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AP English Literature Rhetorical Devices Flashcards

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13573225408allegorystory or poem that can be used to reveal a hidden meaning0
13573225409allusion*A reference to a well-known person, place, event, literary work, or work of art1
13573225410anaphora*repetition in first part of a sentence , to have an artistic meaning2
13573225411apostrophefigure of speech used to adresss an imaginary character3
13573225412approximate rhymewords in rhyming pattern that sound alike4
13573225413asidewhen a character's dialogue is spoken but not heard by other actors on the stage5
13573225414blank versepoetry written in meter without an ending rhyme6
13573225415cacophonyblend of unharmonious sounds7
13573225416caesurapause in the middle of a line8
13573225417catharsisthe release of emotions through art (emotional cleanse)9
13573225418characterization*process of revealing characters personality10
13573225419comedydrama that is amusing or funny11
13573225420didactic writingwriting with a primary purpose to teach or preach12
13573225421dramatic exposition*prose commentaries, to provide background information about the characters and their world13
13573225422end stopped lineline ending in regular punctuation14
13573225423epiphanywhen a character receives a spiritual insight into their life15
13573225424euphonysmooth choice and arrangement of sounds16
13573225425extended figureA figure of speech sustained or developed through a considerable number of lines or through a whole poem.17
13573225426figurative languageLanguage that cannot be taken literally since it was written to create a special effect or feeling.18
13573225427figure of speecha way of saying something other than the ordinary way19
13573225428footbasic unit in the scansion or measurement of verse , stressed and un stressed syllables20
13573225429formexternal pattern or shape of a poem21
13573225430hamartia*tragic flaw which causes a character's downfall22
13573225431verbal ironyA figure of speech in which what is said is the opposite of what is meant23
13573225432dramatic ironyIrony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play.24
13573225433situational irony*refers to an occurrence that is contrary to what is expected or intended25
13573225434meterA regular pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables in a line of poetry26
13573225435metonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it27
13573225436motivation*A need or desire that energizes and directs behavior28
13573225437hyperbole*A figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor29
13573225438oxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.30
13573225439paradoxA contradiction or dilemma31
13573225440rhythmA regularly recurring sequence of events or actions.32
13573225441sarcasm*the use of irony to mock or convey contempt33
13573225442satireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.34
13573225443simile*A comparison using "like" or "as"35
13573225444soliloquyA long speech expressing the thoughts of a character alone on stage36
13573225445stream of consciousnessprivate thoughts of a character without commentary37
13573225446synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa38
13573225447synesthesiadescribing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("a loud color", "a sweet sound")39
13573225448theme*Central idea of a work of literature40
13573225449tone*Attitude a writer takes toward the audience, a subject, or a character41
13573225450understatementthe deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; a deliberate under-emphasis42
13573225451polysyndeton*the use, for rhetorical effect, of more conjunctions than is necessary or natural43
13573225452asyndeton*a construction in which elements are presented in a series without conjunctions44
13573225453ambiguityAn event or situation that may be interpreted in more than one way.45
13573225454archetypean original model on which something is patterned46
13573225455antecedent actionaction or events which occur before the story begins47
13573225456aphorismA brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.48
13573225457analogymethod of comparing two similar things using parallelism to show similarities49
13573225458anecdotea short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person50
13573225459antithesisan exact opposite; an opposite extreme51
13573225460colloquialcharacteristic of informal conversation52
13573225461chiasmusa statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is structurally reversed53
13573225462coherencethe quality of being logical, orderly, and clearly connected54
13573225463conceita fanciful, particularly clever extended metaphor55
13573225464diacoperepetition of a word or phrase with one or two intervening words56
13573225465explicationa detailed explanation of the meaning of a text57
13573225466juxtapositionplacing two elements side by side to present a comparison or contrast58
13573225467hypophorathe technique of asking a question, then proceeding to answer it59
13573225468euphemismAn indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant60
13573225469enumeratiodetailing parts, causes, effects, or consequences to make a point more forcibly61
13573225470enjambmentline of poetry that ends with no punctuation and consequently runs over into the next line62
13573225471invectiveinsulting, abusive, or highly critical language63
13573225472litotesA form of understatement that involves making an affirmative point by denying its opposite64
13573225473motifA recurring theme, subject or idea65
13573225474parallelismthe use of a series of words, phrases, or sentences that have similar grammatical form66
13573225475prosodythe study of sound and rhythm in poetry67
13573225476syntaxthe grammatical arrangement of words in sentences68
13573225477voltathe shift or point of dramatic change in a poem69
13573225478rhetoricthe art of using language effectively and persuasively70
13573225479rhetorical questionA question asked merely for effect with no answer expected.71
13573225480parodya work which imitates another in a ridiculous manner72
13573225481inferenceA conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning73
13573225482tragedyA drama or literary work in which the main character is brought to ruin or suffers extreme sorrow74
13573225483undertonea hidden or implied meaning75
13573225484dissonancelack of agreement or harmony76
13573225485frame storystory that contains another story/stories that is/are usually significant to the main story77
13573225486expletivean exclamation or oath, often obscene78
13573225487atmosphere/moodthe mood/ feeling of the literary work created for the reader by the writer.79
13573225488auditory imageryuse of language to represent an experience pertaining to sound80
13573225489universal themeA message about life that can be understood by most cultures81
13573225490implied meaningthe meaning of a word understood, though unexpressed, usually through connotations and imagery; where you have to read between the lines to get the underlying meaning/subtext of a text82
13573225491interior monologuea form of stream-of-consciousness writing that represents the inner thoughts of a character83
13573225493character sketcha short piece of writing that reveals or shows something important about a person or fictional character84
13573225494epiloguea short passage added at the end of a literary work85
13573225495epistlea letter or literary composition in letter form86
13573225496hexametera line of poetry containing six feet87
13573225497tetrametera line of poetry containing four feet88
13573225498pentametera line of poetry containing five feet89
13573225499lamenta passionate expression of grief or sorrow90

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