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AP language terms Flashcards

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3726204491absolute a word free from limitations or qualifications0
3726204493adage a familiar proverb or wise saying1
3726204495ad hominem argument attacking a character rather than their position2
3726204497allegory literary work where characters, objects, or actions represent abstractions (an extended metaphor)3
3726204499alliteration the repetition of initial sounds in successive or neighboring words4
3726204501allusion a reference to something literary, mythological, or historical that the author assumes the reader knows5
3726204505anaphora the repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of consecutive lines or sentences6
3726204507anecdote a brief narrative that focuses on a particular incident or event7
3726204509antecedent the word, phrase or clause to which a pronoun refers8
3726204511antithesis a statement in which two opposing ideas are balanced in parallel structure9
3726204513aphorism a concise statement that expresses succinctly a general truth or idea, often using rhyme or balance10
3726204515apostrophe a figure of speech in which one directly addresses an absent or imaginary person, or some abstraction11
3726204517archetype a detail, image, or character type that occurs frequently in literature and myth12
3726204519argument a statement of the meaning or main point of a literary work13
3726204521asyndeton a construction in which elements are presented in a series without conjunctions14
3726204523balanced sentence a sentence in which words, phrases, or clauses are set off against each other to emphasize contrast15
3726204525chiasmus a statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is structurally reversed16
3726204527cliché an expression that has been overused to the extent that its freshness has worn off17
3726204529colloquialism informal words or expressions not usually acceptable in formal writing a word free from limitations or qualifications18
3726204531complex sentence a sentence with one independent clause and at least one dependent clause19
3726204533compound sentence a sentence with two or more coordinate independent clauses, often joined by one or more conjunctions20
3726204535conceit a fanciful, particularly clever extended metaphor21
3726204537concrete details details that relate to or describe actual, specific things or events22
3726204539connotation the implied or associative meaning of a word23
3726204541cumulative sentence a sentence in which the main independent clause is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrase24
3726204543declarative sentence a sentence that makes a statement or declaration25
3726204545deductive reasoning when a conclusion is reached by stating a general principle and the applying that principle to a specific case26
3726204547denotation the literal meaning of a word27
3726204549dialect a variety of speech characterized by its own particular grammar or pronunciation, often associated with a particular geographical region28
3726204551dialogue conversation between two or more people29
3726204553diction the word choices made by a writer30
3726204555didactic having the primary purpose of teaching or instructing31
3726204557dissonance harsh, inharmonious, or discordant sounds32
3726204559ellipsis the omission of a word or phrase which is grammatically necessary but can be removed from the sentence33
3726204561epigram a brief, pithy, and often paradoxical saying34
3726204563epigraph a saying or statement on the title of a work, or used as a heading for a chapter or other section of a work35
3726204565eulogy a formal speech praising a person who has died36
3726204567euphemism an indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant37
3726204569exclamatory sentence a sentence expressing strong feeling, usually punctuated with an exclamation mark38
3726204571expletive an interjection to lend emphasis, sometimes, a profanity39
3726204573figurative language language employing one or more figures of speech (simile, metaphor, imagery, etc.)40
3726204575genre a major category or type of literature41
3726204577homily a sermon, or a moralistic lecture42
3726204579hyperbole intentional exaggeration to create an effect43
3726204581hypothetical question a question that raises a hypothesis and, conjecture, or supposition44
3726204583idiom an expression in a given language that cannot be understood from the literal meaning of the words in the expression45
3726204585imagery the use of figures of speech to create vivid images that appeal to one of the senses46
3726204587implication a conclusion one draws based on premises or evidence47
3726204589inductive reasoning deriving general principles from particular facts or instances48
3726204591inference a suggestion an author or speaker makes without stating it directly49
3726204593invective an intensely vehement, highly emotional verbal attack50
3726204595irony incongruity between what is expected and what actually occurs51
3726204597jargon the specialized language or vocabulary of a particular group or profession52
3726204599juxtaposition placing two elements side by side to present a comparison or contrast53
3726204601litotes a type of understatement in which an idea is expressed by negating its opposite54
3726204603malapropism the mistaken substitution of one word for another55
3726204605maxim a concise statement, often offering advice; an adage56
3726204607metaphor a direct comparison of two different things57
3726204609metonymy substituting the name of one object for another object closely associated with it58
3726204611mood the emotional atmosphere of a work59
3726204613motif a standard theme, element, or dramatic situation that recurs in various works60
3726204614narrative a story or narrated account61
3726204615narrator the one who tells the story; may be first- or third-person, limited or omniscient62
3726204616non sequitur an inference that does not follow logically from the premises63
3726204617onomatopoeia a word formed from the imitation of natural sounds64
3726204618oxymoron an expression in which two words that contradict each other are joined65
3726204619parable a simple story that illustrates a moral or religious lesson66
3726204620paradox an apparently contradictory statement that actually contains some truth67
3726204621parallelism the use of corresponding grammatical or syntactical forms68
3726223683propigandapersuasion techniques69
3726204622paraphrase a restatement of a text in a different form or in different words, often for the purpose of clarity70
3726204623parody a humorous imitation of a serious work71
3726204624parenthetical a comment that interrupts the immediate subject, often to qualify or explain72
3726204625pathos the quality of a work that prompts the reader to feel emotion73
3726204626pedantic characterized by an excessive display of learning or scholarship74
3726204627personification endowing non-human objects or creatures with human qualities or characteristics75
3726204628point of view the vantage point from which a story is told76
3726204629polysyndeton the use, for rhetorical effect, of more conjunctions than is necessary or natural77
3726204630pun a play on words, often achieved through the use of words with similar sounds but different meanings78
3726204631rhetoric the art of presenting ideas in a clear, effective, and persuasive manner79
3726204632rhetorical question a question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer80
3726204633rhetorical devices literary techniques used to heighten the effectiveness of expression81
3726204634riddle a question requiring thought to answer or understand82
3726204635sarcasm harsh, cutting language or tone intended to ridicule83
3726204636satire the use of humor to emphasize human weaknesses or imperfections in social institutions84
3726204637simile a comparison of two things using like, as or other specifically comparative words85
3726204638simple sentence a sentence consisting of one independent clause and no dependent clause86
3726204639structure the arrangement or framework of a sentence, paragraph, or entire work87
3726204640style the combination of distinctive features of a literary work88
3726204641syllogism a three part deductive argument in which a conclusion is based on a major premise and a minor premise89
3726204642symbol an object that is used to represent something else90
3726204643synecdoche using one part of an object to represent the entire object91
3726204644syntax the manner in which words are arranged into sentences92
3726204645theme a central idea of a work93
3726204646thesis the primary position taken by a writer or speaker94
3726204647tone the attitude of a writer, usually implied, toward the subject or audience95
3726204648trite overused and hackneyed96
3726204649understatement the deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; a deliberate under-emphasis97
3726204650usage the customary way language or its elements are used98
3726204651vernacular the everyday speech of a particular country or region, often involving nonstandard usage99

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