates the tone, gives the setting, and introduces the characters and conflict. | 95 | |
| 4883282810 | Narration | The purpose of ________ is to tell is to tell a story or account of an event or series of events, kind of like a story with a chronological structure. This writing mode frequently uses the tools of descriptive writing | 96 | |
| 4883282811 | Idiosyncracy | Characteristic peculiar to an individual or group | 97 | |
| 4883282812 | Ornate | Using unusual words and complex constructions; marked by elaborate rhetoric and elaborated with decorative detail | 98 | |
| 4883282813 | Ostentatious | Characterized by vulgar or pretentious display; designed to impress or attract notice | 99 | |
| 4883282814 | Ostensible | Stated or appearing to be true, but not necessarily so. | 100 | |
| 4883282815 | Aloof | Withdrawn, standing apart from others (usually as a matter of choice) | 101 | |
| 4883282816 | Disparaging | expressing the opinion that something is of little worth; derogatory | 102 | |
| 4883282817 | Prodigious | immense; extraordinary in bulk, size, or degree | 103 | |
| 4883282818 | Foreboding | (n.) a warning or feeling that something bad will happen; (adj.) marked by fear, ominous | 104 | |
| 4883282819 | Glib | fluent and easy in a way that suggests superficiality or insincerity (ex: she was careful not to let the answer sound too glib) | 105 | |
| 4883282820 | Zealous | (adj.) fervent, impassioned, filled with eagerness in pursuit of something (If he were any more _______ about getting his promotion, he'd practically live at the office) | 106 | |
| 4883282821 | Synesthesia | When one kind of sensory stimulus the subjective experience of another. Ex: The sight of the red ants makes you itchy. In literature, __________ refers to the practice of associating two or more different senses in te same image. Red Hot Chili Pepper's song title,"Taste the Pain" is an example. | 107 | |
| 4883282822 | Pathetic Fallacy | the attribution of human characteristics to nature or to inanimate objects | 108 | |
| 4883282823 | Malaproprism | a confused use of words in which an appropriate word is replaced by one with similar sound but (often ludicrously) inappropriate meaning | 109 | |
| 4883282824 | Blank Verse | Unrhymed poetry written in iambic pentameter | 110 | |
| 4883282825 | Ambiance | mood, feeling; general atmosphere | 111 | |
| 4883282826 | Cacophony | Harsh, discordant, or meaningless mixture of sounds | 112 | |
| 4883282827 | Caesura | A pause in a line of verse, indicated by natural speech patterns rather than due to specific metrical patterns. | 113 | |
| 4883282828 | Enjambment | A run-on line of poetry in which logical and grammatical sense carries over from one line into the next. | 114 | |
| 4883282829 | Euphony | pleasant, harmonious sound | 115 | |
| 4883282830 | Redolent | strongly reminiscent or suggestive of something (ex: names ________ of history and tradition) | 116 | |
| 4883282831 | Petulant | moved to or showing sudden, impatient irritation, especially over some trifling annoyance; bad-tempered, grumpy, sour, dissgrunted | 117 | |
| 4883282832 | Blithe | winsome, buoyant, cheerful, lighthearted, casual, unconcerned, sunny | 118 | |
| 4883282833 | Vexatious | troublesome, annoying, thorny, causing irritation | 119 | |
| 4883282834 | Acrimonious | bitterly hostile, virulent, malicious, angry, scathing, acidic, vitriolic, malevolent, spiteful, venomous, vicious, vindictive, bitter, sharp, rancorous, caustic, withering, nasty, savage, harsh | 120 | |
| 4883282835 | Contrite | Extremely apologetic, remorseful, repentant; feeling regret for having committed some wrongdoing | 121 | |
| 4883282836 | Recalcitrant | Stubbornly disobedient, resisting authority; wayward, rebellious, defiant | 122 | |
| 4883282837 | Attenuated | decreased, weakened, thinned, reduced in strength, depleted, drained, sapped | 123 | |
| 4883282838 | Lambasted | to scold or abuse harshly or often violently; chastised, rebuked, berated, upbraided, admonished, chided | 124 |
