Terms : Hide Images
| 14531221450 | Allegory | The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. In some an author may intend the characters to personify an abstraction lie hope or freedom. The ___meaning usually deals with moral truth or a generalization about human existence. A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one. | 0 | |
| 14531221451 | Alliteration | The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonants in tow or more neighboring words (as in "she sells sea shells). Although the term is not used frequently in the multiple-choice section, you can look for it in any essay passage. The repetition can reinforce meaning, unify ideas, supply a musical sound, and/or echo the sense of the passage. | 1 | |
| 14531221452 | Allusion | A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. can be historical, literary, religious, topical, or mythical. There are many more possibilities, and a work may simultaneously use multiple layers |  | 2 |
| 14531221453 | Ambiguity | The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage. | 3 | |
| 14531453666 | Anadiplosis | repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause. "Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate" | 4 | |
| 14531221454 | Analogy | A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them. explain something unfamiliar by associating it with or pointing out its similarity to something more familiar. make writing more vivid, imaginative, or intellectually engaging. Ex. He that voluntarily continues ignorance is guilty of all the crimes which ignorance produces, as to him | 5 | |
| 14531221455 | 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. | 6 | |
| 14531453667 | antecedent | The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun. | 7 | |
| 14531221459 | Aphorism | A terse statement of know authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle. (If the authorship is unknown, the statement is generally considered to be a folk proverb.) can be a memorable summation of the author's point. | 8 | |
| 14531221460 | Apostrophe | A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. It is an address to someone or something that cannot answer. The effect is to give vent to or display intense emotion, which can no longer be held back: | 9 | |
| 14531221461 | Asyndeton (uh-sin-di-tuhn) | consists of omitting conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses. This can give the effect of unpremeditated multiplicity, of an extemporaneous rather than a labored account. lists can be more emphatic than if a final conjunction were used. | 10 | |
| 14531221462 | Atmosphere | The 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 described. Even such elements as description of the weather can contribute. Frequently forshadows events. Perhaps it can create a mood. | 11 | |
| 14531221463 | Chiasmus (kahy-az-muhs) | (From the Greek word for "criss-cross," a designation baed on the Greek letter "chi," written X). is a figure of speech in which two successive phrases or clauses are parallel in syntax, but reverse the order of the analogous words. | 12 | |
| 14531221464 | Clause | a grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb. An independent, or main, expresses a complete thought and can sand alone as a sentence. A dependent, or subordinate cannot stand alone as a sentence and must be accompanied by an independent clause. The point that you want to consider is the question of what or why the author subordinates one element to the other. | 13 | |
| 14531221465 | Colloquial/colloquialism (kuj-loh-kwee-uhl) | The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing. Not generally acceptable for formal writing, give a work a conversational, familiar tone. expressions in writing include local or regional dialects. | 14 | |
| 14531221466 | Coherence | A principle demanding that the parts of any composition be arranged so that the meaning of the whole may be immediately clear and intelligible. Words, phrases, clauses within the sentence; and sentences, paragraphs, and chpters in larger pieces of writing are the unit that by their progressive and logical arrangement, make for coherence. | 15 | |
| 14531221467 | Conceit | A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects. displays intellectual cleverness as a result of the unusual comparison being made. | 16 | |
| 14531221468 | Connotation | - The nonliteral, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning. may involve ideas, emotions, or attitudes. | 17 | |
| 14531221469 | Denotation | The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion attitude, or color. | 18 | |
| 14531221471 | Diction | Related to style, d 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 an author's (for example, formal or informal, ornate or plain) and understand the ways in which can complement the author's purpose.combined with syntax, figurative language, literary devices, etc., creates an author's style. | 19 | |
| 14531221472 | Didactic (dahy-dak-tik) | From the Greek, literally means "teaching." have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles. | 20 | |
| 14531221475 | Euphemism (yoo-fuh-miz-uhm) | From the Greek for "good speech,"more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept. The may be used to adhere to standards of social or political correctness or to add humor or ironic understatement. | 21 | |
| 14531221476 | Exposition | In essays, one of the four chief types of composition, the others being argumentation, description, and narration. The purpose of is to explain something. In drama, it is the introductory material, which creates the tone, gives the setting, and introduces the characters and conflict. | 22 | |
| 14531221477 | Extended metaphor | A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout the work. | 23 | |
| 14531221478 | Figurative language | - Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid. | 24 | |
| 14531221479 | Figure of speech | A device used to produce figurate language. Many compare dissimilar things. include apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, metonymy, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, synecdoche, and understatement. | 25 | |
| 14531221480 | Generic conventions | This term describes traditions for each genre. These conventions help to define each genre; for example, they differentiate an essay and journalistic writing or an autobiography and political writing. On the AP language exam, try to distinguish the unique features of a writer's work from those dictated by convention. | 26 | |
| 14531221481 | Genre | The major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions of literature are prose, poetry, and drama. is a flexible term; within these broad boundaries exist many subdivisions. For example, prose can be divided into fiction (novels and short stories) or nonfiction (essays, biographies, autobiographies, etc). Poetry can be divided into lyric, dramatic, narrative, epic, etc. Drama can be divided into tragedy, comedy, melodrama, farce, etc. ON the AP language exam, expect the majority of the passages to be from the following genres: autobiography, biography, diaries, criticism, essays, and journalistic, political, scientific, and nature writing. | 27 | |
| 14531221482 | Homily | This term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice. | 28 | |
| 14531221483 | Hyperbole (hahy-pur-buh-lee) | A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. Often, produces irony. | 29 | |
| 14531221485 | Imagery | The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions. On a physical level, uses terms related to the five senses; we refer to visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory, or olfactory imagery. On a broader and deeper level, however, one image can represent more than one thing. For example, a rose may present visual while also representing the color in a woman's cheeks and/or symbolizing some degree of perfection (It is the highest flower on the Great Chain of Being). An author may use complex while simultaneously employing other figure s of speech, especially metaphor and simile. In addition, this term can apply to the total of all the images in a work. ON the AP exam, pay attention to how an author creates imagery and to the effect of this imagery. | 30 | |
| 14531221486 | Inference/infer | To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented. When a multiple-choice question ask to be drawn from a passage, the most direct, most reasonable is the safest answer choice. If an inference is implausible, it's unlikely to be the correct answer. Note that if the answer choice is directly stated, it is not inferred and is wrong. You must be careful to note the connotation - negative or positive - of the choices. | 31 | |
| 14531221487 | Invective | an emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attach using strong, abusive language. | 32 | |
| 14531221488 | 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. In general, there are three major types (1) In a verbal the words literally state the opposite of the writer's (or speaker's) true meaning. (2) In situational events turn out the opposite of what was expected. What the characters and the readers think ought to happen. (3) In dramatic, facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or piece of fiction, but know to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work. frequently, it's used to create poignancy or humor. | 33 | |
| 14531221489 | Juxtaposition | When two words, phrases, images, ideas are placed close together or side by side for comparison or contrast. | 34 | |
| 14531221490 | Litotes (lahy-toh-teez) | From the Greek word "simple" or "plain." a figure of thought in which a point is affirmed by negating its opposite. It is a special form of understatement, where the surface denial serves, through ironic contrast, to reinforce the underlying assertion. | 35 | |
| 14531221491 | Loose sentence | a type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by wdependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses. If a period were placed at the end of the independent clause, the clause would be a complete sentence. A work containing many often seems informal, relaxed, | 36 | |
| 14531221492 | Metaphor | A figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity. makes writing more vivid, imaginative, thought provoking, and meaningful. | 37 | |
| 14531221493 | Metonymy (mi-ton-uh-mee) | A term from the Greek meaning "changed label" or "substitute name." figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it. A news release that claims "the White House declared" rather that "the President declared". The substituted term generally carries a more potent emotional response. | 38 | |
| 14531221494 | Mood | This term has two distinct technical meanings in English writing. The first meaning is grammatical and eals with verbal units and a speaker's attitude. The indicative is used only for facts. The subjective is used to express conditions contrary to fact. For example, "If I were you, I'd get another job." The imperative is used for commands. For example, "Shut the door!" The second meaning is literary, meaning the prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work. | 39 | |
| 14531221495 | Narrative | The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events. | 40 | |
| 14531221496 | Onomatopoeia | A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Simple examples include such words as buzz, hiss, hum, crack, whinny, and murmur. | 41 | |
| 14531221497 | Oxymoron | From the Greek for "pointedly foolish," a figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox. Simple examples include "jumbo shrimp" and "cruel kindness." | 42 | |
| 14531221498 | 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. | 43 | |
| 14531221499 | Parallelism | Also referred to as parallel construction or parallel structure, this term comes from Greek roots meaning "beside one another." It refers to the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity. This can involve, but is not limited to repetition of a grammatical element such as a preposition or verbal phrase. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness. ." The effects attract the reader's attention, add emphasis and organization, or simply provide a musical rhythm. | 44 | |
| 14531221500 | Parody | A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule. As comedy, distorts or exaggerated distinctive features of the original. As ridicule, it mimics the work by repeating and borrowing words, phrases, or characteristics in order to illuminate weaknesses in the original. Well-written offers enlightenment about the original. Usually an audience must grasp literary allusion and understand the work in order to fully appreciate the nuances | 45 | |
| 14531221501 | Pedantic | An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish. | 46 | |
| 14531221502 | Periodic sentence | A 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 alone. For example: "Ecstatic with my AP score, I let out a loud, joyful shout!" The effect is to add emphasis and structural variety. It is also a much stronger sentence than the loose sentence. | 47 | |
| 14531221503 | Personification | A figure of speech in which the author presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions. used to make these abstractions, animal, or objects appear more vivid to the reader. | 48 | |
| 14531485851 | Point of view | the perspective of which the story is told | 49 | |
| 14531221504 | Polysyndeton (paulee-sin-dih-tawn) | Figure of addition and emphasis which intentionally employs a series of conjunctions (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) not normally found in successive words, phrases or clauses; the deliberate and excessive use of conjunctions in successive words or clauses. The effect is a feeling of multiplicity, energetic enumeration, and building up - a persistence or intensity. | 50 | |
| 14531221507 | Prose | One of the major divisions of genre, fiction and non-fiction, including all its forms. printer determines the length of the line; in poetry, the poet determines the length of the line | 51 | |
| 14531221508 | Repetition | The duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern. | 52 | |
| 14531485852 | Rhetor | The speaker who uses elements of rhetoric effectively in oral or written test. | 53 | |
| 14531221509 | Rhetoric | From the Greek for "orator," this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively. | 54 | |
| 14531221510 | Rhetorical modes | This flexible term describes the variety, the conventions, and purposes of the major kinds of writing. The four most common and their purposes are as follows: (1) The purpose of exposition (or expository writing) is to explain and analyze information by presenting an idea, relevant evidence, and appropriate discussion. (2) The purpose of argumentation is to prove the validity of an idea, or point of view, by presenting sound reasoning, discussion, and argument that thoroughly convince the reader. Persuasive writing is a type of argumentation having an additional aim of urging some form of action. (3) The purpose of description is to re-create, invent, or visually present a person, place, event or action so that the reader can picture that being described. Sometimes an author engages all five senses in description; Descriptive writing may be straightforward and objective or highly emotional and subjective. (4) The purpose of narration is to tell a story or narrate an event or series of events. This writing mode frequently uses the tools of descriptive writing. These four modes are sometimes referred to as mode of discourse. |  | 55 |
| 14531221511 | Rhetorical Question | A question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer | 56 | |
| 14531221512 | Sarcasm | From the Greek meaning "to tear flesh," involves 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, can be witty and insightful; when done poorly, it's simply cruel | 57 | |
| 14531221513 | Satire | A work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule. Regardless of whether or not the work aims to reform human behavior, seen as a style of writing rather than a purpose for writing. It can be recognized by the many devices: irony, wit, parody, caricature, hyperbole, understatement, and sarcasm. The effects of varied, depending on the writer's goal,often humorous, is thought provoking and insightful about the human condition. | 58 | |
| 14531221514 | Semantics | The branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words, their historical and psychological development, their connotations, and their relation to one another | 59 | |
| 14531221515 | Style | two purposes: (1) An evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices. Some authors' are so idiosyncratic that we can quickly recognize works by the same author (or a writer emulating that author's)/ flowery, explicit, succinct, rambling, bombastic, commonplace, incisive, or laconic, (2) Classification of authors to a group and comparison of an author to similar authors. reflects and helps to define a historical period, such as the Renaissance of the Victorian period, or a literary movement, such as the romantic, transcendental or realist movement. | 60 | |
| 14531221517 | Subordinate clause | this clause cannot stand alone; it does not express a complete thought. Also called a dependent clause, depends on a main clause to complete its meaning. key words and phrases : although, because, unless, if even though, since, as soon as, while who, when , where, how and that. | 61 | |
| 14531221518 | Syllogism (sil- uh-jiz-uhm) | From the Greek for "reckoning together, " a syllogism (or syllogistic-reasoning or syllogistic logic is 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; | 62 | |
| 14531221519 | Symbol/symbolism | Generally, anything that represents itself and stands for something else. Usually something concrete - such as object, action, character, or scene - that represents something more abstract. (1) Natural symbols are objects and occurrences from nature to represent ideas commonly associated with them (dawn- hope or a new beginning, a rose- love). 2) Conventional symbols are those that have been invested with meaning by a group (religious such as a cross; national, group, such as a skull an crossbones for pirates). (3) Literary symbols are sometimes also conventional in the sense that they are found in a variety of works and are generally recognized. | 63 | |
| 14531221520 | Synecdoche (si-nek-duh-kee) | is a type of metaphor in which the part stands for the whole (car- wheels) | 64 | |
| 14531221521 | Syntax | The way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences. Syntax is similar to diction, but you can differentiate them by thinking of syntax as the groups of words, while diction refers to the individual words. | 65 | |
| 14531221522 | Theme | The central idea or message of a work, the insight it offers into life. Usually theme is unstated in fictional works, but in nonfiction, the theme may be directly stated, especially in exposityr or argumentative writing. | 66 | |
| 14531221523 | Thesis | the sentence or a group of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or position. Expository writing is usually judged by analyzing how accurately, effectively, and thoroughly a writer has proved the _____ | 67 | |
| 14531221524 | Tone | Similar to mood describes the author's attitude toward his material, the audience, or both. is easier to determine in spoken language than in written language. Considering how a work would sound if it were read aloud can help in identifying. Some words are playful, serious, businesslike, sarcastic, humorous, formal, ornate, sardonic, and somber | 68 | |
| 14531221525 | Transition | A word or phrase that links different ideas. Used especially, although not exclusively, in expository and argumentative writing, signal a shift from one idea to another. A few commonly used words or phrases are furthermore, consequently, nevertheless, for example, in addition, likewise, similarly and on the contrary. | 69 | |
| 14531667211 | Trope | an artful variation from expected modes of expression of thoughts and ideas. Figure of speech involving a turn or change in sense. ( metaphor irony hyperbole | 70 | |
| 14531221526 | Understatement | The ironic minimizing of fact, presents something as less significant than it is. The effect can frequently be humorous and emphatic. is the opposite of hyperbole. | 71 | |
| 14531221528 | Wit | intellectually amazing language that surprises and delights. humorous, while suggesting the speaker's verbal power in creating ingenious and perceptive remarks. uses terse language that makes a pointed statement. Historically, originally meant basic understanding. Its meaning evolved to include speed of understanding, and finally (in the early seventeenth century), it grew to mean quick perception including creative fancy and a quick tongue to articulate an answer that demanded the same quick perception. | 72 | |
| 14531453668 | As hominem argument | an argument attacking an individual's character rather than his or her position on an issue | 73 | |
| 14531667212 | Zeugma | a trope, one word (usually a noun or main verb) governs two other words not related in meaning. "He maintained a business and his innocence." | 74 |
