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AP Language/Literary Devices Flashcards

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12686133755Ad Hominem ArgumentAttacking an individual's character rather than answering his or her argument. Not using reason, but emotion.0
12686162602AllegoryA representation of an abstract or spiritual meaning through concrete forms-symbolic narrative or story.1
12686182348AllusionMaking a casual reference to something, hinting about things.2
12686202917AnaphoraRepetition of a word or words at the beginning of successive verses, clauses, or sentences (using a pronoun or it).3
12686237536AnthropomorphismConception or representation, as of a deity. The attribution of human force or behavior to a deity or animal.4
12686262818AntithesisA figure of speech in which an opposition or contrast of ideas is expressed by parallelism of words that are the opposites of, or strongly contrasted with, each other, such as "hatred stirs up strife, but love covers all sins".5
12686292800AphorismA terse saying embodying a general truth, or astute observation. "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutley".6
12686327321ChiasmusTwo or more clauses are balanced against each other by the reversal of their structures in order to produce an artistic effect. "Never let a fool kiss you or a kiss fool you".7
12686342553ColloquialismAn expression. A word or phrase appropriate to conversation and other informal situations.8
12686363826ConceitExcessively favorability of one's own ability or importance.9
12686396619DenouementFinal resoulution of the plot, the final outcome.10
12686415155DidacticismIntended for instruction or instructive, to teach, teaches a moral lesson.11
12686438027EffusiveExtravagantly gushing with emotion.12
12686457210EpithetAny word or phrase applied to a person or thing to describe an actual or attributed quality. A descriptive word or phrase added to or substituted for a person's name.13
12686486961EthosRefers to the trustworthiness or credibility of the writer or speaker. This is the "ethical appeal".14
12686509787EuphemismA prase or word thsat is substituted for another word. (departed means dead)15
12686532582ExpositionThe act of expounding (presenting) speech intended to convey information.16
12686552180Figurative LanguageLanguage or discourse that contains or uses figure of speech (especially metaphor).17
12686578385ForeshadowingSuggesting of something (object or image) to come.18
12686597368GerundA word derived from a verb and functioning as anoun. -ing as in "writing" is easy. Looks like a verb, but functions as a noun.19
12686629381HyperboleAn expression that is an over exaggeration.20
12686646126ImageryThe formation of mental images, rhetorical images, figurative description.21
12686675272LogosClarity, logical, arguments using logical appeal.22
12686685731MetaphorA figure of speech that makes an implicit, implied, or hidden comparison between two unrelated things.23
12686710615ParadoxContradictory statement, but could express a possible truth.24
12686724356ParsimoniousFrugal or stingy.25
12686732036PathosEvoking a feeling of pity, sympathy, sorrow, or compassion for someone.26
12686745852PersonificationAttributing human characteristics to non-human objects.27
12686770307SimileA figure of speech in which two unlike things are compared using like or as. "She is like a rose".28

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