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

Literary Terms AP Language Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
14505937067Ad HominemAn argument attacking an individual's character rather than his or her position on an issue0
14505937068AllegoryA literary work in which characters, objects, or actions represent abstractions1
14505937069AlliterationThe repetition of initial sounds in successive or neighboring words2
14505937070AllusionA reference to something literary, mythological, or historical3
14505937071AnalogyThe comparison between two different things which are similar in some way4
14505937072AnaphoraThe repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of consecutive lines or sentences5
14505937073AnecdoteA brief personal narrative which focuses on a particular incident or event6
14505937074AntithesisA statement in which two opposing ideas are balanced7
14505937075AphorismA concise statement which succinctly expresses a general truth or idea, often using rhyme and balance8
14505937076ApostropheThe act of speaking directly to an absent or imaginary person, or to some abstraction9
14505937077AsyndetonAn expression in which elements are presented in a series without conjunctions10
14505937078BathosInsincere or overly sentimental pathos; descent into mundane or sentimental language by a writer who is striving for the noble and elevated11
14505937079ChiasmusA statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is structurally reversed12
14505937080ClicheAn expression that has been overused to an extent that its freshness has worn off13
14505937081ColloquialismInformal words or expressions not usually acceptable in writing form14
14505937082ConceitA fanciful, particularly clever, extended metaphor15
14505937083ConnotationThe implied or associative meaning of a word16
14505937084DenotationThe literal meaning or a word17
14505937085DictionHaving to do with the word choices made by a writer18
14505937086DidacticSomething which has as its primary purpose to teach or instruct19
14505937087EllipsisThe omission of a word or phrase which is grammatically necessary but can be deduced from the context20
14505937088EpiphanyA moment of sudden revelation or insight21
14505937089EquivocationA kind of pun in which language is so used that it has two different but appropriate meanings22
14505937090EthosThe character of the speaker or writer as reflected in speech or writing; the image projected of a comparison's maker23
14505937091EuphemismAn indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant24
14505937092GenreA major category or type of literature25
14505937093HomilyA form of oral religious instruction; a moralistic lecture; usually gives practical moral counsel rather than discussion of doctrine26
14505937094HyperboleIntentional exaggeration to create an effect27
14505937095IdiomAn expression in a given language that cannot be understood from the meaning of its individual elements; or, a regional speech or dialect28
14505937096ImageryConcrete sensory details which contribute to the themes or ideas of a work29
14505937097InvectiveAn intensely vehement, highly emotional verbal attack30
14505937098IronyA situation or statement where the truth is the opposite of appearances31
14505937099JargonThe specialized language or vocabulary of a particular group or profession32
14505937100JuxtapositionPlacing two elements side by side to present a comparison or contrast33
14505937101LitotesA type of understatement in which something affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite34
14505937102LogosPersuading by the use of reason; the logic used to support a claim (induction and decision); can also be the facts or statistics used to help support the argument35
14505937103MetaphorA direct comparison of two different things which suggests they are somehow the same36
14505937104MetonymySubstituting the name of one object for another object closely associated with it37
14505937105MotifA standard theme or dramatic situation which recurs in various works38
14505937106Non SequiturAn inference that does not logically follow from the premise(s)39
14505937107OnomatopoeiaA word formed from the imitation of natural sounds40
14505937108OxymoronAn expression in which two words that contradict each other are joined41
14505937109ParadoxAn apparently contradicting statement which actually contains some truth42
14505937110ParallelismThe use of corresponding grammatical or syntactical forms43
14505937111ParodyA humorous imitation of a serious work44
14505937112PathosThe quality in a work that prompts the reader to feel pity or sorrow45
14505937113PedanticDescribing an excessive display of learning46
14505937114PersonificationEndowing nonhuman objects or creatures with human qualities or characteristics47
14505937115PolysyndetonThe use of more conjunctions than is necessary or natural for rhetorical effect48
14505937116PunA play on words, often using words with similar sounds but different meanings49
14505937117Red HerringA fallacy in which an irrelevant topic is presented in order to divert attention from the original issue. The basic idea is to "win" an argument by leading attention away from the argument and to another topic50
14505937118SarcasmHarsh, cutting language/tone designed to ridicule51
14505937119SatireThe use of humor to emphasize human weakness or imperfections in social institutions52
14505937120StyleThe overall manner in which an individual writer expresses his ideas53
14505937121SyllepsisThe linking of one word with two other words in two strikingly different ways54
14505937122SyllogismA logical argument in which the conclusion is based on a major premise and a minor premise55
14505937123SymbolAn object which is something in itself yet is used to represent something else56
14505937124SynesthesiaDescribing one kind of sensation in terms of another57
14505937125SynecdocheUsing one part of an object to represent the entire object58
14505937126SyntaxThe manner in which words are arranged by a writer into sentences59
14505937127TautologyNeedless repetition which adds no meaning or understanding60
14505937128ToneThe attitude of a writer, usually implied, toward the subject or audience61
14505937129UnderstatementThe deliberate representation of something as less in magnitude than it really is62
14505937130VernacularThe nonstandard or substandard everyday speech of a particular country of region, or street talk of a native language63

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!