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

AP Language (Use this list for Pop Culture Slideshow) Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
7279436930adagea proverb or wise saying commonly used (ex: Things are not always as they seem.)0
7279436931allegorya story in which people, things and happenings have a hidden or symbolic meaning.(fables, parables, apologue have meanings on two or more levels.)1
7279436932alliterationwords used in quick succession and begin with letters belonging to the same sound group; a repetition of similar sounds/letters in the sentence. (Wicked witch of the west went her own way.)2
7279436933allusiona passing reference to a commonly-known historical, cultural, religious, literary, or mythical person, place, event, or work of art, whereby the reader must make the connection within the current text.3
7279436934ambiguitymultiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, passage or sentence; can lead reader toward uncertainty of meaning4
7279436935analogyestablishing a relationship based on similarities between two concepts or ideas; helps convey meaning of a new idea5
7279436936anaphorathe deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect; most commonly found in the Bible (O Lord,.for I am weak.O Lord, heal me. O Lord, have mercy on me.)6
7279436937anecdoteshort and interesting story or an amusing event often proposed to support or demonstrate some point and make readers and listeners laugh; Anecdotes can include an extensive range of tales and stories7
7279436938antecedentword, phrase, or clause that is replaced by a pronoun8
7279436939antimetabolerepetition of words in reverse grammatical order; Ex: "Fair is foul and foul is fair." (Similar to Chiasmus)9
7279436940antithesisparallel structures of the contrasted phrases or clauses, i.e. the structures of phrases and clauses are similar in order to draw the attention of the listeners or readers; Ex: "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."10
7279436941apostrophespeaker talks to someone or something that is obviously not present11
7279436942appositivea renaming of a noun or noun phrase immediately after first stating the noun12
7279436943archetypeA detail, image, or character type that occurs frequently in literature and myth and is thought to appeal in a universal way to the unconscious and to evoke a response13
7279436944argumenta statement put forth and supported by evidence14
7279436945asyndetonauthor purposely leaves out conjunctions in the sentence, while maintaining the grammatical accuracy of the phrase; shortening the statement for greater impact; "Reduce, reuse, recycle."15
7279436946audiencethose to whom a piece of literary work is being presented16
7279436947cacophonyTremendous noise, disharmonious sound17
7279436948characterizationActions, dialogue, and narrative description that reveal a sense of a character's personality to the reader.18
7279436949circumlocutionan indirect or wordy way of expressing an idea which leaves the reader perplexed; exaggeratedly long and complex sentences in order to convey a meaning that could have otherwise been conveyed through a shorter, much simpler sentence19
7279436950climaxthat point in a plot that creates the greatest intensity, suspense, or interest. Also called "turning point"20
7279436951colloquialCharacteristic of ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing21
7279436952concessionAn argumentative strategy by which a speaker or writer acknowledges the validity of an opponent's point.22
7279436953conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects; unusual and unlikely comparisons between two things23
7279436954connotationassociations people make with words that go beyond the literal or dictionary definition24
7279436955contextThe parts before or after a word or statement that influence its meaning25
7279436956counter argumentan argument or set of reasons put forward to oppose an idea or theory developed in another argument.26
7279436957cumulative sentencea sentence in which the main independent clause is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases27
7279436958denotationDictionary definition of a word; literal meaning28
7279436959denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot29
7279436960detailThe facts revealed by the author or speaker that support the attitude or tone in a piece of poetry or prose.30
7279436961dictionA writer's or speaker's choice of words31
7279436962elegya mournful, melancholy, or plaintive poem, especially a funeral song or a lament for the dead.32
7279436963ellipsisin a sentence, the omission of a word or words replaced by three periods ...33
7279436964epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society34
7279436965ethosOne of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle. Ethos is basically an appeal to credibility. The writer is seeking to convince you that he or she has the background, history, skills, and/or expertise to speak on the issue.35
7279436966euphemismFrom the Greek for "good speech," euphemisms are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept - POLITICALLY CORRECT36
7279436967expositionBackground information presented in a literary work.37
7279436968hyperboleA figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. (The literal Greek meaning is "overshoot.") Hyperboles often have a comic effect; however, a serious effect is also possible. Often, hyperbole produces irony.38
7279436969imageryuse of words and phrases to create "mental images" for the reader; helps the reader visualize more realistically the author's writings through the usage of metaphors, allusions, descriptive words and similes39
7279436970imperative sentencesgives a command or request; often subject is understood and sentence ends with !40
7279436971inversionA sentence in which the verb precedes the subject.41
7279436972verbal ironySarcasm; what is said is the opposite of what is meant42
7279436973juxtapositionplacing an idea next to its opposite to emphasize contrast and comparison43
7279436974logosAn appeal to reason. Logos is one of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle. It occurs when a writer tries to convince you of the logic of his argument. writers may use inductive argumentation or deductive argumentation, but they clearly have examples and generally rational tome to their language. The problem with logos is that is can appear reasonable until you dissect the argument and then find fallacies that defeat the viability of the argument on the reader's eyes. Of course, that presupposes that the readers is able to identify the fallacies.44
7279436975metaphorA figurative comparison of two unlike things without using the word like or as45
7279436976metonymy(mĕtŏn′ ĭmē) A term from the Greek meaning "changed label" or "substitute name," metonymy is a figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it. For example, a news release that claims "the White House declared" rather than "the President declared" is using metonymy; Shakespeare uses it to signify the male and female sexes in As You Like It: "doublet and hose ought to show itself courageous to petticoat." The substituted term generally carries a more potent emotional impact.46
7279436977moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader; using specific diction, description, setting, and characterization to create the atmosphere47
7279436978motifA recurring theme, subject or idea48
7279436979narrativea fiction, nonfiction, poetic, or dramatic story, actual or fictional, expressed orally or in text.49
7279436980non sequiturA statement that does not follow logically from evidence50
7279436981occasionthe time and place a speech is given or a piece is written51
7279436982onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Ex: buzz, hiss, hum, crack, whinny, and murmur.52
7279436983organizationIn a composition, the arrangement of ideas, incidents, evidence, or details in a perceptible order in a paragraph or essay.53
7279436984oxymoronA figure of speech consisting of two apparently contradictory terms; The richest literary oxymora(paradoxes) seem to reveal a deeper truth through their contradictions. Ex: "without laws, we can have no freedom." Shakespeare's Julius Caesar also makes use of a famous oxymoron: "Cowards die many times before their deaths"54
7279436985paceSpeed with which the author delivers the story controlled by language, mood, emotion played out in speech, dialogue, descriptions.55
7279436986parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson56
7279436987paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.57
7279436988parallel structurerepetition of the same pattern of words or phrases within a sentence or passage to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.58
7279436989parodyA humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing59
7279436990pathosAn appeal to emotion. This is one of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle. Typically, pathos arguments may use loaded words to make you feel guilty, lonely, worried, insecure, or confused.60
7279436991personaAn individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.61
7279436992personificationauthor presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions.62
7279436993point of viewPerspective from which a story is told; omniscient point of view= the person telling the story or narrator knows everything that's going on in the story; first- person point of view the narrator is a character in the story; limited third-person point of view the narrator is outside the story- like an omniscient narrator- but tells the story from the vantage point of one character."63
7279436994polemica controversial argument, esp. attacking a particular opinion64
7279436995propagandaA negative term for writing designed to sway opinion rather than present information.65
7279436996prosewritten or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure.66
7279436997purposeOne's intention or objective in a speech or piece of writing.67
7279436998refutationThe part of an argument wherein a speaker or writer anticipates and counters opposing points of view.68
7279436999repetitionRepeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for effect and emphasis69
7279437000rhetoricFrom the Greek for "orator," this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.70
7279437001rhetorical appealsRhetorical techniques used to persuade an audience by emphasizing what they find most important or compelling. The three major appeals are to ethos (character), logos (reason), and pathos (emotion).71
7279437002rhetorical questionA question whose answer is assumed; a rhetorical question is designed to force the reader to respond in a predetermined manner and to propel an argument emotionally.72
7279437003rhetorical triangleA diagram that represents a rhetorical situation as the relationship among the speaker, the subject, and the audience ex:Aristotelian triangle73
7279437004satireA work that reveals a critical attitude toward some element of human behavior by portraying it in an extreme way. It doesn't simply abuse (as in invective) or get personal (as in sarcasm). It targets groups or large concepts rather than individuals.74
7279437005simileA comparison of two things using like or as75
7279437006symbolismAn ordinary object with an extraordinary significance76
7279437007synecdocheA figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole (as hand for sailor), the whole for a part (as the law for police officer), the specific for the general (as cutthroat for assassin), the general for the specific (as thief for pickpocket), or the material for the thing made from it (as steel for sword).77
7279437008syllogismA form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.78
7279437009syntaxLanguage rules that govern how words can be combined to form meaningful phrases and sentences79
7279437010thesisFocus statement of an essay; premise statement upon which the point of view or discussion in the essay is based.80
7279437011toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.81
7279437012transitionA word or phrase that links one idea to the next and carries the reader from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph82
7279437013voiceIn grammar, a term for the relationship between a verb and a noun (active or passive voice). In rhetoric, a distinctive quality in the style and tone of writing.83

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!