Summer List of AP Language and Compositions Terms to Know Flashcards
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| 6944048704 | Allegory | The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. For example, an author may intend the characters to personify in abstraction like hope or freedom. The meaning usually deals with moral truth or a generalization about human existence. | 0 | |
| 6944048705 | Allusion | A direct or indirect reference to something that is presumably commonly known, such as an even, book, myth, place, or work of art. Can be historical (like referring to Hitler), literary (like referring to Kurts in Heart of Darkness), religious (like referring to Noah and the flood), or mythical (like referring to Atlas). There are, of course, many more possibilities, and a work may simultaneously use multiple layers. | 1 | |
| 6944048706 | Ambiguity | The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, of passage. | 2 | |
| 6944048707 | Analogy | A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them. Can explain something unfamiliar by associating it with, or pointing out its similarity to, something more familiar. Can also make writing more vivid, imaginative, and intellectually engaging. | 3 | |
| 6944048708 | Anti-climax | an event, conclusion, statement that is far less important, powerful, or striking than expected. A disappointing, weak, or inglorious conclusion. A noticeable or ludicrous descent from lofty ideas or expressions. | 4 | |
| 6944048709 | Antecedent | The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun. The AP English Language and Composition Exam occasionally asks for the blank of a given pronoun in a long, complex sentence or in a group of sentences. | 5 | |
| 6944048710 | Aphorism | A terse statement of known authorship that expresses a general truth | 6 | |
| 6944048711 | Apostrophe | A figure of speech wherein the speaker speaks directly to something nonhuman. An absent person, an abstract concept, or an important object may also be directly addressed. In these lines from John Donne's poem "The Sun Rising" the poet scolds the sun for interrupting his nighttime activities: Busy old fool, unruly sun, Why dost thou thus, Through windows, and through curtains call on us? | 7 | |
| 6944048712 | Archetype | something that serves as a model or a basis for making copies; "this painting is a copy of the original" | 8 | |
| 6944048713 | Caricature | a picture, description, etc., ludicrously exaggerating the peculiarities or defects of persons or things: His blank of the mayor in this morning's paper is the best he's ever drawn. any imitation or copy so distorted or inferior as to be ludicrous . A description of a person using exaggeration of some characteristics and oversimplification of others. | 9 | |
| 6944048714 | Conceit | an elaborate, fanciful metaphor. A far-fetched metaphor when the speaker compares two highly dissimilar things. | 10 | |
| 6944048715 | Concrete detail | strictly defined, "concrete" refers to nouns that name physical objects—a bridge, a book, or a coat. Concrete nouns are the opposite of abstract nouns (which refer to concepts like freedom and love). However, as used in the essay portion of the AP Language and Composition Exam, this term has a slightly different connotation. The directions may read something like this: "Provide concrete details that will convince the reader." This means that your essay should include details in the passage; at times you'll be allowed to provide details from your own life (readings, observations, experiences, and so forth). | 11 | |
| 6944048716 | Connotation | the associated or secondary meaning of a word or expression in addition to its explicit or primary meaning: A possible connotation of "home" is "a place of warmth, comfort, and affection." Implied meaning of a word. The denotation of a word is its dictionary definition. In literary criticism, a word's denotation is its primary or literal significance, whereas connotation is the range of secondary significance which a word commonly suggests. For instance, the word "sea" denotes a large body of water, but its connotative meaning includes the sense of overwhelming space, danger, instability; whereas "earth" connotes safety, fertility and stability. | 12 | |
| 6944048717 | Diction | An author's choice of words. Since words have specific meanings, and since one's choice of words can affect feelings, a writer's choice of words can have great impact in a literary work. The writer, therefore, must choose his words carefully. Discussing his novel "A Farewell to Arms" during an interview, Ernest Hemingway stated that he had to rewrite the ending thirty-nine times. When asked what the most difficult thing about finishing the novel was, Hemingway answered, "Getting the words right." | 13 | |
| 6944048718 | Epigraph | the use of a quotation at the beginning of a work that hints at its theme | 14 | |
| 6944048719 | Epiphany | a sudden, intuitive perception of or insight into the reality or essential meaning of something, usually initiated by some simple, homely, or commonplace occurrence or experience. A literary work or section of a work presenting, usually symbolically, such a moment of revelation and insight. Ex. Rainsford has an epiphany in "The Most Dangerous Game" once he realizes that General Zaroff hunts humans, not animals. | 15 | |
| 6944048720 | Euphemism | mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing. ""downsizing" as a euphemism for cuts" | 16 | |
| 6944048721 | Extended metaphor | a metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work. See metaphor. | 17 | |
| 6944048722 | Figure of speech | a device used to produce figurative language. Many compare dissimilar things. Figures of speech include, for example, apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, metonymy, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, synecdoche, and understatement. | 18 | |
| 6944048723 | Genre | the major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions of literature are prose, poetry, and drama. However, "genre" is a flexible term; within these broad boundaries exist many subdivisions that are often called genres themselves. For example, prose can be divided into fiction (novels and short stories) or nonfiction (essays, biographies, autobiographies, and so on). Poetry can be divided into such subcategories as lyric, dramatic, narrative, epic, and so on. Drama can be divided into tragedy, comedy, melodrama, farce, and so on. On the AP Language and Composition Exam, expect the majority of the passages to be from the following genres: autobiography, biography, diaries, criticism, and essays, as well as journalistic, political, scientific, and nature writing. | 19 | |
| 6944048724 | Hyperbole | a figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. Hyperboles often have a comic effect; however, a serious effect is also possible. Often, hyperbole produces irony at the same time. | 20 | |
| 6944048725 | Inference/infer | To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented. When a multiple-choice question asks for an inference to be drawn from the passage, the most direct, most reasonable inference is the safest answer choice. If in inference is implausible, it's unlikely to be the correct answer. Note that if the answer choice is directly stated, it is not inferred and is wrong. | 21 | |
| 6944048726 | Invective | an emotionally violent, verbal, denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language. | 22 | |
| 6944048727 | Irony/ironic | the contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant; the difference between what appears to be and what actually is true. Irony is used for many reasons, but frequently, it's used to create poignancy or humor. In general, three major types of irony are used in language: 1. In verbal irony, the words literally state the opposite of the writer's (or speaker's) true meaning. 2. In situational irony, events turn out the opposite of what was expected. What the characters and readers thing ought to happen does not actually happen. 3. In dramatic irony, facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or piece of fiction but known to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work. | 23 | |
| 6944048728 | verbal irony | the words literally state the opposite of the writer's (or speaker's) true meaning. | 24 | |
| 6944048729 | situational irony | events turn out the opposite of what was expected. What the characters and readers thing ought to happen does not actually happen. | 25 | |
| 6944048730 | dramatic irony | facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or piece of fiction but known to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work. | 26 | |
| 6944048731 | Juxtaposition | placing dissimilar items, descriptions, or ideas close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast. | 27 | |
| 6944048732 | Litotes | a figure of speech in which understatement is employed for rhetorical effect. It is most often used to describe the expression of an idea by a denial of its opposite, principally via double negatives. EX 1: For example, rather than saying that something is attractive (or even very attractive), one might merely say it is "not unattractive." EX 2: "He was not unfamiliar with the works of Dickens." EX 3: "The ample-bodied Ms. Klause, we agreed, was a not unclever, not unattractive young woman, not unpopular with her classmates both male and female." | 28 | |
| 6944048733 | Metaphor | a figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity. Metaphorical language makes writing more vivid, imaginative, thought provoking and meaningful. | 29 | |
| 6944048734 | Metonymy | a term from the Greek meaning "changed label" or "substitute name," metonymy is a figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another loosely associated with it. A news release that claims "the White House declared" rather than "the President declared" is using metonymy. "The pen is mightier than the sword" •The "pen" stands in for "the written word." •The "sword" stands in for "military aggression and force." | 30 | |
| 6944048735 | Motif | In a narrative, such as a novel or a film, motifs are recurring structures, contrasts, or literary devices that can help to develop and inform the text's major themes. The motif can be an idea, an object, a place, or a statement. The flute in Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman is a recurrent motif that conveys rural and idyllic notions. The green light in The Great Gatsby | 31 | |
| 6944048736 | Paradox | A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense, but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity. The first scene of Macbeth, for example, closes with the witches' cryptic remark "Fair is foul, and foul is fair. . . ." | 32 | |
| 6944048737 | Parody | A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule. As comedy, parody distorts or exaggerates distinctive features of the original. As ridicule, it mimics the work by repeating and borrowing words, phrases, or characteristics in order to illuminate weaknesses in the original. Well- written parody offers insight into the original, but poorly written parody offers only ineffectual imitation. Usually an audience must grasp literary allusion and understand the work being parodied in order to fully appreciate the nuances of the newer work. Occasionally, however, parodies take on a life of their own and don't require knowledge of the original. | 33 | |
| 6944048738 | Periodic Sentence | A periodic sentence is a sentence which has been deliberately structured to place the main point at the end. Therefore, a period sentence will have its main clause or predicate as the last part. Often, the very last word in the sentence will be the point the writer wants to emphasize. EX: Despite the blinding snow, the freezing temperatures, and the heightened threat of attack from polar bears, the team continued. (This example has the main independent clause at the end. The main clause is highlighted.) | 34 | |
| 6944048739 | Pun | a play on words that often has a comedic effect. Associated with wit and cleverness. | 35 | |
| 6944048740 | Rhetoric | from the Greek for "orator," this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively. | 36 | |
| 6944048741 | Resources of language | this phrase refers to all the devices of composition available to a writer, such as diction, syntax, sentence structure, and figures of speech. The cumulative effect of a work is produced by the resources of language a writer chooses. | 37 | |
| 6944048742 | Satire | A work that targets human vices and follies, or social institutions and conventions, for reform or ridicule. Regardless of whether or not the work aims to reform humans or their society, satire is best seen as a style of writing rather than a purpose of writing. It can be recognized by the many devices used effectively by the satirist, such as irony, wit, parody, caricature, hyperbole, understatement, and sarcasm. The effect of satire is varied, depending on the writer's goal, but good-often humorous- is thought provoking and insightful about the human condition. | 38 | |
| 6944048743 | Simile | An explicit comparison, normally using, "like," "as," or "if." For example, remember Robbie Burns's famous lines, "O, my love, is like a red, red rose/ That's newly sprung in June./ O, my live is like a melody,/ That's sweetly played in tune." | 39 | |
| 6944048744 | Subordination | The process of linking two clauses in a sentence so that one clause is dependent on (or subordinate to) another. EX: "All the animals capered with joy when they saw the whips going up in flames." (The highlighted segment of the sentence is the subordinate caluse) | 40 | |
| 6944048745 | Syntax | Syntax is similar to diction, but you can differentiate the two by thinking of syntax as referring to groups of words, while diction refers to individual words. In the multiple-choice section of the AP Language and Composition Exam, expect to be asked some questions about how an author manipulates syntax. In the essay section, you will need to analyze how syntax produces effects. When you are analyzing syntax, consider such elements as the length or brevity of sentences, unusual sentence construction, the sentence patterns used, and the kinds of sentences the author uses. The writer may use questions, declarations, exclamations, or rhetorical questions: sentences are also classified as periodic or loose, simple, compound, or complex sentences. Syntax can be tricky for students to analyze. First try to classify what kind of sentences the author uses and then try to determine how the author's choices amplify meaning, in other words why they work well for the author's purpose. | 41 | |
| 6944048746 | Syllogism | from the Greek for "reckoning together," a syllogism (or syllogistic reasoning) is a deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises—the first called "major" and the second "minor"—that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion. A frequently cited example proceeds as follows: Major premise: All men are mortal. Minor premise: Socrates is a man. Conclusion: Therefore, Socrates is mortal. A syllogism's conclusion is valid only if each of the two premises are valid. Syllogisms may also present the specific idea first ("Socrates") and the general idea second ("All men"). | 42 | |
| 6944048747 | Synecdoche | a figure of speech that utilizes a part as representative as a whole ("All hands on deck" hands (a part)—represents the whole group of men on the ship)Synecdoche refers to the whole of a thing by the name of any one of its parts. •The word "bread" refers to food or money •The phrase "gray beard" refers to an old man. •The word "sails" refers to a whole ship. •The word "suits" refers to businessmen. •The word "boots" usually refers to soldiers. •The term "coke" is a common synecdoche for all carbonated drinks. •"Pentagon" is a synecdoche when it refers to a few decision makers. •The word "glasses" refers to spectacles. •"Coppers" often refers to coins | 43 | |
| 6944048748 | Synesthesia | A condition in which one type of stimulation evokes the sensation of another, as when the hearing of a sound produces the visualization of a color. The description of one kind of sense impression by using words that normally describe another. EX: The sun is silent EX: A sour expression EX: Sweet silence EX: A warm color | 44 | |
| 6944048749 | Understatement | This device is used to understate the obvious. On a day of extreme weather, like it is really really hot, one might say, "Is it warm enough for you?" or on a very very cold day one might say, "Balmy out isn't it?" Opposite of hyperbole. A statement which lessens or minimizes the importance of what is meant. For example, if one were in a desert where the temperature was 125 degrees, and if one wee to describe thermal conditions saying "It's a little warm today." that would be an understatement | 45 | |
| 6944048750 | Zeugma | from the Greek "yoking" or "bonding," is a figure of speech in which a word, usually a verb or an adjective, applies to more than one noun blending together grammatically and logically different ideas. For instance, in a sentence "John lost his coat and his temper" the verb "lost" applies to both noun "coat" and "temper". Losing a coat and temper are logically and grammatically different ideas that are brought together in the above mentioned sentence. Zeugma, when used skillfully, produces a unique artistic effect making the literary works more interesting and effective as it serves to adorn expressions and to add emphasis to ideas | 46 |
