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

AP Language Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
9965259637EnglishEnglish0
9965259638adagea proverb or wise saying commonly used (ex: Things are not always as they seem.)1
9965259639allegorya story in which people, things and happenings have a hidden or symbolic meaning.(fables, parables, apologue have meanings on two or more levels.)2
9965259640alliterationwords used in quick succession and begin with letters belonging to the same sound group; a repetition of similar sounds/letters in the sentence. (Wicked witch of the west went her own way.)3
9965259641allusiona passing reference to a commonly-known historical, cultural, religious, literary, or mythical person, place, event, or work of art, whereby the reader must make the connection within the current text.4
9965259642ambiguitymultiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, passage or sentence; can lead reader toward uncertainty of meaning5
9965259643analogyestablishing a relationship based on similarities between two concepts or ideas; helps convey meaning of a new idea6
9965259644anaphorathe deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect; most commonly found in the Bible (O Lord,.for I am weak.O Lord, heal me. O Lord, have mercy on me.)7
9965259645anecdoteshort and interesting story or an amusing event often proposed to support or demonstrate some point and make readers and listeners laugh; Anecdotes can include an extensive range of tales and stories8
9965259646antecedentword, phrase, or clause that is replaced by a pronoun9
9965259647antimetabolerepetition of words in reverse grammatical order; Ex: "Fair is foul and foul is fair."10
9965259648antithesisparallel structures of the contrasted phrases or clauses, i.e. the structures of phrases and clauses are similar in order to draw the attention of the listeners or readers; Ex: "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."11
9965259649apostrophespeaker talks to someone or something that is obviously not present12
9965259650appositivea renaming of a noun or noun phrase immediately after first stating the noun13
9965259651archetypeA 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 response14
9965259652argumenta statement put forth and supported by evidence15
9965259653asyndetonauthor purposely leaves out conjunctions in the sentence, while maintaining the grammatical accuracy of the phrase; shortening the statement for greater impact; "Reduce, reuse, recycle."16
9965259654audiencethose to whom a piece of literary work is being presented17
9965259655cacophonyTremendous noise, disharmonious sound18
9965259656characterizationActions, dialogue, and narrative description that reveal a sense of a character's personality to the reader.19
9965259657circumlocutionan indirect or wordy way of expressing an idea which leaves the reader perplexed; exaggeratedly long and complex sentences in order to convey a meaning that could have otherwise been conveyed through a shorter, much simpler sentence20
9965259658climaxthat point in a plot that creates the greatest intensity, suspense, or interest. Also called "turning point"21
9965259659colloquialCharacteristic of ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing22
9965259660concessionAn argumentative strategy by which a speaker or writer acknowledges the validity of an opponent's point.23
9965259661conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects; unusual and unlikely comparisons between two things24
9965259662connotationassociations people make with words that go beyond the literal or dictionary definition25
9965259663contextThe parts before or after a word or statement that influence its meaning26
9965259664counter argumentan argument or set of reasons put forward to oppose an idea or theory developed in another argument.27
9965259665cumulative sentencea sentence in which the main independent clause is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases28
9965259666denotationDictionary definition of a word; literal meaning29
9965259667denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot30
9965259668detailThe facts revealed by the author or speaker that support the attitude or tone in a piece of poetry or prose.31
9965259669dictionA writer's or speaker's choice of words32
9965259670elegya mournful, melancholy, or plaintive poem, especially a funeral song or a lament for the dead.33
9965259671ellipsisin a sentence, the omission of a word or words replaced by three periods ...34
9965259672epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society35
9965259673ethosOne of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle. Ethos is basically an appeal to credibility. The writer is seeking to convince you that he or she has the background, history, skills, and/or expertise to speak on the issue.36
9965259674euphemismFrom the Greek for "good speech," euphemisms are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept - POLITICALLY CORRECT37
9965259675expositionBackground information presented in a literary work.38
9965259676hyperboleA figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. (The literal Greek meaning is "overshoot.") Hyperboles often have a comic effect; however, a serious effect is also possible. Often, hyperbole produces irony.39
9965259677imageryuse of words and phrases to create "mental images" for the reader; helps the reader visualize more realistically the author's writings through the usage of metaphors, allusions, descriptive words and similes40
9965259678imperative sentencesgives a command or request; often subject is understood and sentence ends with !41
9965259679inversionA sentence in which the verb precedes the subject.42
9965259680verbal ironySarcasm; what is said is the opposite of what is meant43
9965259681juxtapositionplacing an idea next to its opposite to emphasize contrast and comparison44
9965259682logosAn appeal to reason. Logos is one of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle. It occurs when a writer tries to convince you of the logic of his argument. writers may use inductive argumentation or deductive argumentation, but they clearly have examples and generally rational tome to their language. The problem with logos is that is can appear reasonable until you dissect the argument and then find fallacies that defeat the viability of the argument on the reader's eyes. Of course, that presupposes that the readers is able to identify the fallacies.45
9965259683metaphorA figurative comparison of two unlike things without using the word like or as46
9965259684metonymy(mĕtŏn′ ĭmē) 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; Shakespeare uses it to signify the male and female sexes in As You Like It: "doublet and hose ought to show itself courageous to petticoat." The substituted term generally carries a more potent emotional impact.47
9965259685moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader; using specific diction, description, setting, and characterization to create the atmosphere48
9965259686motifA recurring theme, subject or idea49
9965259687narrativea fiction, nonfiction, poetic, or dramatic story, actual or fictional, expressed orally or in text.50
9965259688non sequiturA statement that does not follow logically from evidence51
9965259689occasionthe time and place a speech is given or a piece is written52
9965259690onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Ex: buzz, hiss, hum, crack, whinny, and murmur.53
9965259691organizationIn a composition, the arrangement of ideas, incidents, evidence, or details in a perceptible order in a paragraph or essay.54
9965259692oxymoronA figure of speech consisting of two apparently contradictory terms; The richest literary oxymora(paradoxes) seem to reveal a deeper truth through their contradictions. Ex: "without laws, we can have no freedom." Shakespeare's Julius Caesar also makes use of a famous oxymoron: "Cowards die many times before their deaths"55
9965259693paceSpeed with which the author delivers the story controlled by language, mood, emotion played out in speech, dialogue, descriptions.56
9965259694parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson57
9965259695paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.58
9965259696parallel structurerepetition of the same pattern of words or phrases within a sentence or passage to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.59
9965259697parodyA humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing60
9965259698pathosAn appeal to emotion. This is one of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle. Typically, pathos arguments may use loaded words to make you feel guilty, lonely, worried, insecure, or confused.61
9965259699personaAn individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.62
9965259700personificationauthor presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions.63
9965259701point of viewPerspective from which a story is told; omniscient point of view= the person telling the story or narrator knows everything that's going on in the story; first- person point of view the narrator is a character in the story; limited third-person point of view the narrator is outside the story- like an omniscient narrator- but tells the story from the vantage point of one character."64
9965259702polemica controversial argument, esp. attacking a particular opinion65
9965259703propagandaA negative term for writing designed to sway opinion rather than present information.66
9965259704prosewritten or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure.67
9965259705purposeOne's intention or objective in a speech or piece of writing.68
9965259706refutationThe part of an argument wherein a speaker or writer anticipates and counters opposing points of view.69
9965259707repetitionRepeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for effect and emphasis70
9965259708rhetoricFrom the Greek for "orator," this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.71
9965259709rhetorical appealsRhetorical techniques used to persuade an audience by emphasizing what they find most important or compelling. The three major appeals are to ethos (character), logos (reason), and pathos (emotion).72
9965259710rhetorical questionA question whose answer is assumed; a rhetorical question is designed to force the reader to respond in a predetermined manner and to propel an argument emotionally.73
9965259711rhetorical triangleA diagram that represents a rhetorical situation as the relationship among the speaker, the subject, and the audience ex:Aristotelian triangle74
9965259712satireA work that reveals a critical attitude toward some element of human behavior by portraying it in an extreme way. It doesn't simply abuse (as in invective) or get personal (as in sarcasm). It targets groups or large concepts rather than individuals.75
9965259713simileA comparison of two things using like or as76
9965259714symbolismAn ordinary object with an extraordinary significance77
9965259715synecdocheA figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole (as hand for sailor), the whole for a part (as the law for police officer), the specific for the general (as cutthroat for assassin), the general for the specific (as thief for pickpocket), or the material for the thing made from it (as steel for sword).78
9965259716syllogismA form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.79
9965259717syntaxLanguage rules that govern how words can be combined to form meaningful phrases and sentences80
9965259718thesisFocus statement of an essay; premise statement upon which the point of view or discussion in the essay is based.81
9965259719toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.82
9965259720transitionA word or phrase that links one idea to the next and carries the reader from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph83
9965259721voiceIn grammar, a term for the relationship between a verb and a noun (active or passive voice). In rhetoric, a distinctive quality in the style and tone of writing.84

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!