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AP Language and Composition Terms Flashcards

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9877701628allegorya short moral story/ a fictional work in which the characters represent ideas or concepts; a visible symbol representing an abstract idea0
9877701629alliterationuse of the same consonant at the beginning of each stressed syllable in a line of verse1
9877701630analogyasks the reader to think about the correspondence or resemblence between two things that are essentially different; drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity in some respect2
9877701631antecedenta preceding occurrence or cause; the grammatical term for the noun or pronoun from which another pronoun derives its meaning3
9877701632antithesisthe opposite or contrast of ideas; the juxtaposition of contrasting words or ideas to give a feeling of balance4
9877701633aphorisma terse, concise statement of a truth or principle; considered a proverb is the author is known5
9877701634colloquialcharacteristic of informal spoken language or conversation6
9877701635clause(grammar) an expression including a subject and predicate but not constituting a complete sentence7
9877701636connotationsuggested or implied meaning of a word or an expression; not the literal meaning8
9877701637denotationthe most direct or specific meaning of a word or expression9
9877701638dictionthe manner in which something is expressed in words; the authors choice of words10
9877701639didacticinstructive (especially excessively); teaching or lecturing11
9877701640euphemisma mild, indirect, or vague term substituting for a harsh, blunt, or offensive term12
9877701641figurative languageWriting or speech that is used to create vivid impressions by setting up comparisons between dissimilar things, [examples are metaphor, simile, and personification.13
9877701642hyperbolea figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor14
9877701643ironyincongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs15
9877701644juxtapositionthe act of placing two contrasting things next to each other for implicit comparison; sheds light on both elements in the comparision due the the placement16
9877701645logosan appeal based on logic or reason17
9877701646mooddominant feeling of a work, scene, or event; a characteristic (habitual or relatively temporary) state of feeling18
9877701647paradoxan apparently contradictory statement that actually contains some truth; seeming to be contradictory19
9877701648parallelismphrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other20
9877701649parodya composition that imitates somebody's style in a humorous way21
9877701650pedanticexcessively concerned with book learning and formal rules22
9877701651personificationrepresenting an abstract quality or idea as a person or creature; a non human being given human qualities23
9877701652point of viewa mental position from which things are viewed; the speaker of a text24
9877701653rhetoricstudy of the technique and rules for using language effectively (especially in public speaking); art and logic of a written or spoken argument25
9877701654stylea way of expressing something (in language or art or music etc.) that is characteristic of a particular person or group of people or period26
9877701655syllogisma deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion. A=B, B=C, so A=C. "All men are mortal; Socrates is a man; therefore, Socrates is mortal."27
9877701656tonethe quality of something (an act or a piece of writing) that reveals the attitudes and presuppositions of the author; the manner the audience presents a subject28

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