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AP English Lit Terms

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234619175Allegory (S)symbolism that represents a greater concept on a smaller scale
234619176Alliteration (S)the repetition of the same sound or letter at the beginning of consecutive words or syllables
234619177Allusion (S)a reference to an element of popular culture, common knowledge, etc.
234619178Ambiguity (S)purposeful use of words to promote different meanings, interpretations, connotations
234619179Anecdote (S)a short account of an interesting event
234619180Assonance (S)a repetition of vowel sounds within a sentence or phrase
234619181Colloquialism (S)the use of ordinary, everyday speech rather than formal language
234619182Conceit (S)an elaborate or unusual comparison, especially one using metaphors, simile, hyperbole, and contradiction
234619183Connotation (S)the thoughts and feelings associated with a word that may be different from its denotation
234619184Consonance (S)a special type of alliteration in which the repeated pattern of consonants is marked by changes in intervening vowels
234619185Denotation (S)the dictionary definition, literal meaning of a word
234619186Ellipsis (S)the artful omission of a word implied by a previous clause, also three periods used as a punctuation mark
234619187Epiphany (S)sudden flare into revelation of an ordinary object or scene, alter the entire world view
234619188Euphemism (S)using a comparatively milder description instead of its original, unsympathetic form
234619189Hyperbole (S)an obvious and intentional exaggeration
234619190Imagery (S)strongly descriptive language used to describe something and create a picture in the audience's mind
234619191Irony (S)a contradiction between what is said and what is meant, incongruity between action and result
234619192Juxtaposition (S)close placement of literary phrases to stress similarities and differences
234619193Litotes (S)a form of understatement in which negative statements create effect
234619194Loose Sentence (S)(cumulative sentence) the main idea is elaborated on by the addition of modifying clauses/phrases
234619195Metaphor (S)a comparison without the use of like or as
234619196Metonymy (S)the substitution of one word or phrase for one that it is closely associated with
234619197Mood (S)the reader's perception of the literature
234619198Motif (S)any element, subject, idea that is consistently present through the entire body of literature
234619199Onomatopoeia (S)words whose sound is very close to the sound they are meant to depict
234619200Overstatement (S)exaggeration used for an intended effect
234619201Oxymoron (S)juxtaposition of two words with opposition meanings
234619202Paradox (S)a statements that seems contradictory but is actually true
234619203Parenthesis (S)any use of punctuation that changes the pacing the sentence
234619204Periodic Sentence (S)moves towards something important at the end
234619205Persona (S)the character the speaker creates when he or she writes or speaks
234619206Personification (S)the attribution of human characteristics to inanimate objects
234619207Satire (S)use of sarcasm, irony, or ridicule in criticism
234619208Simile (S)a comparison using the words like or as
234619209Symbolism (S)frequent use of words, places, characters, or objects that mean something beyond what they are on a literal level
234619210Synecdoche (S)uses a part of something to refer to the whole, the whole of something to refer to just a part, something specific to refer to a more general topic, something general applied to a more specific case
234619211Tone (S)the author's attitude towards the topic
234619212Understatement (S)lack of emphasis in a statement or point; restraint in language often used for ironic effect
234619213Zeugma (S)connection of two different things with the same grammatical construction, usually the same verb with two different meanings
234619214Anachronism (R)an error in chronology, placing an event, person, item, or language expression in the wrong period
234619215Anadiplosis (R)repeating the last word of a clause at the beginning of the next clause
234619216Antimetabole (R)the repition of words in an inverted order to sharpen a contrast
234619217Antithesis (R)a direct opposite, stark contrast
234619218Aphorism (R)a short, astute statement of general truth
234619219Apposition (R)the renaming of a nearby noun or pronoun by a word or phrase
234619220Asyndeton (R)leaving out conjunctions between words, phrases, clauses
234619221Chiasmus (R)author introduces words/concepts in a particular order, then later repeats those terms or similar ones in reversed or backwards order. doesn't have to be the same exact wording
234619222Climax (R)artistic arrangement of a list of items so that they appear in a sequence of increasing importance
234619223Concession (R)agreement and acknowledgement that an opposing argument might be true
234619224Counterargument (R)an argument that denies the validity of an opposing argument
234619225Deductive Reasoning (R)using a general concept to determine smaller examples
234619226Epanalepsis (R)repeating a word from the beginning of a clause or phrase at the end of the same clause or phrase
234619227Epistrophe (R)a repetition of words or phrases at the end of successive clauses
234619228Ethos (R)demonstration of authority, trustworthiness, credibility, and good character
234619229Inductive Reasoning (R)a series of specific examples leads to a general conclusion
234619230Logos (R)demonstrating logic with facts, statistics, and clear, rational ideas
234619231Parallelism (R)an agreement in the language used in particular pieces of writing
234619232Pathos (R)engages an emotional response by using strong language
234619233Polysyndeton (R)the deliberate use of a series of conjunctions
234619234Rhetorical Question (R)a question asked more to produce an effect than to summon an answer, the author knows the answer
234619235Tricolon Crescendo (R)three parallel clauses placed side by side in order to create a dramatic effect, with the most powerful at the end
240379156Anaphora (R)the repetition of the same word or groups of words at the beginnings of successive clauses
240379157Anastrophe (R)an inversion of the traditional word order
240379158Logical Fallacyerrors in reasoning that render an argument invalid, can be used on purpose by the author
240379159Ad Hominemthe target person's characteristics are attacked, instead of the argument
240379160Ad Populummisconception that a widespread occurrence of something is assumed to make an idea true or right
240379161Appeal to Traditionjustification for not changing it rather than the correctness of an argument itself
240379162Begging the Questiontaking for granted something that really needs proving
240379163Circular Reasoningtying to prove one idea with another idea that is too similar to the first idea; in such an error, logic moves backwards in its attempt to move forward
240379164Either/Or Reasoningtendency to see an issue as having only two sides
240379165False Analogygaps in the similarities between two things, depends on what parts you are including in the analogy
240379166Faulty Authoritythe person who is supposed to be an authority has no credentials in that area-quoting someone who has no authority in a field
240379167Hasty Generalizationdrawing a general and premature conclusion on the basis of only one or two cases
240379168Ignoring the Questionrefusing to answer a question
240379169Non Sequitoran inference or conclusion that does no follow established premises or evidence
240379170Oversimplificationtake a very complex issue and try to make it simpler
240379171Pedantrya display of narrow-minded and trivial scholarship; an arbitrary adherence to rules and forms
240379172Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hocassuming that an incident that precedes another is the cause of the second incident
240379173Propagandawriting or images that seek to persuade through emotional appeal rather than through logical proof; written or visual texts that describe or depict using highly connotative words or images-favorable or unfavorable- without justification
240379174Slippery Slopeemploying effects that are the worst case scenario
240379175Straw Manattacking someone else's argument that is similar but not the some to the person who you are really trying to criticize
240379176Two Wrongs Do Not Make a Rightusing another person's wrong doings to justify your own

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