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AP Language Terms Flashcards

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4828942450AllegoryA story in which people, things, and actions represent an idea or generalization about life, often have a strong moral or lesson.0
4828943689AlliterationIt is a stylistic device in which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series.1
4828944471AllusionA brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.2
4828949192AmbiguityAn event or situation that may be interpreted in more than one way.3
4828949193AnalogyA comparison of two different things that are similar in some way4
4828950148AnaphoraThe use of a word referring to or replacing a word used earlier in a sentence, to avoid repetition5
4828950149AntecedentThe word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.6
4828952972AphorismA brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.7
4828954650ApostropheA figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.8
4828956249AtmosphereThe emotional tone or background that surrounds a scene9
4828956250ClauseA grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb.10
4828961392Colloquial/ColloquialismA word or phrase that is not formal or literary, typically one used in ordinary or familiar conversation.11
4828962332CoherenceA principle demanding that the parts of any composition be arranged so that the meaning of the whole may be immediately clear and intelligible.12
4828963403ConceitA fanciful expression in writing or speech; an elaborate metaphor.13
4828963404ConnotationAn idea or feeling that a word invokes for a person in addition to its literal or primary meaning.14
4828971748DenotationLiteral meaning of a word15
4828971749DictionA writer's or speaker's choice of words16
4828972657DidacticA term used to describe fiction or nonfiction that teaches a specific lesson or moral or provides a model of correct behavior or thinking.17
4828973261EuphemismA polite or vague word or phrase used to replace another word or phrase that is thought of as too direct or rude.18
4828976884ExpositionA narrative device, often used at the beginning of a work that provides necessary background information about the characters and their circumstances.19
4828977078Extended MetaphorA metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work.20
4828979007Figurative LanguageA form of language use in which writers and speakers convey something other than the literal meaning of their words.21
4828988454Figure of SpeechA device used to produce figurative language. Many compare dissimilar things. Figures of speech include apotrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, syneddoche, and understatement22
4828991214Generic ConventionsDescribes traditions for each genre. these conventions help to define each genre, for example, they differentiate between an essay and journalistic writing or an autobiography and political writing.23
4828991215GenreA category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.24
4828991852HomilyThis term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.25
4829010074HyperboleA figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor26
4829010693ImageryDescription that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)27
4829011541Inference/InferTo draw reasonable conclusions from the information presented.28
4829011542InvectiveAn emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.29
4829012568Irony/IronicThe contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant; the difference between what appears to be and what actually is true.[three major types include: verbal, situational and dramatic].30
4829013063Loose SentenceA complex sentence in which the main clause comes first and the subordinate clause follows31
4829017315MetaphorA comparison that establishes a figurative identity between objects being compared. Not using like or as.32
4829017913MetonymyA term from the Greek meaning "changed label" or "substitute name," a figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.33
4829017923MoodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader34
4829018929NarrativeThe telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events.35
4829020002OnomatopoeiaA word that imitates the sound it represents.36
4829021344OxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.37
4829022930ParadoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.38
4829023914ParallelismPhrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other39
4829023915ParodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.40
4829024859PedanticAn adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.41
4829026050Periodic SentenceThe opposite of loose 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. The effect of a periodic sentence is to add emphasis and structural variety. It is also a much stronger sentence than the loose sentence.42
4829026051PersonificationA figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes43
4829027494Point of ViewThe perspective from which a story is told44
4829028405Predicate AdjectiveAn adjective that follows a linking verb and describes the subject45
4829030456Predicate NominativeA noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb and renames or identifies the subject46
4829030457ProseAny writing that is not poetry47
4829031366RepetitionRepeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for effect and emphasis48
4829032246RhetoricThe art of using language effectively and persuasively49
4829036112Rhetorical ModesThis flexible term describes the variety, the conventions, and the purposes of the major kinds of writing. The four most common rhetorical modes (often referred to as "modes of discourse") 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 (3) The purpose of description is to recreate, invent, or visually present a person, place, event or action so that the reader can picture that being described. (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.50
4829036113SarcasmA mocking, often ironic or satirical remark.51
4829036925SatireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct52
4829036926SemanticsThe branch of linguistics that studies the meanings of words, their historical and psychological development, their connotations, and their relation to one another.53
4829037767StyleAn evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices.54
4829038751Subject ComplementThe word or clause that follows a linking verb and complements, or completes, the subject of the sentence by either (1) renaming it (the predicate nominative) or (2) describing it (the predicate adjective).55
4829040077Subordinate ClauseCreated by a subordinating conjunction, a clause that modifies an independent clause.56
4829041077SyllogismA form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.57
4829044028Symbol/SymbolismAnything that represents or stands for something else.58
4829044029SyntaxThe arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language. Sentence structure.59
4829044631ThemeA topic of discussion or writing; a major idea broad enough to cover the entire scope of a literary work.60
4829044632ThesisFocus statement of an essay; premise statement upon which the point of view or discussion in the essay is based.61
4829045536ToneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.62
4829045537TransitionA word or phrase that links one idea to the next and carries the reader from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph63
4829046951UnderstatementThe presentation of something as being smaller, worse, or less important than it actually is.64
4829046952UndertoneAn attitude that may lie under the ostensible tone of the piece.65
4829048870WitIntellectually amusing language that surprises and delights. Usually uses terse language that makes a pointed statement66

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