13998601235 | Allusion | A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. They can be historical, literary, religious, cultural, or mythical. | ![]() | 0 |
13998601237 | Analogy | A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them. It can explain something unfamiliar by associating it with or pointing out its similarity to something more familiar. They can also make writing more vivid, imaginative, or intellectually engaging. | ![]() | 1 |
13998601238 | Anaphora | One of the devices of repetition, in which the same expression (word or words) is repeated at the beginning of two or more lines, clauses, or sentences. | ![]() | 2 |
13998601239 | Anecdote | A short narrative detailing particulars of an interesting episode or event. The term most frequently refers to an incident in the life of a person | ![]() | 3 |
13998601240 | Antecedent (an-tuh-seed-nt) | The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun. The AP Language exam occasionally asks for this in a long, complex sentence or in a group of sentences. | ![]() | 4 |
13998601241 | Antithesis (an-tih-theh-sis) | Figure of speech in which an opposition or contrast of ideas is expressed by parallelism of words that are the opposites of, or strongly contrasted with, each other, such as "hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins". | ![]() | 5 |
13998601245 | Chiasmus (kahy-az-muhs) | Figure of speech in which two successive phrases or clauses are parallel in syntax, but reverse the order of the analogous words. Example: "Let us never negotiate out of fear, but let us never fear to negotiate." (JFK) | ![]() | 6 |
13998601246 | Clause | a grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb. An independent one expresses a complete thought and can sand alone as a sentence. A dependent one cannot stand alone as a sentence and must be accompanied by an independent one. The point that you want to consider is the question of what or why the author subordinates one element to the other. | ![]() | 7 |
13998601248 | Connotation | The nonliteral, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning. | ![]() | 8 |
13998601249 | Denotation | The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion attitude, or color. | ![]() | 9 |
13998601250 | Diction | This 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 this (for example, formal or informal, ornate or plain) and understand the ways in which it can complement the author's purpose. | ![]() | 10 |
13998601252 | Extended metaphor | A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout the work. | ![]() | 11 |
13998601253 | Figurative language | Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid. | ![]() | 12 |
13998601254 | Hyperbole (hahy-pur-buh-lee) | A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. They often have a comic effect; however, a serious effect is also possible. Often, it produces irony. | ![]() | 13 |
13998601255 | Imagery | The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions. On a physical level, it uses terms related to the five senses. | ![]() | 14 |
13998601256 | Irony/ironic | The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant. The difference between what appears to be and what actually is true. | ![]() | 15 |
13998601257 | Metaphor | A figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity. It makes writing more vivid, imaginative, thought provoking, and meaningful. | ![]() | 16 |
13998601259 | Paradox | A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity. | ![]() | 17 |
13998601260 | Parallelism | Grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity. A famous example of parallelism begins Charles Dickens's 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 . . ." | ![]() | 18 |
13998601265 | Repetition | The duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern. | ![]() | 19 |
13998601266 | Rhetoric | From the Greek for "orator," this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively. | 20 | |
13998601267 | Rhetorical Question | a question asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to make a point | ![]() | 21 |
13998601268 | Sarcasm | Bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something. It may use irony is a device, but not all ironic statements are _____________, that is, intended to ridicule. When well done, it can be witty and insightful; when done poorly, it's simply cruel. | ![]() | 22 |
13998601269 | Satire | A work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule. | ![]() | 23 |
13998601270 | Syllogism (sil- uh-jiz-uhm) | 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; | ![]() | 24 |
13998601271 | Symbol/symbolism | Generally, anything that represents itself and stands for something else. | ![]() | 25 |
13998601273 | Syntax | The way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences. Similar to diction, but this refers to the groups of words, while diction refers to the individual words. | ![]() | 26 |
13998601274 | Theme | The central idea or message of a work, the insight it offers into life. Usually unstated in fictional works, but in nonfiction, it may be directly stated, especially in expository or argumentative writing. | ![]() | 27 |
13998601275 | Thesis | The sentence or a group of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or position. Writing is usually judged by analyzing how accurately, effectively, and thoroughly a writer has proved this point. | ![]() | 28 |
13998601276 | Tone | Describes the author's attitude toward his/her material, the audience, or both. Considering how a work would sound if it were read aloud can help in identifying it. Some words describing it are playful, serious, businesslike, sarcastic, humorous, formal, ornate, sardonic, and somber | ![]() | 29 |
13998601277 | Utilitarianism | idea that the goal of society should be to bring about the greatest happiness for the greatest number of people | 30 | |
13998601278 | Machiavelli | Renaissance writer; formerly a politician, wrote The Prince, a work on ethics and government, describing how rulers maintain power by methods that ignore right or wrong; accepted the philosophy that "the end justifies the means." Also known for the idea that "It is better to be feared than loved, if you cannot be both" (especially for leaders). | 31 | |
13998601279 | Ring of Gyges | Illustration in Plato's Republic. The ring granted one the power to become invisible at will. Glaucon asserts that no person would act morally if there was no fear of being caught or punished. | 32 | |
13998601280 | David Hume | "Of the Dignity or Meanness of Human Nature" Discusses the question: Are people inherently good or evil? Ultimately answers that self-love (not selfishness) caring about virtue are virtuous. | 33 | |
13998601281 | Nietzsche's "slave morality" | Based on empathy and compassion; concerned with "good vs. evil" In aristocratic society, this keeps lower classes oppressed because their morality keeps them from gaining power | 34 | |
13998601282 | Nietzche's "master morality" | Based on attaining success; concerned with "good vs. bad (lesser)" Those with master morality are able to gain and maintain power over those with slave morality. | 35 | |
13998601283 | cultural relativism | the practice of judging a culture by its own standards; the idea that culture determines morality; instead of "good vs. bad/evil," there is "normal vs. abnormal" within a society. | 36 | |
13998601284 | Ethics | How we determine what is right or wrong | 37 | |
13998601285 | Allegory of the Cave | An extended metaphor created by Plato in The Republic. It describes a group of prisoners in a cave, chained so their backs are to the entrance. They believe that the shadows (sensed reality) before them are reality, until someone manages to get free, turn around and see the source of the shadows (the real world, which can only be experienced intellectually). Represents the effect of education and the lack of it on our nature. | 38 | |
13998601286 | A Modest Proposal | An essay by JONATHAN SWIFT, often called a masterpiece of irony. "A modest proposal for preventing the children of the poor people in Ireland from being a burden to their parents or country, and for making them beneficial to their public." Swift emphasizes the terrible poverty of the 18th century Ireland by ironically proposing that Irish parents earn money by selling their children as food. | 39 |
AP Language Review 2019 Flashcards
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