| 3609148665 | Allegory | The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. In some allegories, for example, an author may intend the characters to personify an abstraction like hope or freedom. The allegorical meaning usually deals with moral truth or a generalization about human existence.
A story in which each aspect of the story has a symbolic meaning outside the tale itself. |  | 0 |
| 3609148668 | Ambiguity | The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage. |  | 1 |
| 3609148669 | Analogy | A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them. An analogy can explain something unfamiliar by associating it with or pointing out its similarity to something more familiar. Analogies can also make writing more vivid, imaginative, or intellectually engaging. | | 2 |
| 3609148671 | Antithesis | the opposition or contrast of ideas; the direct opposite. |  | 3 |
| 3609148672 | Aphorism | A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle. (If the authorship is unknown, the statement is generally considered to be a folk proverb.) An aphorism can be a memorable summation of the author's point | | 4 |
| 3609148673 | Apostrophe | A prayer like figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. It is an address to someone or something that cannot answer. The effect may add familiarity or emotional intensity. William Wordsworth addresses John Milton as he writes, "Milton, thou shouldst be living at this hour: England hath need of thee." Another example is Keats' "Ode to a Grecian Urn," in which Keats addresses the urn itself: rarely on an AP exam, but important when there. ALWAYS Pathos | | 5 |
| 3609148674 | Atmosphere | The emotional nod created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the author's choice of objects that are described. Even such elements as a description of the weather can contribute to the atmosphere. Frequently atmosphere foreshadows events. Perhaps it can create a mood. | | 6 |
| 3609148675 | Caricature | a verbal description, the purpose of which is to exaggerate or distort, for comic effect, a person's distinctive physical features or other characteristics. Example: The pupils of her eyes are small; like a pebble of sand floating atop a can of blue paint. | | 7 |
| 3609148678 | Literary Conceit | A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects Displays intellectual cleverness through unusual comparisons that make good sense | | 8 |
| 3609148682 | Didactic | From the Greek, didactic literally means "teaching." Didactic words have the primary aim of teaching or instructing,especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles. | | 9 |
| 3609148683 | Euphemism | From the Greek for "good speech," euphemisms are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept - POLITICALLY CORRECT | | 10 |
| 3609148684 | Extended Metaphor | A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work. | | 11 |
| 3609148687 | Generic conventions | This term describes traditions for each genre. These conventions help to define each genre; for example, and differentiate an essay they differentiate they differentiate an essay and journalistic writing or an autobiography and political writing. On the AP language exam,try to distinguish the unique features of a writer's work from those dictated by convention. | | 12 |
| 3609148692 | Inference/infer | To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented. When a multiple choice question asks for an inference to be drawn from a passage, the most direct, most reasonable inference is the safest answer choice. If an 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 it is wrong. You must be careful to note the connotation - negative or positive - of the choices. Adapted from V. Stevenson, Patrick Henry High School, and Abrams' Glossary of Literary Terms | | 13 |
| 3609148694 | Irony/ironic | The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant, or the difference between what appears to be and what is actually true. Irony is often used to create poignancy or humor. In general, there are three major types of irony used in language: (1) verbal irony - when the words literally state the opposite of the writer's (or speaker's) meaning (2) situational irony - when events turn out the opposite of what was expected; when what the characters and readers think ought to happen is not what does happen (3) dramatic irony - when 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. | | 14 |
| 3609148695 | Loose sentence/non-periodic sentence | A type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses. If a period were placed at the end of the independent clause, the clause would be a complete sentence. A work containing many loose sentences often seems informal, relaxed, or conversational. Generally, loose sentences create loose style. The opposite of a loose sentence is the periodic sentence. Example: I arrived at the San Diego airport after a long, bumpy ride and multiple delays. Could stop at: I arrived at the San Diego airport. | | 15 |
| 3609148700 | onomatopoeia | A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Simple examples include such words as buzz, hiss, hum, crack, whinny, and murmur. If you note examples of onomatopoeia in an essay passage, note the effect. | | 16 |
| 3609148714 | 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 human behavior, satire is best seen as a style of writing rather than a purpose for writing. It can be recognized by the many devices used effectively by the satirist: irony, wit, parody, caricature, often humorous, is thought provoking and insightful about the human condition. Some modern satirists include Joseph Heller (Catch 22) and Kurt Vonnegut (Cat's Cradle, Player Piano). | | 17 |
| 3609148718 | Syllogism | From the Greek for "reckoning together," a syllogism (or syllogistic reasoning or syllogistic logic) is a deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises (the first one called "major" and the second called "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 a mortal. A syllogism's conclusion is valid only if each of the two premises is valid. Syllogisms may also present the specific idea first ("Socrates") and the general second ("all men"). Adapted from V. Stevenson, Patrick Henry High School, and Abrams' Glossary of Literary Terms | | 18 |
| 3609148719 | Symbol/symbolism | Generally, anything that represents itself and stands for something else. Usually a symbol is something concrete -- such as an object, action, character, or scene - that represents something more abstract. However, symbols (1) natural symbols are objects and occurrences from nature to symbolize ideas commonly associated with them (dawn symbolizing hope or a new beginning, a rose symbolizing love, a tree symbolizing knowledge). (2) conventional symbols are those that have been invested with meaning by a group (religious symbols such as a cross or Star of David; national symbols, such as a flag or an eagle; or group symbols, such as a skull and crossbones for pirates or the scale of justice for lawyers). (3) literary symbols are sometimes also conventional in the sense that they are found in a variety of works and are more generally recognized. However, a work's symbols may be more complicated, as is the jungle in Heart of Darkness. On the AP exam, try to determine what abstraction an object is a symbol for and to what extent it is successful in representing that abstraction. | | 19 |
| 3609148720 | Syntax | The way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences. Syntax is similar to diction, but you can differentiate them by thinking of syntax as groups of words, while diction refers to the individual words. In the multiplechoice section of the AP 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. | | 20 |
| 3609148721 | Theme | The central idea or message of a work, the insight it offers into life. Usually theme is unstated in fictional works, but in nonfiction, the theme may be directly state, especially in expository or argumentative writing. | | 21 |
| 3609148722 | Thesis | In expository writing, the thesis statement is the sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or position. Expository writing is usually judged by analyzing how accurately, effectively,and thoroughly a writer has proven the thesis. | | 22 |
| 3609148723 | Tone | Similar to mood, tone describes the author's attitude toward his material, the audience, or both. Tone is easier to determine in spoken language than in written language. Considering how a work would sound if it were read aloud can help in identifying an author's tone. Some words describing tone are playful, serious, businesslike, sarcastic, humorous, formal, ornate, sardonic, somber, etc. | | 23 |
| 3609148724 | Transition | A word or phrase that links different ideas. Used especially, although not exclusively, in expository and argumentative writing, transitions effectively signal a shift from one idea to another. A few commonly used transitional words or phrases are furthermore, consequently, nevertheless, for example, in addition, likewise, similarly, on the contrary, etc. More sophisticated writers use more subtle means of transition. | | 24 |
| 3609148725 | Understatement | the ironic minimalizing of fact, understatement presents something as less significant than it is. The effect can frequently be humorous and emphatic. Understatement is the opposite of hyperbole. Example: Jonathan Swift's A Tale of a Tub: "Last week I saw a woman flayed, and you will hardly believe how much it altered her person for the worse." | | 25 |
| 3609148726 | Wit | in modern usage, intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights. A witty statement is humorous, while suggesting the speaker's verbal power in creating ingenious and perceptive remarks. Wit usually uses terse language that makes a pointed statement. Historically, wit originally meant basic understanding. Its meaning evolved to include speedof understanding, and finally, it grew to mean quick perception including creative fancy and a quick tongue to articulate an answer that demanded the same quick perception. | | 26 |
| 3609148727 | Ad Hominem | An attack on the person rather than the issue at hand - a common fallacy - common in elections | | 27 |
| 3609148728 | Chisamus | 'chi structure' unlike abab / language listed in an abba form:
Ask not what your country
Can do for you,
But what you
Can do for your country | | 28 |
| 3609148729 | Malapropism | a word humorously misused: Example, he is the AMPLE of her eye... instead of ' he is the APPLE of her eye, | | 29 |
| 3609148730 | Parallelism (parallel syntax) | a pattern of language that creates a rhythm of repetition often combined with some other language of repetition. Like a train gaining momentum.
Ex: When you are right you cannot be too radical; when you are wrong, you cannot be too conservative. | | 30 |
| 3609148731 | Poisoning the Well | Discrediting a person's claim by presenting unfavorable information (true or false) about the person. Person B attacking Person A before Person A can make his/her claim. Example: 'John, an abusive alcoholic, will now give his argument for the legalization of public drinking'. | | 31 |
| 3609148732 | Slippery Slope | This is the failure to provide evidence to support a claim that one event will lead to a catastrophic chain of events. | | 32 |
| 3609148733 | straw man | When a writer argues against a claim that nobody actually holds or is universally considered weak. | | 33 |
| 3609148735 | Juxtaposition | Making on idea more dramatic by placing it next to its opposite. In art it is called chiaroscuro, where a bright white object is placed next to a black object and thus both are made more visible. My goodness is often chastened by my sense of sin, or The Gasoline savings from a hybrid car as compared to a standard car seem excellent until one compares the asking prices of the two vehicles. The juxtaposition of the asking prices shows that the savings are not as significant as they first appear. | | 34 |
| 3609148741 | rhetorical appeal | the persuasive devices by which a writer tries to sway an audience's attention and response to any given work. See logos, ethos, and pathos. | | 35 |
| 3609148746 | narrative techniques | The style of telling the "story," even if the passage is nonfiction. Concentrate on the order of events and on their detail in evaluating a writer's technique. | | 36 |
| 3609148748 | stylistic devices | An essay prompt that mentions stylistic devices is asking you to note and analyze all of the elements in language that contribute to style-such as diction, syntax, tone, attitude, figures of speech, connotations, and repetition. | | 37 |
| 3609148750 | Anadiplosis | Figure of repetition that occurs when the last word or terms in one sentence, clause, or phrase is/are repeated at or very near the beginning of the next sentence, clause, or phrase. | | 38 |
| 3609148751 | Anaphora | Figure of repetition that occurs when the first word or set of words in one sentence, clause, or phrase is/are repeated at or very near the beginning of successive sentences, clauses, or phrases; repetition of the initial words over successive phrases or clauses | | 39 |
| 3609148752 | Anathema | (n.) an object of intense dislike; a curse or strong denunciation (often used adjectivally without the article) | | 40 |
| 3609148753 | Anecdote | A brief story that illustrates or makes a point | | 41 |
| 3609148754 | Antimeria | the substitution of one part of speech for another | | 42 |
| 3609148755 | Antimetabole | Figure of emphasis in which the words in one phrase or clause are replicated, exactly or closely, in reverse grammatical order in the next phrase or clause; a chiasmus on the level of words (A-B, B-A). For example, "And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country" (JFK). | | 43 |
| 3609148756 | Appeal to authority | A fallacy in which a speaker or writer seeks to persuade not by giving evidence but by appealing to the respect people have for a famous person or institution. | | 44 |
| 3609148757 | Argumentation | one of the four forms of discourse which uses logic, ethics, and emotional appeals (logos, ethos, pathos) to develop an effective means to convince the reader to think or act in a certain way. | | 45 |
| 3609148758 | Assonance | Repetition of a vowel sound within two or more words in close proximity | | 46 |
| 3609148759 | Asyndeton | A series of words separated by commas (with no conjunction), e.g. "I came, I saw, I conquered." The parts of the sentence are emphasized equally; in addition, the use of commas with no intervening conjunction speeds up the flow of the sentence. | | 47 |
| 3609148760 | attitude | A speaker's, author's, or character's disposition toward or opinion of a subject. | | 48 |
| 3609148761 | audience | One's listener or readership; those to whom a speech or piece of writing is addressed. | | 49 |
| 3609148762 | Balanced sentence | A sentence in which words, phrases, or clauses are set off against each other to emphasize a contrast | | 50 |
| 3609148763 | Begging the question | Often called circular reasoning, __ occurs when the believability of the evidence depends on the believability of the claim. | | 51 |
| 3609148766 | Allusion | A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. _____s can be historical, literary, religious, topical, or mythical. There are many more possibilities, and a work may simultaneously use multiple layers of _____. | | 52 |
| 3609148767 | Analogy | A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them. An _____ can explain something unfamiliar by associating it with or pointing out its similarity to something more familiar. _____s can also make writing more vivid, imaginative, or intellectually engaging. | | 53 |
| 3609148777 | Figure of speech | A device used to produce figurative language. Many compare dissimilar things. Figures of speech include apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, synecdoche, understatement. | | 54 |
| 3609148779 | Invective | an emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language. (For example, in Henry IV, Part hill of flesh.") | | 55 |
| 3609148780 | Irony/Ironic | The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant, or the difference between what appears to be and what is actually true. _____ is often used to create poignancy or humor. In general, there are three major types of _____ used in language: (1) verbal _____ - when the words literally state the opposite of the writer's (or speaker's) meaning
(2) situational _____ - when events turn out the opposite of what was expected; when what the characters and readers think ought to happen is not what does happen
(3) dramatic _____ - when 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. | | 56 |
| 3609148781 | Litotes | A form of understatement that involves making an affirmative point by denying its opposite. _____ is the opposite of hyperbole. Examples: "Not a bad idea," "Not many," "It isn't very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain" (Salinger, Catcher in the Rye). | | 57 |
| 3609148782 | Metaphor | A figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity. _____ical language makes writing more vivid, imaginative, thought provoking, and meaningful. | | 58 |
| 3609148783 | Metonymy | A term from the Greek meaning "changed label" or "substitute name," _____ is a figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it. For example, a news release that claims "the White House declared" rather than "the President declared" is using metonymy; Shakespeare uses it to signify the male and female sexes in As You Like It: "doublet and hose ought to show itself courageous to petticoat." The substituted term generally carries a more potent emotional impact. | | 59 |
| 3609148784 | Mood | The prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work. Setting, tone, and events can affect the _____. _____ is similar to tone and atmosphere. | | 60 |
| 3609148786 | Onomatopoeia | A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Simple examples include such words as buzz, hiss, hum, crack, whinny, and murmur. If you note examples of onomatopoeia in an essay passage, note the effect. | | 61 |
| 3609148787 | Oxymoron | From the Greek for "pointedly foolish," an _____ is a figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox. Simple examples include "jumbo shrimp" and "cruel kindness." This term does not usually appear in the multiple-choice questions, but there is a chance that you might find it in an essay. Take note of the effect that the author achieves with the use of _____. | | 62 |
| 3609148788 | 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. (Think of the beginning of Dickens' Tale of Two Cities: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times....") | | 63 |
| 3609148791 | Sarcasm | From the Greek meaning "to tear flesh," _____ involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something. It may use irony as a device, but not all ironic statements are _____stic (that is, intended to ridicule). When well done,_____can be witty and insightful; when poorly done, it is simply cruel. | | 64 |
| 3609148800 | Antihero | A protagonist (main character) who is markedly unheroic: morally weak, cowardly, dishonest, or any number of other unsavory qualities. | | 65 |
| 3609148801 | Archetype | A detail, image, or character type that occurs frequently in literature and myth and is thought to appeal in a universal way to the unconscious and to evoke a response | | 66 |
| 3609148802 | Simile | A comparison using like or as | | 67 |
| 3609148808 | Colloquial/Colloquialism | The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing. Not generally acceptable for formal writing, ____________ give a work a conversational, familiar tones. __________ expressions in writing include local or regional dialects. | | 68 |
| 3609148809 | Conceit | A fanicful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects. A _______ displays intellectual cleverness as a result of an unusual comparison being made. | | 69 |
| 3609148811 | Generic Conventions | This term describes traditions for each genre. These conventions help to define each genre; for example, they differentiate an essay and journalistic writing or an autobiography and a political writing. On the AP Language Exam, try to distinguish the unique features of a writer's work from those dictated by convention. | | 70 |
| 3609148813 | Homily | This term literally means "sermon", but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice. | | 71 |
| 3609148814 | Hyperbole | A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. (The literal Greek meaning is "overshoot.") _________s often have a comic effect; however, a serious effect is also possible. Often, _________ produces irony. The opposite of _________ is understatement. | | 72 |
| 3609148816 | Loose Sentence/Non-Periodic Sentence | A type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses. If a period were placed at the end of the independent clause, the clause would be a complete sentence. A work containing many _____ ________s often seems informal, relaxed, or conversational. Generally, _____ ________s create loose style. The opposite of a _____ ________ is the periodic sentence.
Example: I arrived at the San Diego airport after a long, bumpy ride and multiple delays.
Could stop at: I arrived at the San Diego airport. | | 73 |
| 3609148819 | Parody | A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule. It exploits peculiarities of an author's expression (propensity to use too many parentheses, certain favorite words, etc.) Well-written ______ offers enlightenment about the original, but poorly written parody offers only ineffectual imitation. Usually an audience must grasp literary allusion and understand the work being ______ed in order to fully appreciate the nuances of the newer work. Occassionally, however, ______es take on a life of their own and don't require knowledge of the original. | | 74 |
| 3609148820 | Pedantic | An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, bookish (language that might be described as "show-offy"; using big words for the sake of big words). | | 75 |
| 3609148822 | Prose | One of the major divisions of genre, _____ refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms. In _____ the printer determines the length of the line; in poetry, the poet determines the length of the line. | | 76 |
| 3609148823 | Repetition | The duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern. | | 77 |
| 3609148826 | Semantics | The branch of linguistics that studies the meanings of words, their historical and psychological development, their connotations, and their relation to one another. | | 78 |
| 3609148830 | Synechdoche | A figure of speech in which a part of something us used to represent the whorle, or occassionally, the whole is used to represent a part. Examples: To refer to a boat as a "sail"; to refer to a car as "wheels"; to referr to the violins, violas, etc. in an orchestra as "the strings". **Different tan metynomy, in whcih one thing is represented by another thing that is commonly physically associated withi it (but is not necessarily part of it), i.e., regerring to a monarch as "the crown" or the President as "The White House". | | 79 |
| 3609148831 | Synesthesia | When one kind of sensory stimulus the subjective experience of another. Ex: The sight of the red ants makes you itchy. In literature, __________ refers to the practice of associating two or more different senses in te same image. Red Hot Chili Pepper's song title,"Taste the Pain" is an example. | | 80 |
| 3609148835 | Assertion/claim (noun)/ assert (verb) | Assertions are opinions stated as facts—the basis of all arguments. Assertions are always arguable. Another word for an assertion that controls an argument is claim."America has long had a love affair with violence and guns"(x). Canada begins his book by claiming, or asserting that an important part of America's experience has been their love of violence and guns. | | 81 |
| 3609148836 | Qualification (noun) | to modify, restrict or limit. A qualification of an assertion or claim means that you agree in part, or you wish to redefine or reshape the assertion. If you were asked your opinion of Canada's assertion, or claim, you might agree that guns have held an important place in the defense of America, but that "love affair" is too strong a term to describe Americans' feelings for guns. So you would express your opinion as a qualification of Canada's argument: while it is true that guns have played an important part in American history, the reason is not Americans' love for guns but rather their desire for safety and security. | | 82 |
| 3609148837 | Speaker's Stance | a "stance" is a position, where you stand on an issue. You might, for example, disagree with Bush's stance on Iraq and believe instead that we should withdraw our troops. That belief, then, would be your stance. | | 83 |
| 3609148838 | Rebuttal/Refutation(nouns) rebut/refute (verbs) | an opposing argument; a contradiction. To prove an argument wrong. | | 84 |
| 3609148839 | Recapitulate | to repeat briefly; to summarize. Often when you write an argument essay or give a speech, you recapitulate, or sum up your points, in your conclusion. After describing his experience as a teacher with some difficult students (Ch. 4), Canada recapitulates by comparing these students to those he had grown up with in the Bronx and restating his claim that "Violence is a learned response"(28). | | 85 |
| 3609148840 | Appeals to authority | using the endorsement , approval or voice of an authority to make an argument seem more convincing. When students voice their opinions in a synthesis essay, they often quote from authority figures to support their opinions. | | 86 |
| 3609148843 | Litotes (understatement) | deliberately representing something as less than it is in order to create a particular effect. Canada relates an incident which begins with the claiming of a basketball and escalates into the confrontation of a man with a gun. He watches as the older boys reach for their knives and face down an opponent who has a much more powerful weapon. Later, when Geoffrey wants to talk about this incident, Mike and Junior deliberately understate the severity of what happened: '"He was an *******. Forget it."'(42). Their use of litotes or understatement is meant to teach an important lesson: you must keep your emotions under control in order to survive on the streets | | 87 |
| 3609148844 | Doublespeak | language used to distort and manipulate rather than to communicate. "Not doing so well" instead of very sick or injured | | 88 |
| 3609148845 | Ellipsis | The omission of a word or words necessary for complete construction but understood in the context. "The eyes of others our prisons; their thoughts our cages." | | 89 |
| 3609148846 | Ethnocentric | The belief in the inherent superiority of one's own group and culture. | | 90 |
| 3609148848 | Jargon | refers to a specialized language providing a shorthand method of quick communication between people in the same field. The basis of assessment for Schedule D Case I and II, other than commencement and cessation, is what is termed a previous year basis. (legal jargon) | | 91 |
| 3609148849 | Lending Credence | In arguing her point, a writer or speaker should always give the opponent some credit for his / her ideas. | | 92 |
| 3609148851 | Shift or Turn | a change or movement in a piece resulting from an epiphany, realization, or insight gained by the speaker, a character, or the reader | | 93 |
| 3609148852 | Spin | twist and turn so as to give an intended interpretation"The President's spokesmen had to spin the story to make it less embarrassing" | | 94 |
