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AP Terms to Know Flashcards

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4909918371anaphorathe regular repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of two or more successive phrases or clauses.0
4909918372chiasmusa reversal in the word order of words in two otherwise parallel sentences1
4909918373apostrophethe direct address to an absent or dead person, or to an object, quality, or idea.2
4909918374hyperbolea rhetorical figure in which emphasis is achieved through exaggeration3
4909918375metaphorfigurative language that describes something as though it actually were something else4
4909918376metonymythe substitution of one term for another that is generally associated with it. (ex. the crown declared that the man would be executed.)5
4909918377synecdochea figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole (ex. all hands on deck)6
4909918378onomatopoeiathe use of words that sound like a noise7
4909918379paradoxa statement or expression so surprisingly self-contradictory but ends up being true on some level8
4909918380parallelismthe use of similar grammatical structures or word order.9
4909918381personificationthe use of human characteristics to describe animals, things, or ideas.10
4909918382point of viewthe perspective that a narrator takes toward the events it describes11
4909918383puna witty word-play which reveals that words with different meanings have similar or even identical sounds12
4909918384satirewriting that ridicules or holds up to contempt the faults of individuals or groups13
4909918385polysyndetonthe repetition of conjunctions in a sentence14
4909918386asyndetonthe omission of conjunctions in a sentence15
4909918387archetypea symbol found in many cultures16
4909918388dramatic ironya situation where the audience knows something that the characters on stage are not aware of17
4909918389allusiona reference to a piece of literature, character, historical figure that the author assumes the reader will recognize18
4909918390dictionthe word choices made by a writer19
4909918391didactichaving the primary purpose of teaching or instructing20
4909918392expositionthe beginning portion of Freytag's pyramid where the background information, characters and setting are introduced21
4909918393denouement (catastrophe)The final outcome of the main dramatic complication in a literary work or the outcome of a complicated sequence of events22
4909918394themeCentral idea of a work of literature23
4909918395toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.24
4909918396HubrisPride that challenges the role of the gods25
4909918397CatharsisAn emotional discharge that brings about a moral or spiritual renewal or welcome relief from tension and anxiety26
4909918398Tragic flawA character trait that leads to the downfall of a hero, while also (often) making him admirable27
4909918399SatireA literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.28
4909918400Foiblea minor character flaw29
4909918401ParodyA work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.30
4909918402Inuendoa hint, indirect suggestion or reference, often in a derogatory sense31
4909918403Malapropisma word humorously misused32
4909918404SarcasmA mocking, often ironic or satirical remark.33
4909918405HyperboleAn exaggeration34
4909918406AnecdoteA short and amusing or interesting story35
4909918407EpiphanyA moment of sudden revelation or insight36

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