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AP Language and Composition Vocabulary Flashcards

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14662946135AllegoryThe device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning0
14662964945AlliterationThe repetition of sounds, especially initial consonants or more neighboring words1
14662967918AllusionA direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art2
14662969713AnalogyA similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them3
14662973460AnecdoteA short, simple narrative of an incident4
14662978450ConnotationThe non literal, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning5
14662981412DenotationThe strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion attitude, or color6
14662985746Dictionthe writer's word choices and style, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness7
14662988995Extended metaphorA metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout the work8
14662991816Figurative languageSpeech or writing that departs from literal meaning to achieve a special effect or meaning, ex. imagery, hyperbole, understatement, simile, metaphor, extended metaphor, and symbolism9
14662996600FlashbackA device by which the writer presents scenes or incidents that occurred prior to the opening scene of the work10
14662997924HyperboleA figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement11
14663000052ImageryThe sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions, ex. the five senses12
14663003356Irony/ironicThe contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant, ex. verbal, situational, dramatic13
14663008771MetaphorA figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, ex. simile14
14663010901Mood (atmosphere)The prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work15
14663013839OxymoronA figure of speech composed of contradictory words or phrases, ex. wise fool, bitter sweet16
14663019409PersonificationA figure of speech in which the author presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions17
14663023395Point of viewthe perspective from which a story is told18
14663025849PunA play on words, either plays on multiple meanings of a word or replaces the word with another that is similar in sound but very different in meaning.19
14783452444RepetitionThe duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern20
14783455105Assonancerepetition of identical or similar vowel sounds in a sequence of words21
14783457627Consonancerepetition of identical consonant sounds words in close proximity22
14783461132SymbolA thing that represents or stands for something else, especially a material object representing something abstract23
14783463371Tonecharacteristic emotion or attitude of an author toward the characters, subject, and audience24
14783466285AmbiguityThe multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage25
14783469374Anaphorarepetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or lines26
14783472262AnastropheThe reversal of word order for effect27
14783474846AntecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun28
14783474847Antiphrasisthe use of a word in a sense opposite to its normal sense (especially in irony)29
14783482477AntithesisFigure of balance in which two contrasting ideas are intentionally juxtaposed30
14783486969Appealany persuasive strategy, especially one directed to the emotions, sense of humor, or cherished beliefs of an audience31
14783495865AphorismA short, often witty statement articulating a principle or a truth about life32
14783498984Apostrophefigure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction33
14783498986Asyndetonomitting conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses34
14783502104AtmosphereThe 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 described35
14783505479Avant-gardesuggest art or writing that challenges tradition, or that is innovative, experimental, revolutionary, or ahead of its time36
14783505480BombastLanguage that is overly rhetorical (pompous)37
14783511589Chiasmusa figure of speech in which two successive phrases or clauses are parallel in syntax, but reverse the order of the analogous words38
14783514209ClauseA grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb39
15164181978Colloquial/ColloquialismThe use of slang or informalities in speech or writing40
15164182980Coherence (unity)quality of a piece of writing in which all the parts contribute to the development of the central idea, theme, or organizing principle41
15164187343ConceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects.42
15164190055DiacopeRepetition of a word or phrase after an intervening word or phrase43
15164191551DeductionThe process of logic in which a thinker takes a rule for a large, general category and assumes that specific individual examples fitting within that general category obey the same rule44
15164194593DialectThe language of a particular district, class, or group of persons45
15164200964Dystopiaimaginary place where living conditions are dreadful, opposite of utopia46
15164204886Eclipsisa type of enallage in which an author or poet omits essential grammatical elements to create a poetic or artful effect47
15164206260Ellipsis (plural, ellipses)in its oldest sense as a rhetorical device, ellipsis refers to the artful omission of a word implied by a previous clause48
15182949615Enallage (Greek, "interchange")the intentional misuse of grammar to characterize a speaker or to create a memorable phrase49
15182955075Enumerationa subject is divided into constituent parts or details, and may include a listing of causes, effects, problems, solutions, conditions, and consequences; the listing or detailing of the parts of something50
15183032574EuphemismAn indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant51
15183036794Epitaphan inscription carved on a gravestone or the final statement spoken by a character before his death52
15183064738Expositionone of four narrative device, often used at the beginning of a work that provides necessary background information about the characters and their circumstances53
15183077732Figure of speechA device used to produce figurative language such as apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, metonymy, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, synecdoche, and understatement54
15183086683GeneralizationA claim based upon an isolated example or asserts that a claim is certain rather than probable55
15187943746GenreThe major category into which a literary work fits with many subcategories within56
15187968082HomilyThis term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice57
15188001016Hypophoraa figure of speech in which a writer raises a question and then immediately provides an answer to that question58
15188042743Inference/inferto draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented59
15729994826Inductionthe reasoning process that moves from a given series of specifics to derive a general rule, it draws inferences from observations in order to make generalizations60
15730000983Invectivean emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attach using strong, abusive language61
15729998343Inversion (anastrophe)a reversal of the customary order of elements (subject, verb, complement) in a sentence or phrase62
15730005343Jargonthe special language of a profession or group63
15730007930Juxtapositionwhen two words, phrases, images, ideas are placed close together or side by side for comparison or contrast.64
15730009757Litotesa figure of thought in which a point is affirmed by negating its opposite65
15730013497Loose sentence (cumulative sentence)a type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses66
15730018555Metonymya figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it, the substituted term generally carries a more potent emotional response67
15730021944Narrativethe telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events68
15730024212Oversimplificationa logical fallacy by which the reasoned obscures or denies the complexity of the issues in an argument69
15730030569Paradoxa statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity70
15730032480Parallelism(parallel construction or parallel structure)the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity71
15730037051Parodya work that ridicules the style of another work by imitating and exaggerating its elements, it can be utterly mocking or gently humorous72
15730041228Pedantican adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish73
15730042634Periodic sentencea 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 alone74
15730048556Picaresque novela humorous novel in which the plot consists of a young knave's misadventures and escapades narrated in comic or satiric scenes75
15730053283Polysyndetonfigure of addition and emphasis which intentionally employs a series of conjunctions not normally found in successive words, phrases or clauses; the deliberate and excessive use of conjunctions in successive words or clauses76
15730061591Predicate adjectivea type of subject complement is an adjective, group of adjectives, or adjective clause that follows a linking verb; the predicate of the sentence, and modifies, or describes, the subject77
15730069409Predicate nominativea type of subject complement, a noun, group of nouns, or noun clause that names the subject; like the predicate adjective, follows a linking verb and is located in the predicate of the sentence78
15841756470Proseone of the major divisions of genre, refers to fiction and non-fiction, including all its forms79
15841797700Regionalisman element in literature that conveys a realistic portrayal of a specific geographical locale, using the locale and its influences as a major part of the plot80
15841801724Rhetoricthe principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively81
15841819880Rhetorical modesthe variety, the conventions, and purposes of the major kinds of writing; exposition, description, narration, argumentation82
15953071942Rhetorical Questiona question that does not anticipate an explicit answer. It is used to pose an idea to be considered by the speaker or audience83
15953087082Sarcasmbitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something, may use irony as a device, intended to ridicule84
15953107106Satirethe use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues85
15953159264Stereotypea character that represents a trait that is usually attributed (unfairly) to a particular social or racial group86
15953164618Stylean evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices OR classification of authors to a group and comparison of an author to similar authors87
15979572599Subject complementThe word or clauses that follows a linking verb and complements, or completes, the subject of the sentence by either renaming it or describing it; ex. predicate nominative or predicate adjective88
15979600776Subordinate clausecontains both a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone, also known as a dependent clause89
15979605223Subjectivitya personal presentation of events and characters, influenced by the author's feelings and opinions90
15979606770SyllogismA form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion91
15979610638Synecdochea type of metaphor in which the part stands for the whole, the whole for a part92
15979639775Syntaxthe grammatical structure of a sentence; that is, the arrangement of words in a sentence93
15979641235Transitiona word or phrase or clause that links one idea to the next and carries the reader from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph94
15979643306Tropeany rhetorical device or figure of speech involving shifts in the meaning of words95
15979644132Understatementthe ironic minimizing of fact, presents something as less significant than it is, opposite of hyperbole96
15979646372Witintellectually amusing language that surprises and delights97

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