AP Notes, Outlines, Study Guides, Vocabulary, Practice Exams and more!

AP Language and Composition Review Flashcards

Terms to review for the AP exam

Terms : Hide Images
8489366942allusionan 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
8489366943paralipsisdrawing 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
8489366944metaphora figure of speech comparing to unlike things without using like or as (life is but a walking shadow)2
8489366945aphorisma concise statement of a truth or principle (The early bird gets the worm)3
8489366946parallelismphrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other (I came, I saw, I conquered)4
8489366947euphemisman inoffensive expression that is substituted for one that is considered offensive (saying "passed" instead of "died")5
8489366948epithetany 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
8489366949antithesisthe 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
8489366950paradoxa 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
8489366951ellipsisthe omission of a word or phrase which is grammatically necessary but can be deduced for the context ("Some people prefer cats; others, dogs")9
8489366952hyperbolea 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
8489366953consonancethe repetition of consonants (or consonant patterns) especially at the ends of words ("We rush into rain that rattles double glass")11
8489366954periphrasissubstitution of a descriptive word or phrase for a name, "fickle mistress" for luck, "big man upstairs" for God12
8489366955synaesthesiadescribing one kind of sensation in terms of another ("loud color" or "sweet sound")13
8489366956meiosisunderstatement 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
8489366957apostrophefigure of speech in which someone (usually absent), some abstract quality, or some nonexistent personage is directly addressed as though present15
8489366958asyndetona construction in which elements are presented in a series without conjunctions (I shot, scored, ran. It was ridiculous)16
8489366960clichean overused saying or idea17
8489366961metonymysubstituting the name of an attribute or feature for the name of the thing itself (as in "they counted heads")18
8489366963in medias resin or into the middle of a plot; into the middle of things19
8489366964delayed / periodic sentenceA sentence that withholds its main idea until the end.20
8489366965chiasmusa statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is structurally reversed ("When the going gets tough, the tough get going")21
8489366966analogydrawing a comparison in order to show a similarity in some respect22
8489366968bathosinsincere or overly sentimental quality of writing/speech intended to evoke pity23
8489366969cacophonyloud confusing disagreeable sounds (puke, snot, barf)24
8489366970euphonyany agreeable (pleasing and harmonious) sounds (butterfly, lovely, bright)25
8489366971juxtapositionplacing two elements side by side to present a comparison or contrast26
8489366972similea figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds (usually formed with 'like' or 'as')27
8489366973repetitionthe repeated use of the same word or word pattern as a rhetorical device28
8489366974polysyndetonusing several conjunctions in close succession, especially where some might be omitted (as in 'he ran and jumped and laughed for joy')29
8489366975colloquialisma word or phrase (including slang) used in everyday conversation and informal writing but that is often inappropriate in formal writing (y'all, ain't)30
8489366976anachronismsomething 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)31
8489366977personificationgiving human characteristics to something that is not human32
8489366978pathetic fallacyThe attribution of human emotions or characteristics to inanimate objects or to nature (angry clouds; a cruel wind)33
8489366979oxymoronconjoining contradictory terms (as in 'deafening silence')34
8489366980aposiopesiswhen the speaker or writer deliberately stops short and leaves something unexpressed, but yet obvious, to be supplied by the imagination35
8489366981synecdocheUses 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?")36
8489366982alliterationuse of the same consonant at the beginning of each stressed syllable in a line of verse (run rascal rapidly)37
8489366983punplay on words (I see said the blind man as he pick up his hammer saw)38
8489366984symbolsomething visible that by association or convention represents something else that is invisible (an eagle representing freedom)39
8489366985mixed metaphora combination of two or more metaphors that together produce a ridiculous effect40
8489366986epistropheThe 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)41
8489366987anaphorarepetition of a word or phrase as the beginning of successive clauses42
8489366988archetypeA 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.)43
8489366989canonan established set of principles; a basis or standard for judgment; a group of literary works (the works of Homer, The American literary _____, Shakespeare)44
8489366990conceita fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects45
8489366991rhetoricthe art of using language effectively and persuasively46
8489366992rhetorical contextthe 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 opinions47
8489366993rhetorical devicea specific method used in writing or speaking in which language is used to influence or persuade an audience48
8489366994situational ironyoccurs when the outcome of a work is unexpected, or events turn out to be the opposite from what one had expected49
8489366995hubristhe character flaw or error of a tragic hero that leads to his downfall50
8489366996dramatic irony(theater) irony that occurs when the meaning of the situation is understood by the audience but not by the characters in the play51
8489366998sarcasmsneering and often ironic language intended to hurt a person's feelings52
8489366999ironya trope that involves incongruity between what is expected and what occurs53
8489367000satirethe use of humor to emphasize human weaknesses or imperfections in social institutions54
8489367001zeugmathe 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.)55
8489367002rhetorical questiona question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer56
8489367003onomatopoeiaa figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Simple examples include such words as buzz, hiss, hum.57
8489367004ad hominemIn 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."58
8489367005allegoryan expressive style that uses fictional characters and events to describe some subject by suggestive resemblances59
8489367006anecdotea brief narrative that focuses on a particular incident or event60
8489367007antecedentthe word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers61
8489367008comic reliefA humorous scene or speech intended to lighten the mood62
8489367009connotationrefers to the implied or suggested meanings associated with a word beyond its dictionary definition63
8489367010deductive reasoningreasoning 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.)64
8489367011inductive reasoningderiving general principles from particular facts or instances ("Every cat I have ever seen has four legs; cats are four-legged animals").65
8489367012denotationThe dictionary definition of a word66
8489367013dialecta variety of speech characterized by its own particular grammar or pronunciation, often associated with a particular geographical region67
8489367014dictionthe manner in which something is expressed in words68
8489367015didactichaving the primary purpose of teaching or instructing69
8489367016nostalgicwishing for a return to the way things used to be; longing for the past; homesick70
8489367017epigraphThe use of a quotation at the beginning of a work that hints at its theme.71
8489367018imageryThe use of language to evoke a picture or a concrete sensation of a person, thing, place, or experience72
8489367019inferencethe 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 observation73
8489367020invectiveabusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will74
8489367021logical fallacyAn error in reasoning that renders an argument invalid75
8489367022motifa principal idea, feature, theme, or element; a repeated or dominant figure in a design76
8489367023parodya composition that imitates somebody's style in a humorous way77
8489367024pathosa style that has the power to evoke feelings78
8489367025pedanticexcessively concerned with book learning and formal rules79
8489367026stylethe unique way an author presents his ideas--diction, syntax, imagery, structure, and content all contribute to this80
8489367027syllogisma 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.")81
8489367028syntaxthe rules for combining words into grammatically sensible sentences in a given language82
8489367029themea unifying idea that is a recurrent element in a literary or artistic work83
8489367030tonethe quality of something (an act or a piece of writing) that reveals the attitudes and presuppositions of the author84
8489367031transitiona word or phrase that links one idea to the next and carries the reader from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph.85
8489367032voicea means or agency by which something is expressed or communicated (an author's way of using language to reflect his or her attitude)86
8489367033inversion (anastrophe)the reversal of the normal word order in a sentence or phrase87
8489367034parallelismphrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other88
8489367035atmospherea distinctive but intangible quality surrounding a person or thing89
8489367036logosan appeal based on logic or reason90
8489367037ethosThe appeal of a text to the credibility and character of the speaker, writer, or narrator91
8489367038ambiguityThe multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.92
8489367039annotationthe act of adding notes93
8489367040prosethe ordinary form of written language94
8489367041semanticreferring to the relationships between words and meanings95
8489367042non sequitura reply that has no relevance to what preceded it96
8489367043red herringany diversion intended to distract attention from the main issue97
8489367045analysisa form of literary criticism in which the structure of a piece of writing is analyzed98
8489367046categorizationthe act of distributing things into classes or categories of the same type99
8489367047hasty generalizationdrawing conclusions based on insufficient or unrepresentative evidence100
8489367048figurative languageWriting or speech that is used to create vivid impressions by setting up comparisons between dissimilar things, [examples are metaphor, simile, and personification.]101
8489367049generalizationWhen 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.102
8489367050metacognitionthinking about how you think103
8489367051egoismexcessive interest in one's self; belief that one should be interested in one's self rather than in others; selfishness104
8489367052utilitarianismidea that the goal of society should be to bring about the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people105
8489367054premisea statement that is assumed to be true and from which a conclusion can be drawn106
8489367055straw mana logical fallacy that involves the creation of an easily refutable position; misrepresenting, then attacking an opponent's position107
8489367056genrea kind of literary or artistic work108
8489367065tonal shiftAn author's change from one emotional style to another during a work.109
8489367066primary sourcetext that tells a first-hand account of an event; original works used when researching (letters, journals)110
8489367067secondary sourceText and/or artifacts that are not original, but written from something original (biographies, magazine articles, research papers).111
8489367068thesisThe sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or proposition.112
8489367069claiman assertion that something is true or factual113
8489367070spatialwhere a place is located and its physical relationship to other places, people, or environments (a physical description)114
8489367071Double Entendrea statement that has two meanings, one of which is dirty or vulgar115
8489367073propagandaideas spread to influence public opinion for or against a cause116
8489367074eulogya formal statement of commendation; high praise (does not always need to be given when a person dies)117
8489367075personathe speaker, voice, or character assumed by the author of a piece of writing118

Need Help?

We hope your visit has been a productive one. If you're having any problems, or would like to give some feedback, we'd love to hear from you.

For general help, questions, and suggestions, try our dedicated support forums.

If you need to contact the Course-Notes.Org web experience team, please use our contact form.

Need Notes?

While we strive to provide the most comprehensive notes for as many high school textbooks as possible, there are certainly going to be some that we miss. Drop us a note and let us know which textbooks you need. Be sure to include which edition of the textbook you are using! If we see enough demand, we'll do whatever we can to get those notes up on the site for you!