Terms : Hide Images
| 13512905746 | Antithesis | the opposition or contrast of ideas; the direct opposite. | 0 | |
| 13512915068 | litotes | a form of understatement that involves making an affirmative point by denying its opposite. Litote is the opposite of hyperbole. Examples: "Not a bad idea," "Not many," "It isn't very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain" (Salinger, Catcher in the Rye). | 1 | |
| 13512920603 | metonymy | A term from the Greek meaning "changed label" or "substitute name," metonymy is a figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it. For example, a news release that claims "the White House declared" rather than "the President declared" is using metonymy. | 2 | |
| 13512926249 | 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. If you note examples of onomatopoeia in an essay passage, note the effect. | 3 | |
| 13512930427 | 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." This term does not usually appear in the multiple-choice questions, but there is a chance that you might find it in an essay. Take note of the effect that the author achieves with the use of oxymoron. | 4 | |
| 13512937012 | parallelism | Also referred to as parallel construction or parallel structure, this term comes from Greek roots meaning "beside one 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 of a grammatical element such as a preposition or verbal phrase. (Again, the opening of Dickens' Tale of Two Cities is an example: "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 believe, 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. | 5 | |
| 13512940851 | anaphora | A sub-type of parallelism, when the exact repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive lines or sentences. MLK used anaphora in his famous "I Have a Dream" speech (1963). | 6 | |
| 13512950419 | rhetorical modes | This flexible term describes the variety, the conventions, and the purposes of the major kinds of writing. The four most common rhetorical modes (often referred to as "modes of discourse") are as follows: exposition, argumentation, description, narration. | 7 | |
| 13512969312 | exposition | (or expository writing) is to explain and analyze information by presenting an idea, relevant evidence, and appropriate discussion. The AP language exam essay questions are frequently expository. | 8 | |
| 13512978350 | argumentation | is to prove the validity of an idea, or point of view, by presenting sound reasoning, discussion, and argument that thoroughly convince the reader. Persuasive writing is a type of argumentation having an additional aim of urging some form of action. | 9 | |
| 13512984402 | description | is to recreate, invent, or visually present a person, place, event or action so that the reader can picture that being described. Sometimes an author engages all five senses in description; good descriptive writing can be sensuous and picturesque. Descriptive writing may be straightforward and objective or highly emotional and subjective. | 10 | |
| 13512989584 | narration | is to tell a story or narrate an event or series of events. This writing mode frequently uses the tools of descriptive writing. | 11 | |
| 13512993506 | syllogism | From the Greek for "reckoning together," a syllogism (or syllogistic reasoning or syllogistic logic) is a deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises (the first one called "major" and the second called "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 a mortal. | 12 | |
| 13512998550 | synecdoche | a figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole or, occasionally, the whole is used to represent a part. Examples: To refer to a boat as a "sail"; to refer to a car as "wheels"; to refer to the violins, violas, etc. in an orchestra as "the strings." **Different than metonymy, in which one thing is represented by another thing that is commonly physically associated with it (but is not necessarily a part of it), i.e., referring to a monarch as "the crown" or the President as "The White House." | 13 | |
| 13513045105 | allusion | A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. Allusions can be historical, literary, religious, topical, or mythical. There are many more possibilities, and a work may simultaneously use multiple layers of allusion. | 14 | |
| 13513047812 | ambiguity | The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage. | 15 | |
| 13513054524 | clause | A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb. An independent, or main, clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent, or subordinate clause, cannot stand alone as a sentence and must be accompanied by an independent clause. The point that you want to consider is the question of what or why the author subordinates one element should also become aware of making effective use of subordination in your own writing. | 16 | |
| 13513076360 | 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 | 17 | |
| 13513082950 | euphemism | From the Greek for "good speech," euphemisms are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept. The euphemism may be used to adhere to standards of social or political correctness or to add humor or ironic understatement. Saying "earthly remains" rather than "corpse" is an example of euphemism. | 18 | |
| 13513094153 | homily | This term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice. | 19 | |
| 13513098721 | imagery | The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions. On a physical level, imagery uses terms related to the five senses: visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory, and olfactory. On a broader and deeper level, however, one image can represent more than one thing. For example, a rose may present visual imagery while also representing the color in a woman's cheeks and/or symbolizing some degree of perfection. An author may use complex imagery while simultaneously employing other figures of speech, especially metaphor and simile. In addition, this term can apply to the total of all the images in a work. On the AP language exam, pay attention to how an author creates imagery and to the effect of this imagery | 20 | |
| 13513103681 | irony/ironic | The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant, or the difference between what appears to be and what is actually true. Irony is often used to create poignancy or humor. In general, there are three major types of irony used in language: Verbal irony, situational irony, dramatic irony | 21 | |
| 13513117205 | verbal irony | when the words literally state the opposite of the writer's (or speaker's) meaning | 22 | |
| 13513125279 | situational irony | when events turn out the opposite of what was expected; when what the characters and readers think ought to happen is not what does happen | 23 | |
| 13529358485 | dramatic irony | when facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or piece of fiction but known to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work. | 24 | |
| 13529370565 | semantics | The branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words, their historical and psychological development, their connotations, and their relation to one another. | 25 | |
| 13529373846 | transition | A word or phrase that links different ideas. Used especially, although not exclusively, in expository and argumentative writing, transitions effectively signal a shift from one idea to another. A few commonly used transitional words or phrases are furthermore, consequently, nevertheless, for example, in addition, likewise, similarly, on the contrary, etc. More sophisticated writers use more subtle means of transition. | 26 | |
| 13714587301 | loose sentence | a sentence that follows that customary word order of English (subject -verb- object). The main idea of the sentence is first presented and then followed by one or more subordinate clauses. Ex: Bells rang, filling the air with their clangor, startling pigeons into flight from every belfry, bringing people into the streets to hear the news. | 27 | |
| 13714591150 | malapropism | a confused use of words in which the appropriate word is replaced by one with a similar sound but inappropriate meaning. Ex: This bill is gastronomical! | 28 | |
| 13714600422 | non sequitur | a statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before objective - of or relating to facts and reality, as opposed to private and personal feelings and attitudes | 29 | |
| 13714605166 | parody | an imitation of a work meant to ridicule its style and subject | 30 | |
| 13714610236 | pastoral | a work of literature dealing with rural life | 31 | |
| 13714616377 | pedantic | narrowly academic instead of broad and humane; excessively petty and meticulous | 32 | |
| 13714623786 | predicate | the part of a sentence that is not the grammatical subject. It often says something about the subject. | 33 | |
| 13714628569 | realism | the depiction of people, things, and events as they really are without idealizing or exaggerating for effect | 34 | |
| 13714631913 | reiteration | repetition of an idea using different words, often for emphasis or other effect | 35 | |
| 13714638669 | retraction | the withdrawal of a previously stated idea or opinion | 36 | |
| 13714642567 | sarcasm | a sharp, caustic attitude conveyed in words through jibes, taunts, or other remarks; differs from the slightly more subtle irony | 37 | |
| 13714649097 | sentiment | a synonym for view or feeling; also a refined and tender emotion in literature | 38 | |
| 13714653153 | stream of consciousness | a style of writing in which the author tries to reproduce the random flow of thoughts in the human mind | 39 | |
| 13714666487 | subject complement | the name of a grammatical unit that is comprised of predicate nominatives and predicate adjectives | 40 | |
| 13714670752 | predicate nominative | a noun (within the predicate) that provides another name for the subject . Ex: Lynn (subject) is the president (predicate nominative) of the company. | 41 | |
| 13714676413 | predicate adjective | an adjective (located with the predicate) that describes the subject. Ex: Harold (subject) is courageous (predicate adjective). | 42 | |
| 13714689554 | trope | the generic name for a figure of speech such as image, symbol, simile, and metaphor | 43 | |
| 13714692916 | understatement | a restrained statement that departs from what could be said; a studied avoidance of emphasis or exaggeration, often to create a particular effect | 44 | |
| 13714696294 | verisimilitude | similar to the truth; the quality of realism in a work that persuades readers that they are getting a vision of life as it is | 45 | |
| 13727697747 | Diction | the choice of words in oral and written discourse | 46 | |
| 13727701132 | Elliptical construction | a sentence containing a deliberate omission of words | 47 | |
| 13727704243 | Connotation | The suggested or implied meaning of a word or phrase | 48 | |
| 13727713247 | Archetype | An abstract or ideal conception of a type; a perfectly typical example; an original model or form. | 49 | |
| 13727717429 | ad hominem | Directed to or appealing to feelings or prejudices instead of to intellect or reason. | 50 | |
| 13727720622 | Farce | A comedy that contains an extravagant and nonsensical disregard of seriousness, although it may have a serious, scornful purpose. | 51 | |
| 13727724031 | Cynic | One who expects and observes nothing but the worst of human conduct. | 52 | |
| 13727724033 | Antithesis | A rhetorical opposition or contrast of ideas by means of a grammatical arrangement of words, clauses, or sentences. | 53 | |
| 13727730589 | Anachronism | A person, scene, event or other element that fails to correspond with the appropriate time or era. | 54 | |
| 13727739540 | Ellipsis | three periods (...) indicating the omission of words in a thought or quotation | 55 | |
| 13727741795 | exegesis | A detailed analysis or interpretation of a work of prose or poetry. | 56 | |
| 13727744410 | indirect quotation | A rendering of a quotation in which actual words are not stated but only approximated or paraphrased. | 57 | |
| 13727761100 | frame | a structure that provides premise or setting for a narrative or other discourse | 58 | |
| 13727765613 | homily | a lecture or sermon on a religious or moral theme meant to guide human behavior | 59 | |
| 13727768035 | Bathos | insincere or overdone sentimentality | 60 | |
| 13727773162 | circumlocution | Literally, "talking around" a subject; i.e., discourse that avoids direct reference to a subject. | 61 | |
| 13727776075 | Anecdote | A brief narrative often used to illustrate an idea or make a point | 62 | |
| 13727787544 | Conceit | a witty or ingenious thought; a diverting or highly fanciful idea, often stated in figurative language | 63 | |
| 13727790326 | inductive reasoning | A method of reasoning in which a number of specific facts or examples are used to make a generalization. | 64 | |
| 13727792602 | antecedent | A word to which a pronoun refers. | 65 |
