Terms to review for the AP exam
Terms : Hide Images
| 9760676241 | allusion | an implicit reference within a literary work to a historical or literary person, place or event ("Don't act like a Romeo in front of her." - "Romeo" is a reference to Shakespeare's Romeo, a passionate lover of Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet") | 0 | |
| 9760676242 | paralipsis | drawing attention to something by claiming not to mention it (We will not speak of Ms. McArdle's indiscretion here; how she got five of her test questions from SparkNotes) | 1 | |
| 9760676243 | metaphor | a figure of speech comparing to unlike things without using like or as (life is but a walking shadow) | 2 | |
| 9760676244 | aphorism | a concise statement of a truth or principle (The early bird gets the worm) | 3 | |
| 9760676245 | parallelism | phrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other (I came, I saw, I conquered) | 4 | |
| 9760676246 | euphemism | an inoffensive expression that is substituted for one that is considered offensive (saying "passed" instead of "died") | 5 | |
| 9760676247 | epithet | any word or phrase applied to a person or thing to describe an actual or attributed quality ("Shoeless Joe Jackson," "Richard the Lionheart," "The Brooklyn Bomber") | 6 | |
| 9760676248 | antithesis | the juxtaposition of contrasting words or ideas to give a feeling of balance ("Not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved Rome more") | 7 | |
| 9760676249 | paradox | a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth ("And all men kill the thing they love...") | 8 | |
| 9760676250 | ellipsis | the omission of a word or phrase which is grammatically necessary but can be deduced for the context ("Some people prefer cats; others, dogs") | 9 | |
| 9760676251 | hyperbole | a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor (Ms. McArdle is a total psychopath with her tests) | 10 | |
| 9760676252 | consonance | the repetition of consonants (or consonant patterns) especially at the ends of words ("We rush into rain that rattles double glass") | 11 | |
| 9760676253 | periphrasis | substitution of a descriptive word or phrase for a name, "fickle mistress" for luck, "big man upstairs" for God | 12 | |
| 9760676254 | synaesthesia | describing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("loud color" or "sweet sound") | 13 | |
| 9760676255 | meiosis | understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary) (Mercutio, after being mortally wouned, says his wound is only "a scratch") | 14 | |
| 9760676256 | apostrophe | figure of speech in which someone (usually absent), some abstract quality, or some nonexistent personage is directly addressed as though present | 15 | |
| 9760676257 | asyndeton | a construction in which elements are presented in a series without conjunctions (I shot, scored, ran. It was ridiculous) | 16 | |
| 9760676258 | isocolon | corresponding clauses of equal weight | 17 | |
| 9760676259 | cliche | an overused saying or idea | 18 | |
| 9760676260 | metonymy | substituting the name of an attribute or feature for the name of the thing itself (as in "they counted heads") | 19 | |
| 9760676261 | litotes | understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary) ("It's nothing. I'm just bleeding to death is all" or "he is not unfriendly") | 20 | |
| 9760676262 | in medias res | in or into the middle of a plot; into the middle of things | 21 | |
| 9760676263 | delayed / periodic sentence | A sentence that withholds its main idea until the end. | 22 | |
| 9760676264 | chiasmus | a statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is structurally reversed ("When the going gets tough, the tough get going") | 23 | |
| 9760676265 | analogy | drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity in some respect | 24 | |
| 9760676266 | anadiplosis | repetition of the final words of a sentence or line at the beginning of the next (Chicken for dinner? Dinner will be ruined!) | 25 | |
| 9760676267 | bathos | insincere or overly sentimental quality of writing/speech intended to evoke pity | 26 | |
| 9760676268 | cacophony | loud confusing disagreeable sounds (puke, snot, barf) | 27 | |
| 9760676269 | euphony | any agreeable (pleasing and harmonious) sounds (butterfly, lovely, bright) | 28 | |
| 9760676270 | juxtaposition | placing two elements side by side to present a comparison or contrast | 29 | |
| 9760676271 | simile | a figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds (usually formed with 'like' or 'as') | 30 | |
| 9760676272 | repetition | the repeated use of the same word or word pattern as a rhetorical device | 31 | |
| 9760676273 | polysyndeton | using several conjunctions in close succession, especially where some might be omitted (as in 'he ran and jumped and laughed for joy') | 32 | |
| 9760676274 | colloquialism | a word or phrase (including slang) used in everyday conversation and informal writing but that is often inappropriate in formal writing (y'all, ain't) | 33 | |
| 9760676275 | anachronism | something located at a time when it could not have existed or occurred (In Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, characters refer to clocks which did not exist in ancient Rome) | 34 | |
| 9760676276 | personification | giving human characteristics to something that is not human | 35 | |
| 9760676277 | pathetic fallacy | The attribution of human emotions or characteristics to inanimate objects or to nature (angry clouds; a cruel wind) | 36 | |
| 9760676278 | oxymoron | conjoining contradictory terms (as in 'deafening silence') | 37 | |
| 9760676279 | aposiopesis | when the speaker or writer deliberately stops short and leaves something unexpressed, but yet obvious, to be supplied by the imagination | 38 | |
| 9760676280 | synecdoche | Uses a part to explain a whole or a whole to explain a part ("lend me an ear," "want to take a ride in my new wheels?") | 39 | |
| 9760676281 | alliteration | use of the same consonant at the beginning of each stressed syllable in a line of verse (run rascal rapidly) | 40 | |
| 9760676282 | pun | play on words (I see said the blind man as he pick up his hammer saw) | 41 | |
| 9760676283 | symbol | something visible that by association or convention represents something else that is invisible (an eagle representing freedom) | 42 | |
| 9760676284 | mixed metaphor | a combination of two or more metaphors that together produce a ridiculous effect | 43 | |
| 9760676285 | epistrophe | The figure of repetition that occurs when the last word or set of words in a sentence, clause, or phrase is repeated one or more times at the end of successive sentences, clauses, or phrases (of the people, by the people, for the people) | 44 | |
| 9760676286 | anaphora | repetition of a word or phrase as the beginning of successive clauses | 45 | |
| 9760676287 | archetype | A detail, image, or character type that occurs frequently in literature and myth and is thought to appeal in a universal way to the unconscious and to evoke a response (the hero-quest journey, the trickster, etc.) | 46 | |
| 9760676288 | canon | an established set of principles; a basis or standard for judgment; a group of literary works (the works of Homer, The American literary _____, Shakespeare) | 47 | |
| 9760676289 | conceit | a fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects | 48 | |
| 9760676290 | rhetoric | the art of using language effectively and persuasively | 49 | |
| 9760676291 | rhetorical context | the circumstances in which a text is written, including the intended audience, the author's aim or purpose in writing, and the audience's preexisting ideas and opinions | 50 | |
| 9760676292 | rhetorical device | a specific method used in writing or speaking in which language is used to influence or persuade an audience | 51 | |
| 9760676293 | situational irony | occurs when the outcome of a work is unexpected, or events turn out to be the opposite from what one had expected | 52 | |
| 9760676294 | hamartia/hubris | the character flaw or error of a tragic hero that leads to his downfall | 53 | |
| 9760676295 | dramatic irony | (theater) irony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play | 54 | |
| 9760676296 | cosmic irony | when a writer uses God, destiny, or fate to dash the hopes and expectations of a character or humankind in general | 55 | |
| 9760676297 | sarcasm | sneering and often ironic language intended to hurt a person's feelings | 56 | |
| 9760676298 | irony | a trope that involves incongruity between what is expected and what occurs | 57 | |
| 9760676299 | satire | the use of humor to emphasize human weaknesses or imperfections in social institutions | 58 | |
| 9760676300 | zeugma | the use of a word to modify two or more words, but used for different meanings (He closed the door and his heart on his lost love.) | 59 | |
| 9760676301 | rhetorical question | a question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer | 60 | |
| 9760676302 | 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. | 61 | |
| 9760676303 | ad hominem | In 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." | 62 | |
| 9760676304 | allegory | an expressive style that uses fictional characters and events to describe some subject by suggestive resemblances | 63 | |
| 9760676305 | anecdote | a brief narrative that focuses on a particular incident or event | 64 | |
| 9760676306 | antecedent | the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers | 65 | |
| 9760676307 | comic relief | A humorous scene or speech intended to lighten the mood | 66 | |
| 9760676308 | connotation | refers to the implied or suggested meanings associated with a word beyond its dictionary definition | 67 | |
| 9760676309 | deductive reasoning | reasoning in which a conclusion is reached by stating a general principle and then applying that principle to a specific case (The sun rises every morning; therefore, the sun will rise on Tuesday morning.) | 68 | |
| 9760676310 | inductive reasoning | deriving general principles from particular facts or instances ("Every cat I have ever seen has four legs; cats are four-legged animals"). | 69 | |
| 9760676311 | denotation | The dictionary definition of a word | 70 | |
| 9760676312 | dialect | a variety of speech characterized by its own particular grammar or pronunciation, often associated with a particular geographical region | 71 | |
| 9760676313 | diction | the manner in which something is expressed in words | 72 | |
| 9760676314 | didactic | having the primary purpose of teaching or instructing | 73 | |
| 9760676315 | nostalgic | wishing for a return to the way things used to be; longing for the past; homesick | 74 | |
| 9760676316 | epigraph | The use of a quotation at the beginning of a work that hints at its theme. | 75 | |
| 9760676317 | imagery | The use of language to evoke a picture or a concrete sensation of a person, thing, place, or experience | 76 | |
| 9760676318 | inference | the reasoning involved in drawing a conclusion or making a logical judgment on the basis of circumstantial evidence and prior conclusions rather than on the basis of direct observation | 77 | |
| 9760676319 | invective | abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will | 78 | |
| 9760676320 | logical fallacy | An error in reasoning that renders an argument invalid | 79 | |
| 9760676321 | motif | a principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design | 80 | |
| 9760676322 | parody | a composition that imitates somebody's style in a humorous way | 81 | |
| 9760676323 | pathos | a style that has the power to evoke feelings | 82 | |
| 9760676324 | pedantic | excessively concerned with book learning and formal rules | 83 | |
| 9760676325 | style | the unique way an author presents his ideas--diction, syntax, imagery, structure, and content all contribute to this | 84 | |
| 9760676326 | syllogism | a three-part deductive argument in which a conclusion is based on a major premise and a minor premise ("All men are mortal; Socrates is a man; therefore, Socrates is mortal.") | 85 | |
| 9760676327 | syntax | the rules for combining words into grammatically sensible sentences in a given language | 86 | |
| 9760676328 | theme | a unifying idea that is a recurrent element in a literary or artistic work | 87 | |
| 9760676329 | tone | the quality of something (an act or a piece of writing) that reveals the attitudes and presuppositions of the author | 88 | |
| 9760676330 | transition | a word or phrase that links one idea to the next and carries the reader from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph. | 89 | |
| 9760676331 | voice | a means or agency by which something is expressed or communicated (an author's way of using language to reflect his or her attitude) | 90 | |
| 9760676332 | inversion (anastrophe) | the reversal of the normal word order in a sentence or phrase | 91 | |
| 9760676333 | parallelism | phrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other | 92 | |
| 9760676334 | atmosphere | a distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing | 93 | |
| 9760676335 | logos | an appeal based on logic or reason | 94 | |
| 9760676336 | ethos | The appeal of a text to the credibility and character of the speaker, writer, or narrator | 95 | |
| 9760676337 | ambiguity | The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage. | 96 | |
| 9760676338 | annotation | the act of adding notes | 97 | |
| 9760676339 | prose | the ordinary form of written language | 98 | |
| 9760676340 | semantic | referring to the relationships between words and meanings | 99 | |
| 9760676341 | non sequitur | a reply that has no relevance to what preceded it | 100 | |
| 9760676342 | red herring | any diversion intended to distract attention from the main issue | 101 | |
| 9760676343 | begging the question | taking for granted something that really needs proving | 102 | |
| 9760676344 | analysis | a form of literary criticism in which the structure of a piece of writing is analyzed | 103 | |
| 9760676345 | categorization | the act of distributing things into classes or categories of the same type | 104 | |
| 9760676346 | hasty generalization | drawing conclusions based on insufficient or unrepresentative evidence | 105 | |
| 9760676347 | figurative language | Writing or speech that is used to create vivid impressions by setting up comparisons between dissimilar things, [examples are metaphor, simile, and personification.] | 106 | |
| 9760676348 | generalization | When a writer bases a claim upon an isolated example or asserts that a claim is certain rather than probable. Sweeping _________ occur when a writer asserts that a claim applies to all instances instead of some. | 107 | |
| 9760676349 | metacognition | thinking about how you think | 108 | |
| 9760676350 | egoism | excessive interest in one's self; belief that one should be interested in one's self rather than in others; selfishness | 109 | |
| 9760676351 | utilitarianism | idea that the goal of society should be to bring about the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people | 110 | |
| 9760676352 | formalism | strict observance of the established rules traditions and methods employed in the arts. _____ can also refer to the theory of art that relies heavily on the organization of forms in a work rather than on the content. | 111 | |
| 9760676353 | premise | a statement that is assumed to be true and from which a conclusion can be drawn | 112 | |
| 9760676354 | straw man | a logical fallacy that involves the creation of an easily refutable position; misrepresenting, then attacking an opponent's position | 113 | |
| 9760676355 | genre | a kind of literary or artistic work | 114 | |
| 9760676356 | Puritanism | the beliefs and practices characteristic of Puritans (most of whom were Calvinists who wished to purify the Church of England of its Catholic aspects) | 115 | |
| 9760676357 | Rationalism | belief in reason and logic as the primary source of knowledge | 116 | |
| 9760676358 | Romanticism | a movement in literature and art during the late 18th and early 19th centuries that celebrated nature rather than civilization | 117 | |
| 9760676359 | Transcendentalism | any system of philosophy emphasizing the intuitive and spiritual above the empirical and material | 118 | |
| 9760676360 | Realism | This was the new style of literature that focused on the daily lives and adventures of a common person. This style was a response to Romanticism's supernaturalism and over-emphasis on emotion. | 119 | |
| 9760676361 | Naturalism | The term ___________ describes a type of literature that attempts to apply scientific principles of objectivity and detachment to its study of human beings. Unlike realism which focuses on literary technique ____________ implies a philosophical position. | 120 | |
| 9760676362 | Modernism | genre of art and literature that makes a self-conscious break with previous genres | 121 | |
| 9760676363 | classicism | the principles and styles admired in the classics of Greek and Roman literature, such as objectivity, sensibility, restraint, and formality | 122 | |
| 9760676364 | tonal shift | An author's change from one emotional style to another during a work. | 123 | |
| 9760676365 | primary source | text that tells a first-hand account of an event; original works used when researching (letters, journals) | 124 | |
| 9760676366 | secondary source | Text and/or artifacts that are not original, but written from something original (biographies, magazine articles, research papers). | 125 | |
| 9760676367 | thesis | The sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or proposition. | 126 | |
| 9760676368 | claim | an assertion that something is true or factual | 127 | |
| 9760676369 | spatial | where a place is located and its physical relationship to other places, people, or environments (a physical description) | 128 | |
| 9760676370 | Double Entendre | a statement that has two meanings, one of which is dirty or vulgar | 129 | |
| 9760676371 | neoclassicism | revival of a classical style (in art or literature or architecture or music) but from a new perspective or with a new motivation | 130 | |
| 9760676372 | propaganda | ideas spread to influence public opinion for or against a cause | 131 | |
| 9760676373 | eulogy | a formal statement of commendation; high praise (does not always need to be given when a person dies) | 132 | |
| 9760676374 | persona | the speaker, voice, or character assumed by the author of a piece of writing | 133 |
