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| 14691608313 | Allegory | The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. In some allegories, for example, an author may intend the characters to personify an abstraction like hope or freedom. The allegorical meaning usually deals with moral truth or a generalization about human | 0 | |
| 14691608314 | Alliteration | Repetition of initial consonant sounds | 1 | |
| 14691610161 | Allusion | A reference to another work of literature, person, or event | 2 | |
| 14691610811 | Ambiguity | The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage. | 3 | |
| 14691610812 | Analogy | A comparison of two different things that are similar in some way | 4 | |
| 14691624753 | Anaphora | the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses | 5 | |
| 14691625589 | anecdote | a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person | 6 | |
| 14691627184 | antecedent | The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun. | 7 | |
| 14691628847 | Aphorism | A brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life. | 8 | |
| 14691634405 | Apostrophe | A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. | 9 | |
| 14691635256 | Asyndeton | omission of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words | 10 | |
| 14691636362 | atmosphere | The emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the author's choice of objects that are described. Even such elements as a description of the weather can contribute to the atmosphere. Frequently, atmosphere foreshadows events. See mood. | 11 | |
| 14691639744 | colloquial/colloquialism | The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing | 12 | |
| 14691641044 | Conceit | A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects. | 13 | |
| 14691650434 | Connotation | The nonliteral, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning. Connotations may involve ideas, emotions, or attitudes. | 14 | |
| 14691654289 | Denotation | The dictionary definition of a word | 15 | |
| 14691654308 | Diction | Related to style, diction refers to the writer's word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness. For the AP exam, you should be able to describe an author's diction (for example, formal or informal, ornate or plain) and understand he ways in which diction can complement the author's purpose. Diction, combined with syntax, figurative language, literary devices, etc., creates an author's style. Note: this term frequently appears in the essay question's wording. In your thesis avoid phrases such as, "The author uses diction..." Since diction, by definition, is word choice, this phrase really says, "The author chooses words to write..." which is as redundant (and silly) as claiming, "A painter uses paints to paint." At least try to put an adjective in front of the word "diction" to help describe it, such as "stark diction" or "flowery and soft diction." | 16 | |
| 14691659000 | Epistrophe | the repetition of a word at the end of successive clauses or sentences | 17 | |
| 14691664387 | Euphemism | An indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant | 18 | |
| 14691667248 | extended metaphor | A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work. | 19 | |
| 14691679239 | figurative language | Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid. | 20 | |
| 14691680896 | figure of speech | a device used to produce figurative language | 21 | |
| 14691698418 | Hyperbole | exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally. | 22 | |
| 14691699511 | Imagery | Description that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste) | 23 | |
| 14691747723 | Irony/Ironic: | the contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant | 24 | |
| 14691749636 | Juxtaposition | Putting two different ideas, things, and/or images side-by-side to compare and contrast. The purpose of juxtaposition is often to reveal aspects of one thing by seeing the opposite. (example: In literature, juxtaposition is a useful device for writers to portray their characters in great detail to create suspense and achieve a rhetorical effect.) | 25 | |
| 14691997888 | Litotes | A form of understatement that involves making an affirmative point by denying its opposite | 26 | |
| 14691998882 | loose sentence | A type of sentence in which the main idea comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses | 27 | |
| 14692004294 | Metaphor | figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity. Metaphorical language makes writing more vivid, imaginative, thought provoking, and meaningful. See simile. | 28 | |
| 14692005386 | Metonymy | A term from the Greek meaning "changed label" or "substitute name," metonomy is a figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it. A news release that claims "the White House declared" rather than "the President declared" is using metonymy. | 29 | |
| 14692006355 | Mood | This term has two distinct technical meanings in English writing. The first meaning is grammatical and deals with verbal units and a speaker's attitude. The indicative mood is used only for factual sentences. For example, "Joe eats too quickly." The subjunctive mood is used for a doubtful or conditional attitude. For example, "If I were you, I'd get another job." The imperative mood is used for commands. For examples, "Shut the door!" The second meaning of mood is literary, meaning the prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work. Setting, tone, and events can affect the mood. In this usage, mood is similar to tone and atmosphere. | 30 | |
| 14692009823 | Narrative | The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events. | 31 | |
| 14692010152 | 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, crack, whinny, and murmur. | 32 | |
| 14692010870 | Oxymoron | From the Greek for "pointedly foolish," an oxymoron is a figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox. Simple examples include "jumbo shrimp" and "cruel kindness." | 33 | |
| 14692012230 | Paradox | A statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth. | 34 | |
| 14692014510 | Parallelism | Also referred to as parallel construction or parallel structure, this term come from Greek roots meaning "beside on another." It refers to the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity. This can involve, but is not limited to, repetition a grammatical element such as a preposition or a verbal phrase. A famous example of parallelism begins Charles Dickens' novel, A Tale of Two Cities: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity...." The effects of parallelism are numerous, but frequently, they act as an organizing force to attract the reader's attention, add emphasis and organization, or simply provide a musical rhythm. | 35 | |
| 14692017105 | Parody | A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule. | 36 | |
| 14692020196 | periodic sentence | A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end. This independent clause is preceded by a phrase or clause that cannot stand alone. For example, "Ecstatic with my AP scores, I let out a loud shout of joy!" The effect of a periodic sentence is to add emphasis and structural variety. Note how it differs from loose sentence. | 37 | |
| 14692031090 | Personification | A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes | 38 | |
| 14692031795 | point of view | In literature, the perspective from which a story is told. There are two general divisions of point of view and many subdivisions within those. 1. The first-person narrator tells the story with the first-person pronoun, "I," and is a character in the story. This narrator can be the protagonist (the hero or heroine), a participant (a character in a secondary role), or an observer (a character who merely watches the action). 2. The second-person narrator is when the narrator tells the story to another character using the word "you." It works to place the reader inside the story as if he/she is a character in the story. This point of view is very rarely used. 3. The third-person narrator relates the events with the third-person pronouns, "he," "she," and "it." There are two main subdivisions to be aware of: omniscient and limited omniscient. In the "third-person omniscient" point of view, the narrator, with godlike knowledge, presents the thoughts and actions of any or all characters. This all-knowing narrator can reveal what each character feels and thinks at any given moment. The "third-person limited omniscient" point of view, as its name implies, presents the feelings and thoughts of only one character, presenting only the actions of all remaining characters. This definition applies in questions in the multiple-choice section. However, on the essay portion of the exam, the term "point of view" carries a different meaning. When you're asked to analyze an author's point of view, the appropriate point for you to address is the author's attitude. | 39 | |
| 14692038510 | Polysyndeton | Deliberate use of many conjunctions | 40 | |
| 14692039894 | Prose | One of the major divisions of genre, prose refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms, because they are written in ordinary language and most closely resemble everyday speech. Technically, anything that isn't poetry or drama is prose. Therefore, all passages in the AP language exam are prose. Of course, prose writers often borrow poetic and dramatic elements. | 41 | |
| 14692041269 | Pun | A play on words | 42 | |
| 14692041913 | Rhetoric | From the Greek for "orator," this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively | 43 | |
| 14692043806 | Rhetorical Question | A question that is asked merely for effect and does not expect a reply or careful consideration by the audience because the answer is assumed. Rhetorical questions are often effective because the audience is pushed into agreeing with the speaker. | 44 | |
| 14692044432 | Sarcasm | From the Greek meaning "to tear flesh," sarcasm involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something. It may use irony as a device, but not all ironic statements are sarcastic, that is, intending to ridicule. When well done, sarcasm can be witty and insightful; when poorly done, it's simply cruel. | 45 | |
| 14692055128 | Satire | A work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule. | 46 | |
| 14692057249 | Simile | An explicit comparison, normally using like, as, or if. For example, remember Robbie burns' famous lines, "O my love is like a red, red rose / That's newly sprung in June. / O, my love is like a melody, / That's sweetly played in tune." See metaphor. | 47 | |
| 14692057575 | Style | The consideration of style has two purposes: 1. An evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices. Some author's styles are so idiosyncratic that we can quickly recognize works by the same author (or writer emulating that author's style). Compare, for example, Jonathan Swift to George Orwell, or William Faulkner to Ernest Hemingway. We can analyze and describe an author's purpose. Styles can be called flowery, explicit, succinct, rambling, bombastic, commonplace, incisive, or laconic, to name only a few examples. 2. Classification of authors to a group and comparison of an author to similar authors. By means of such classification and comparison, one can see how an author's style reflects and helps to define a historical period, such as the Renaissance or the Victorian period, or a literary movement, such as the romantic, transcendental, or realist movement. | 48 | |
| 14692058296 | Syllogism: | From the Greek for "reckoning together," a syllogism (or syllogistic reasoning) is a deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises—the first one called "major" and the second "minor"—that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion. A frequently cited example proceeds as follows: ! Major premise: All men are mortal. ! Minor premise: Socrates is a man. ! Conclusion: Therefore, Socrates is mortal. A syllogism's conclusion is valid only if each of the two premises is valid. | 49 | |
| 14692059732 | Symbol/Symbolism: | Generally, anything that represents or stands for something else. Usually, a symbol is something concrete—such as an object, action, character, or scene—that represents something more abstract. However, symbols and symbolism can be much more complex. One system classifies symbols in three categories: 1. Natural symbols use objects and occurrences from nature to represent ideas commonly associated with them (dawn symbolizing hope or a new beginning, a rose symbolizing love, a tree symbolizing knowledge). 2. Conventional symbols are those that have been invested with meaning by a group (religious symbols, such as a cross or Star of David; national symbols, such as a flag or an eagle; or group symbols, such as skull and crossbones for pirates or the scales of justice for lawyers). 3. Literary symbols are sometimes also conventional in the sense that they are found in a variety of works and are generally recognized. However, a work's symbols may be more complicated as is the whale in Moby Dick and the jungle in Heart of Darkness. On the AP exam, try to determine what abstraction an object is a symbol for and to what extent it is successful in representing that abstraction. | 50 | |
| 14692060426 | Synecdoche: | A form of metonymy that's restricted to cases in which a part is used to signify the whole (example: "All hands on deck!") | 51 | |
| 14692062143 | Syntax: | The way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences. Syntax is similar to diction, but you can differentiate the two by thinking of syntax as referring to groups of words, while diction refers to individual words. In the multiple-choice section of the AP language exam, expect to be asked some questions about how an author manipulates syntax. In the essay section, you will need to analyze how syntax produces effects. When you are analyzing syntax, consider such elements as the length or brevity of sentences, unusual sentence constructions, the sentence patterns used, and the kinds of sentences the author uses. The writer may use questions, declarations, exclamation s, or rhetorical questions; sentences are also classified as periodic or loose, simple, compound, or complex sentences. Syntax can be tricky for students to analyze. First try to classify what kind of sentences the author uses, and then try to determine how the author's choices amplify meaning, in other words why they work well for the author's purpose. | 52 | |
| 14692064352 | Theme: | The central idea or message of a work, the insight offers into life. Usually, theme is unstated in fictional works, but in nonfiction, the theme may be directly stated, especially in expository or argumentative writing. | 53 | |
| 14692069861 | Tone: | Similar to mood, tone describes the author's attitude toward his or her material, the audience, or both. Tone is easier to determine in spoken language than in written language. Considering how a work would sound if it were read aloud can help in identifying an author's tone. Some words describing tone are playful, serious, businesslike, sarcastic, humorous, formal, ornate, and somber. Some of the more difficult tone words that have appeared on previous exams include: 1. colloquial/colloquialism: The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing. Not generally acceptable for formal writing, colloquialisms give a work a conversational, familiar tone. Colloquial expressions in writing include local or regional dialects. Evans & Yoshiyama 8 2. didactic: From the Greek, didactic literally means "teaching." Didactic works have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles. 3. objective: A description of a matter-of-fact, impersonal, or unbiased piece of writing. Conversely, a subjective tone is one where the author's bias and personal feelings clearly come through. 4. pedantic: An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish. | 54 | |
| 14692070724 | Understatement: | The ironic minimalizing of fact, understatement presents something as less significant than it is. The effect can frequently be humorous and emphatic. Understatement is the opposite of hyperbole. | 55 |
