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Westland AP Language Devices Flashcards

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2420655408Allegoryan extended narrative in prose or verse in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract qualities and in which the writer intends a second meaning to be read beneath the surface of the story. Often times concepts like death and love are represented by people.0
2420655409AnalogyComparison of two similar but different things, usually to clarify an action or a relationship1
2420655410AnaphoraRepetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences in a row2
2420655411Anecdotea short, simple narrative of an incident; often used for humorous effect or to make a point3
2420655412Antithesisthe presentation of two contrasting images. The ideas are balanced by word, phrase, clause, or paragraphs. "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times (Dickens).4
2420655413Aphorisma short, often witty statement of a principle or a truth about life5
2420655414Apostropheusually in poetry but sometimes in prose; the device of calling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person or to a place, thing, or personified abstraction6
2420655415AsyndetonCommas used (with no conjunction) to separate a series of words. The parts are emphasized equally when the conjunction is omitted; in addition, the use of commas with no intervening conjunction speeds up the flow of the sentence7
2420655416CaricatureUsed in satire. Descriptive writing that greatly exaggerates a specific feature of a person's appearance or a facet of personality.8
2420655417Colloquialisma word or phrase (including slang) used in everyday conversation and informal writing but that is often inappropriate in formal writing9
2420655418Concrete LanguageLanguage that describes specific, observable things, people, or places, rather than ideas or qualities10
2420655419Deductionthe process of moving from a general rule to a specific example11
2420655420Dictionword choice12
2420655421Didacticwriting whose purpose is to instruct or to teach13
2420655422Epigraphthe use of a quotation at the beginning of a work that hints at its theme14
2420655423Epistropherepetition of a word or expression at the end of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect15
2420655424Euphemisma more acceptable and usually more pleasant way of saying something that might be inappropriate or uncomfortable16
2420655425Extended Metaphora sustained comparison throughout a text17
2420655427GeneralizationWhen a writer bases a claim upon an isolated example or asserts that a claim is certain rather than probable. Sweeping generalizations occur when a writer asserts that a claim applies to all instances instead of some18
2420655428Hubristhe excessive pride of ambition that leads a tragic hero to disregard warnings of impending doom, eventually causing his or her downfall.19
2420655429Inductionthe process that moves from a given series of specifics to a generalization20
2420655430Inferencea conclusion one can draw from the presented details21
2420655431Invectivea verbally abusive attack22
2420655432Inversionreversing the customary (subject first, then verb, then complement) order of elements in a sentence or phrase; it is used effectively in many cases, such as posing a question23
2420655433Ironya situation or statement in which the actual outcome or meaning is opposite to what was expected24
2420655434JargonThe special language of a profession or group.25
2420655435Logical Fallacya mistake in reasoning26
2420655436Metonymya figure of speech that uses the name of an object, person, or idea to represent something with which it is associated27
2420655437Motifreoccurring theme or idea in a piece of writing.28
2420655438Objectivityan impersonal presentation of events and characters. It is a writer's attempt to remove himself or herself from any subjective, personal involvement in a story.29
2420655439OversimplificationWhen a writer obscures or denies the complexity of the issues in an argument30
2420655440Parablea short tale that teaches a moral; similar to but shorter than an allegory31
2420655441Paradoxa statement that seems to contradict itself but that turns out to have a rational meaning32
2420655442Parallelismthe technique of arranging words, phrases, clauses, or larger structures by placing them side by side and making them similar in form33
2420655443Parodya work that ridicules the style of another work by imitating and exaggerating its elements.34
2420655444Pedantica term used to describe writing that borders on lecturing. It is scholarly and academic and often overly difficult and distant35
2420655445First person narratora narrator, referred to as "I," who is a character in the story and relates the actions through his or her own perspective, also revealing his or her own thoughts36
2420655446Stream of Consciousnesslike a first person narrator, but instead placing the reader inside the character's head, making the reader privy to the continuous, chaotic flow of disconnected, half-formed thoughts and impressions in the character's mind37
2420655447Omniscientthird person narrator, who is able to see into each character's mind and understands all the action's of the character38
2420655448Limited Omniscienta third person narrator who reports the thoughts of only one character and generally only what that one character sees39
2420655449Objective narrationa third person narrator who only reports what would be visible to a camera; thoughts and feelings are only revealed if a character speaks of them40
2420655450PolysyndetonSentence which uses and or another conjunction (with no commas) to separate the items in a series41
2420655452Rhetoricthe art of effective communication, especially persuasive discourse42
2420655453Rhetorical Questionone that does not expect an explicit answer. It is used to pose an idea to be considered by the speaker or audience.43
2420655454SatireA work that reveals a critical attitude toward some element of human behavior by portraying it in an extreme way. Makes fun of problems in society.44
2420655456SyllogismA form of reasoning in which two statements are made and a conclusion is drawn from them. It is the format of a formal argument that consists of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion45
2420655457Symbolismanything that is meant to be taken both literally and as representative of a higher and more complex significance. A rose represents love.46
2420655458Synecdochea figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent a whole. "Today Washington announced new gun reform laws."47
2420655459Syntaxthe grammatical structure of a sentence48
2420655460Toneattitude of writing49
2420655461Understatement/ Meiosisthe opposite of exaggeration. It is a technique for developing irony and/or humor where one writes or says less than intended.50
2420655462Semanticsthe meaning behind a word or sentence51
2420655463Ethosusing ethics to persuade52
2420655464Pathospersuasion by emotional appeals, an element in experience or in artistic representation evoking pity or compassion.53
2420655465Logosusing logic to persuade54
2420655466Double EntendreA word or phrase that may have more than one interpretation, usually sexual55
2420655467Litotesunderstatement for rhetorical effect, using a negative to say the positive56
2420655468Sarcasma form of humor that is marked by mocking with irony57
2420655469CaricatureA form of satire. Exaggerating characteristics of a person, event, etc that creates an easily identifiable visual58
2420655470Puna play on words59
2420655471Abstractlanguage that describes concepts rather than images60
2420655472Ad Hominemin an argument, this is an attack on the person rather than one the person's ideas.61
2420655473Argumentationwriting that attempts to prove the validity of a point.62
2420655474CoheranceQuality of a piece of writing in which all the parts contribute to the development of the central idea63
2420655475Consonancerepetition of identical consonant sounds within two or more words in close proximity64
2420655476Conundruma riddle whose answer is or involves a pun65
2420655477Discoursespoken or written language, there are four modes: description, exposition, narration, and persuasion66
2420655478Dissonanceharsh or grating sounds that do not go together67
2420655479Dramatic IronyWhen the reader is aware of an inconsistency in a character's perception of a situation and the truth of that situation. The reader knows more than the characters.68
2420655480Euphonya succession of harmonious sounds used in poetry or prose69
2420655481ExplicationThe art of interpreting or discovering the meaning of a text70
2420655482Expositionthe immediate revelation to the audience of the setting and other background information necessary for understanding the plot71
2420655483Figurative Languagesaying something other than what is literally meant for effect using devices such as similes and metaphors.72
2420655484Logicthe process of reasoning73
2420655485LyricalSonglike. Often used to express emotion in poetry.74
2420655486MoodSimilar to tone, primary emotional attitude of a work75
2420655488Non-sequitorLatin for "does not follow". When one statement doesn't logically follow another76
2420655489Pacingthe movement of a literary piece77
2420655490PersuasionA form of argumentation78
2420655491Red HerringWhen a writer raises an irrelevant issue to draw attention away from the real issue79
2420655492Reductio ad AbsurdumLatin for "to reduce to the absurd"80
2420655493Rhetorical modesexposition, description, narration, argumentation81
2420655494Straw Manwhen a writer argues against a claim that is universally considered weak82
2420655495Stylean author's diction, syntax, imagery, structure, and content all contribute to style83
2420655496Thesisthe main idea of a piece of writing84
2420655497Transitiona word or phrase that links one idea to the next85
2420655498Voicethe sound of a writer's style86
2420655499Scare TacticUsing fear to persuade87
2420655500Either-Or Choicea fallacy that reduced a choice down to just two88
2420655501Slippery Slopedescribing an argument where the author exaggerates the future consequences of an action. If you fail this test, you will fail high school and not go to college..."89
2420655502Sentimental Appealsarguments that appeal to emotions90
2420655503Bandwagon appealsarguments that urge people to follow the same path as everyone else91
2420655504Appeals to false authorityargument that draws on the authority of a widely respected person92
2420655506GerundA noun formed from a verb (such as the '-ing' form of an English verb when used as a noun)93
2420655507simple sentenceA sentence consisting of one independent clause and no dependent clause94
2420655508Compound SentenceTwo independent clauses joined by a conjunction (I went to the store, and I bought candy.)95
2420655509Complex SentenceA sentence with one independent clause and at least one dependent clause96
2420655511VerbA word that expresses action, a state of being or feeling, or a relation between two things97
2420655517AntecedentA word, phrase, or clause to which a following pronoun refers. "The glass fell on the floor. It broke.98
2420655518Linking VerbA state-of-being verb, "is", "are" Connects the noun to the verb.99
2420655519Moral Equivilanceargument that suggests that serious wrong doings don't differ from minor offenses100
2420655520Hasty generalizationmaking an inference drawn from insufficient evidence, using stereotypes to argue a point101
2420655521Faulty Causality. Also: Post Hoc Ergo Propter Hocthe fallacious assumption that because two events happened in sequence that the first event caused the second.102
2420655522Begging the Questioncircular reasoning103
2420655523Equivocationhalf-truth Arguing both sides of an argument.104
2420655524Faulty Analogyform of argument where inaccurate comparisons are being made105
3662902042SoliloquySeen in Shakespeare's plays. A longer speech that indicates the speaker's thoughts and emotions.106
3662907030AsideSeen in Shakespeare's plays. A short speech directed to the audience to provide insight or direction.107
3662909418Shakespearean SonnetA type of lyrical poem that uses a specific rhyme scheme and form.108
3662911840QuatrainFour lines of poetry109
3662912657Rhyming CoupletTwo lines of rhyming poetry found at the end of a Shakespearean sonnet110
3662914156Iambic PentameterTwo feet of poetry with five syllables per foot111

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