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AP Lit. Figurative Language Flashcards

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6411435605alliterationthe repetition of initial consonant sounds (Tried and True; Little Lame Leopard)0
6411440974assonancethe repetition of vowel sounds (mAd as a hAtter)1
6411449539consonancethe repetition of final consonant sounds (firST and laST)2
6411459273feminine rhymethe rhyme involves two or more syllables (fertile and turtle; er/ur and tile/tle)3
6411478190masculine rhymethe rhyme involves only one syllable (suppORT and retORT)4
6411482976internal rhymeone or more rhyming words are within the line5
6411493563end rhymerhyming words are at the ends of lines6
6411499696approximate rhyme/slant rhymewords with sound similarity ("frECKkles like spECKs")7
6411507907onomatopoeiawords that sound like what they mean (hisssssss, BOOOM!)8
6411514650phonetic intensivestheir sounds connect lightly to their meaning (flicker, flash, flare, flame; fl- signifies relation to fire)9
6411523168euphonya grouping of sounds that is smooth and pleasant10
6411527069cacophonya group of sounds that is rough and harsh11
6411533368synesthesiathe stimulation of two or more senses simultaneously12
6411539299figure of speecha way of saying one thing and meaning another ("It's raining cats and dogs!")13
6411545147figurative languagelanguage using figures of speech; not taken literally14
6411552855Why is poetry often figurative?There's often more than one meaning: one literal, one figurative.15
6411560559similecomparison of two dissimilar things using like, as, than, etc. ("She moved like a tornado.")16
6411574169metaphorcomparison of two dissimilar things (The comparison isn't expressed, but created when a figure term is substituted for a literal term instead.) ("She is a tornado.")17
6411604302personificationgiving human attributes to an animal, object, or concept ("The couch screamed in agony under the heavy weight.")18
6411630207apostropheaddressing someone dead, absent, or nonhuman as if it's present and can readily respond19
6411638178synecdochesubstitutes some significant quality of detail of an experience for the experience itself ("May I have your hand in marriage?" when referring to entire body, not just hand)20
6411671472metonymythe use of something closely related for something actually meant ("the pen is mightier than the sword;" pen=words, and sword=violence)21
6411706707symbol vs. metaphorsymbol: both things being compared are present ("You eat like a pig-- much like the one standing right next to you.") metaphor: the compared objects, people, concepts, etc. do not need to be present. ("You eat like a pig." There is no pig for comparison of traits.)22
6411745801allegorya narrative or description that has a second meaning with direct symbols and one meaning23
6411756208paradoxical actionsan action that appears contradictory but is still nonetheless true (blowing on hot soup to cool it; blowing on hands to warm them)24
6411768179paradoxical statement/verbal paradoxA statement is contradictory on the surface, but it stems from multiple meanings, making it true. ("I am atheist, thank God.")25
6411801597overstatement/hyperboleadded emphasis and exaggeration to something already true ("I ate a ton for dinner.")26
6411808378understatement/litotesstating what is literally true but with much less force ("not bad.")27
6411829993sarcasmbitter or cutting speech, often intended to offend28
6411835120satireridicule to humans with the intent of preventing further mistakes (in literature)29
6411842765verbal ironysaying the opposite of what is true ("It's not you, it's me!")30
6411850720dramatic ironydiscrepancy between what the speaker says and what the poet means31
6411867892irony of situation/situational irony/cosmic ironydiscrepancy between a situation's anticipated outcome and what actually results32
6557261698foibleminor weakness, character flaws, or quirks33
6557263309follylack of good sense, foolishness34
6557266532vicesimmoral and evil habits, practices, or conduct35
6557270131abusescorrupt or improper practices, usually in power36
6557275688pessimist (satirical narrator type)expects the worst37
6557277842optimist (satirical narrator type)expects the best38
6557280897Pollyanna (satirical narrator type)extreme optimist39
6557283313cynic (satirical narrator type)doesn't trust people and their motives or sincerity40
6557285495philanthropist (satirical narrator type)works to better the world and loves the human race41
6557290040misanthrope (satirical narrator type)despises and distrusts the human race42
6557294221Direct/formal satirea first person narrator expects sympathy43
6557296330Indirect satirecommunicated through characters in a situation44
6557300514Horatian satirelight-hearted, gently mocking satire that's directed towards folly45
6557308313Juvenalian satirebitter and angry satire that's directed towards vices and abuses (typically involves life or death scenarios)46
6557317703Distortionstressing some aspects and de-emphasizing others47
6557320185incongruitypresenting things out of place or absurd in relation to surroundings48
6557322905isolationseparating a condition or event from its ordinary surroundings49
6557329753juxtapositionplacing two opposite or unalike things side by side50
6557331494reversalpresents the opposite of the normal order (eating breakfast for dinner; a student educates a teacher)51
6557337960ambiguous languageOne word or scenario with multiple possible meanings (common in satire because it allows authors to deny accusations if accused)52
6557349971innuendo/double entendremultiple interpretations, usually risque53
6557352118malapropismthe humorous misuse of a word by confusing it with a similarly sounding word54

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