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AP Language Terms Flashcards

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504178484analogya comparison between things that are alike in some ways0
504178485anaphorathe repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of consecutive lines or sentences1
504178486anecdoteshort account of an amusing or interesting event2
504178487antagonista character or force in conflict with the main character3
504178488antiheroA protagonist who is markedly unheroic: morally weak, cowardly, dishonest, or any number of other unsavory qualities.4
504178489asyndetonLack of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses or words. Example: We brought towels, forks, spoons, dishes.5
504197860bildungsromana type of novel concerned with the education, development, and maturing of a young protagonist6
504197861burlesquea work of literature meant to ridicule a subject; a grotesque imitation7
504197862colloquialisma local or regional dialect expression; slang or informal speech. Example: What's up?8
504197863conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects.9
504197864denouementthe outcome of a complex sequence of events10
504197865dialectA regional variety of a language distinguished by vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation11
504197866dramatic monologuea poem in which a speaker addresses a silent listener12
504197867dynamic characterA character who grows, learns, or changes as a result of the story's action13
504197868dystopiaa society characterized by human misery, as indicated through squalor, oppression, disease, and overcrowding14
504197869elisionDropping a sound or syllable in a word; for example, o'er for over; e're for ever15
504197870epiphanya moment of sudden revelation or insight16
504197871ethosa speaker's or character's respectability, trustworthiness, and moral character; credibility17
504197872euphemisman indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant ("passed away" instead of died; "senior citizens" instead of old people)18
504197873extended metaphora comparison between two unlike things that continues throughout a series of sentences in a paragraph or lines in a poem19
504197874farcea comedy characterized by broad satire and improbable situations20
504197875flat charactera character who embodies a single quality and who does not develop in the course of a story21
504197876foila character who sets off another character by contrast22
504197877idioma group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words (It's raining cats and dogs.)23
504197878interior monologuea narrative technique that records a character's internal flow of thoughts, memories, and ideas24
504203682litotesunderstatement that makes a positive statement by using a negative opposite (describing a particularly horrific scene by saying, "It was not a pretty picture.")25
504203683loose sentencea complex sentence in which the main clause comes first and the subordinate clause follows (I didn't go running because it was raining.)26
504203684periodic sentencea complex sentence in which the main clause comes last and is preceded by the subordinate clause (Because it was raining, I didn't go running.)27
504203685malapropismthe misuse of a word, especially when unintentional, with comic effect; "Texas has a lot of electrical (electoral) votes." Yogi Berra28
504203686motifthe repetition or variations of an image or idea in a work used to develop theme or characters29
504203687parablea simple story that illustrates a moral or religious lesson30
504223664mock epicA work of literature that applies the characteristics and conventions of epic poetry to trivial subject matter for the sake of humor, irony, parody, or satire.31
504223665odea lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exalted feelings toward the subject32
504223666pastorala literary work idealizing the rural life (especially the life of shepherds)33
504223667prosodythe study of sound and rhythm in poetry34
504223668pathosquality in drama, speech, literature, music, or events that arouses a feeling of pity or sadness35
504223669logosan appeal based on logic or reason36
504223670Utopian literatureliterature describing an ideally perfect place or ideal society.37
506246195cause and effectthis type of essay analyzes why an event occurred and/or trace its consequences38
506246196classificationa strategy of exposition that places an object or person within a group of similar objects and then focuses on the characteristics distinguishing it from others in the group39
506246197clicheexpression or idea that is stale from overuse (Opposites attract... As old as the hills... Time heals all wounds... Sent a shiver down my spine...)40
506246198concretedefinite, particular, capable of being perceived directly41
506246199deductiona form of logical reasoning or explaining that proceeds from general premises to specific conclusions42
506246200definitiona strategy of expository writing that gives the essential meaning of something43
506246201descriptionmode of writing that appeals to the senses44
506246202expositiona type of writing that is informative; it explains or gives directions45
506246203inductiona form of logical reasoning or explanation that proceeds from specific examples to general principles46
506246204narrationmode of writing which provides an account of actions and events that have befallen someone or something47
506246205process analysisa form of expository writing that breaks a process into its component operations or that gives directions48
506246206rhetoricthe art of using language effectively in speech and in writing49
517978779bathosinsincere or overly sentimental pathos50
517978780picaresqueepisodic adventures of a protagonist who is usually a rascal51
517978781regionalismLiterature that emphasizes a specific geographic setting and that reproduces the speech, behavior, and attitudes of the people who live in that region.52
517978782unreliable narratora narrator whose account of events appears to be faulty, misleadingly biased, or otherwise distorted53
517978783reliable narratorA believable, trustworthy commentator on events and characters in a story.54
5045194263polysyndetonrepetition of conjunctions in close succession (Example: We have ships and men and money and time and experience on our side.)55

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