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

AP Language Semester 1 Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
5948051095SarcasmInvolves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something. -may use irony Ex: Well, this day was a total waste of makeup.0
5948051096ParodyWork that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect or ridicule. -repreats and borrows words -illuminates weaknesses in original Ex: "Will you Veda much bring me. coke please" imitates Indian accent1
5948051097Periodic sentenceSentence presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end. -is preceded w/ a phrase that cannot stand alone -adds emphasis and structural variety Ex: in spite of heavy snow and cold temperatures, the game continued2
5948051098ProseOne of the major divisions of genre, prose refers to fiction and non-fiction, including all its forms. -natural flow of speech Ex: "The poor are very great people. They can teach us so many beautiful things."3
5948051099Rhetorical modes4 common modes- -exposition: explain and analyze info by presenting an idea -argumentation: prove validity of an idea -description: recreate, invent, or visually present a person, place, event -narration: to tell a story4
5948051100PedanticAdjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic or bookish. Ex: when someone makes a big deal of showering off his/her knowledge or is too concerned w/ literal accuracy or formality5
5948051101PolysyndetonFigure of addition and emphasis which intentionally employs a series of configurations. -effect of multiplicity, energetic enumeration, and building up Ex: "I wore a sweater, a hat, a pair of mittens and boots."6
5948051102LitotesFigure of thought when a point is affirmed by negating its opposite. -double negatives -understatement Ex: he's no fool (he is wise) Ex: not uncommon (frequent)7
5948051103ChiasmusFigure of speech in which 2 successive phrases or clauses are parallel in syntax, but reverse the order of the analogous words Ex: I went to the doctor five days ago. Yes I went to the hospital.8
6027305196SarcasmInvolves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something. -may use irony -can be witty and sinsightful Ex: Well, this day was a total waste of makeup9
6027305197ImageryFigurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions. Ex: He fumed and charged like an angry bull10
6027305198DidacticHas the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles. Ex: We should see the difference between the wise and the politic men in the world11
6027305199HyperboleFigure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or over statement. -produces irony (usually) Ex: I'm so hungry I could eat a bear.12
6027305200NarrativeTelling of a story or an account of an event or series of events. -usually 1st person -a story/anecdote Ex: Animal Farm13
6027305201Figure of SpeechDevice used to produce figurative language. Many compare dissimilar things. Ex: apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, personification14
6027305202AllegoryUsing character/story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction along w/its literal meaning. Ex: Tortoise and the Hare-> strong and steady wins the race15
6027305203EnumeratioFigure of amplification in which a subject is divided into constituent parts or details and may include a listing of causes, effects, problems, solutions, conditions, and consequences. Ex: I I love her eyes, her hair, her checks, her lips.16
6027305204AllusionDirect or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known. -book, myth, etc. Ex: Achilles Heel-> figure in Greek mythology which refers to a persons weakness.17
6027305205ApostropheFigure of speech that addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction jsuch as liberty or love. Ex: Ugh, cell phone, why won't you load? Ex: Oh, Starbucks, how I love you.18
6027305206ExpletiveFigure of emphasis in which a single word or short phrase, usually interrupting normal speech, is used to lend emphasis to words on either side of the expletive. Ex: In fact, Of course, Clearly19
6027305207Figurative LanguageWriting or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid Ex: personification, simile20
6027305208DenotationThe strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion or color. Ex: dove-> type of pigeon21
6027305209InferenceTo draw reasonable conclusion from the information presented Ex: making an inference on a multiple choice question when you don't know the correct answer22
6027305210Extended MetaphorDeveloped at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout the work. Ex: I shall be telling this w/ a sigh someone ages and ages hence: two roads diverged in a wood, and I- I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference.23
6027305211DiacopeRepetition of a word or phrase after an intervening word or phrase. Ex: We will do it, I tell you; we will do it. Ex: The horror! Oh, the horror!24
6027305212OnomatopoeiaNatural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. -figure of speech -expressive Ex: buzz, hiss, hum, crack25
6027305213HomilyCan include any serious talk, speech or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice. -literally means "sermon"26
6027305214MetonymyThe name of one subject is substituted for that of another closely associated w/ it. -figure of speech -substituted term carries more potent emotional response Ex: news release claims "the White House declared" vs "the President declared"27
6027305215Loose SentenceMain idea comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses -often seems informal, relaxed, conversational -creates loose style Ex: Florida is a great vacation spot for families, with Disney World and Universal Studios.28
6027305216AphorismA terse statement of know authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle. Ex: power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely.29
6027305217AnaphoraThe same expression is repeated at the beginning of two or more lines. Ex: To raise a healthy child takes teachers, it takes a family's it takes clergy.30
6027305218AsyndetonConsists of omitting conjunctions between words, phrases, or clause s. Ex: We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship.31
6027305219JuxtapositionWhen 2 words, phrases, images, ideas, are placed close together or side by side for comparison or contrast. -rhetorical effect -to crate suspense Ex: beauty v and ugly Ex: calm and chais32
6027305220EuphemismA more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept. -political correctness to add humor or irony Ex: saying "earthly remains" vs "corpse" Ex: "passed away" vs "dead"33
6027305221InvectiveAn emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attach using strong, abusive language. -denounces a person /topic -used in poetry and prose to reiterate significance of writer's emotions Ex: calling a person a chicken when they're scared.34
6027305222HypophoraFigure of reasoning in which one or more questions are asked and then answered -commonly used to ask a question at the beginning of a paragraph and then use the rest to answer the question35
6027305223ParadoxStatement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity. -contrary to expectations -makes readers rethink ideas Ex: Your enemy's friend is your enemy. Ex: I can resist anything but temptation.36
6027305224ParallelismGrammatical framing of words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs to give structural similarity. -organizing force to attract reader's attention -musical rhythm Ex: like father, like son Ex: Whether in class, at work, or at home, she was always busy.37
6027305225OxymoronAuthor groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox. -figure of speech -often combination of an adjective proceeded by a noun w/ contrasting meanings Ex: cruel kindness Ex: living dead38
6027305226SatireTargets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule. -devices-> irony, wit, caricature, hyperbole, understatement, sarcasm Ex: The Onion39
6027305227SemanticsBranch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words, their historical and physchological development, their connotations, and their relations to one another. Ex: A toy block could be called a block, a cube, a toy. Ex: The word "run" has many meanings-physically running, depart or go, or even a snag in a pair of hose.40
6027305228SyllogismDeductive system of formal logic that presents two premises that inevitably lead to s sound conclusion -conclusion is valid only if each of the two premises is valid Ex: Major premise: All men are mortal. Minor premise: Socrates is a man. Conclusion: Therefore, Socrates is mortal.41
6027305229SymbolismGenerally anything that represents itself and stands for something else. Something concrete-> object, action, character, or scene. -Natural symbols: objects and occurrences from nature to represent ideas commonly associated with them Ex: rose symbolizes love -Conventional symbols: been invested with meaning by a group Ex: religious symbols such as a cross -Literary symbols: found in variety of works and are generally recognized Ex: the whale in Moby Dick42
6027305230SynecdocheType of metaphor when part of something represents the whole or it may use a whole to represent a part. May also use larger groups to refer to smaller groups or vice versa. Ex: The phrase "gray beard" refers to an old man. Ex: The word "suits" refers to businessmen.43
6027305231TransitionWord or phrase that links different ideas. Ex: similarity, on the contrary, likewise44
6027305232ToneDescribes authors attitude toward his material, the audience, or both. Ex: businesslike, humorous , formal, sarcastic45
6027305233UnderstatementIronic minimizing of fact. Presents something less significant than it is. -humorous and emphatic -opposite of hyperbole Ex: San Francisco earthquake interrupted business somewhat in the downtown area.46
6027305234UndertoneAttitude that may lie under the ostensible tone of the piece. Under a cheery surface for example, a work may have threatening undertones. Ex: "The Chimney Sweeper" has a grim undertone.47
6027305235WitIntellectually amazing language that surprises and delights. -humorous, while suggesting the speaker's verbal power in creating ingenious and perceptive remarks -terse language Ex: The Devils Dictionary48
6027305236AlliterationRepetition of sounds, especially initial consonance in tow or more neighboring words. -unifies dead -supply musical sound Ex: Peter piper picked a pickled pepper.49
6027305237AmbiguityMultiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage. Ex: Foreigners are hunting dogs - It is unclear whether dogs were being hunted or foreigners are being spoken of as dogs.50
6027305238AntecedentWord, phrase, or clause referred by a pronoun. Ex: My uncle likes candy. He eats them.51
6027305239AntithesisFigure of balance in which two contrasting ideas are intentionally juxtaposed. -creates definitive and systematic relationship between ideas Ex: Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.52
6027305240AsyndetonOmitting conjunctions between words, phrases or clauses. Can give effect of unpremeditated mulitiplicity, of an extemporaneous rather than a labored account. Ex: They spent the day wondering, searching, thinking, understanding. Ex: On his return he received medals, honors, treasures, titles, fame.53

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!