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

AP Language Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
6003756438AudienceThe listener, viewer, or reader of the text. Most texts are likely to have multiple audiences.0
6003763709ConcessionAn acknowledgment that an opposing argument maybe be true or reasonable. In a strong argument, a concession is usually accompanied by a refutation challenging the validity of the opposing argument1
6003791645ConnotationMeanings or associations that readers have with a word beyond its dictionary definition, or denotation. Connotations are usually positive or negative, and they can greatly affect the author's tone.2
6003810059ContextThe circumstances, atmosphere, attitudes, and events surrounding a text.3
6003815797CounterargumentAn opposing argument to the one a writer is putting forward. Rather than ignoring a counterargument, a strong writer will usually address it through the process of concession and refutation.4
6003830203EthosGreek for "character". Speakers appeal to this to demonstrate that they are credible and trustworthy to speak on a given topic. It is established by both who are and what you say.5
6003845031LogosGreek for "embodied thought." Speakers appeal to this , or reason, by offering clear, rational ideas and using specific details, examples, fact, statistics, or expert testimony to back them up.6
6003860416OccasionThe time and place of a speech is given or a piece is written7
6003868510PathosGreek for "suffering" or "experience". Speakers appeal to this to emotionally motivate their audience. More specific appeals to this because it might play on the audience's values, desires, and hopes, one the one hand, or fears and prejudices, on the other.8
6003890774PersonaGreek for "mask". The face or character that a speaker shows to his or her audience.9
6003897906PolemicGreek for "hostile." An aggressive argument that tries to establish the superiority of one opinion over all others. It generally does not concede that opposing opinions have any merit.10
6003915234PropagandaThe spread of ideas and information to further a cause. In its negative sense, it is the use of rumors, lies, disinformation, and scare tactics in order to damage or promote a cause.11
6003939266PurposeThe goal the speaker wants to achieve.12
6003942058RefutationA denial of the validity13

Cognition -- Thinking and Language (AP) Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
5596206500cognitionthe mental activities associated with thinking, knowing, remembering, and communicating0
5596206501concepta mental group of similar objects, events, ideas, or people1
5596206502prototypea mental image or best example of a category2
5596206503algorithma methodical, logical rule or procedure that guarantees solving a particular problem. Contrasts with the speedier -- but also more error prone -- use of heuristics.3
5596206504heuristica simple thinking strategy that often allows us to make judgments and solve problems efficiently; usually speedier but also more error prone than algorithms4
5596206505insighta sudden and often novel realization of the solution to a problem; it contrasts with strategy-based solutions5
5596206506creativitythe ability to produce novel and valuable ideas6
5596206507confirmation biasa tendency to search for information that supports our preconceptions and to ignore or distort contradictory evidence7
5596206508fixationthe inability to see a problem from a new perspective, by employing a different mental set8
5596206509mental seta tendency to approach a problem in one particular way, often a way that has been successful in the past9
5596206510functional fixednessthe tendency to think of things only in terms of their usual functions; an impediment to problem solving10
5596206511representativeness heuristicjudging the likelihood of things in terms of how well they seem to represent, or match, particular prototypes; may lead us to ignore other relevant information11
5596206512availability heuristicestimating the likelihood of events based on their availability in memory; if instances come readily to mind, we presume such events are common12
5596206513overconfidencethe tendency to be more confident than correct -- to over-estimate the accuracy of our beliefs and judgments13
5596206514belief perseveranceclinging to one's initial conceptions after the basis on which they were formed has been discredited14
5596206515intutionan effortless, immediate, automatic feeling or thought, as contrasted with explicit, conscious reasoning15
5596206516framingthe way an issue is posed; how an issue is framed can significantly affect decisions and judgments16
5596206517languageour spoken, written, or signed words and the ways we combine them to communicate meaning17
5596206518phonemein language, the smallest distinctive sound18
5596206519morphemein language, the smallest unit that carries meaning; may be a word or part of a word (such as a prefix)19
5596206520grammarin language, a system of rules that enables us to communicate with and understand others20
5596206521semanticsthe set of rules by which we derive meaning from morphemes, words, and sentences in a given language; the study of meaning21
5596206522syntaxthe rules for combining words into grammatically sensible sentences in a given language22
5596206523babbling stagebeginning at about 4 months, the stage of speech development in which the infant spontaneously utters various sounds at first unrelated to the household language23
5596206524one-word stagethe stage in speech development, from about 1 to 2, during which a child speaks mostly in single words24
5596206525two-word stagethe stage in speech development, beginning around age 2, during which a child speaks mostly in two-word statements25
5596206526telegraphic speechearly speech stage in which a child speaks like a telegram --"go car"--using mostly nouns and verbs26
5596206527linguistic determinismWhorf's hypothesis that language determines the way we think27
5596206530schemaa mental framework used to organize and interpret information (perspective)28
5596206531critical periodan optimal period shortly after birth when an organism's exposure to certain stimuli or experiences produces proper development29
5596206534convergent thinkingthinking that is dominated by conforming to a single, correct answer30
5596206535divergent thinkingthinking that is linked to creativity and finding multiple solutions to a problem31
5596206536overgeneralizationthe over-extension of grammar rules32
5608658712behavioral psychologyperspective that believes only observable behavior can be measured33
5608665176cognitive psychologyperspective that studies how the brain processes information; believes the mind is like a computer.34

AP Language Cumulative Vocab Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
7200747479forensic argumentarguments that rely on evidence and testimony to recreate what can be known about events that have already occurred0
7200749994deliberative argumentarguments about what should happen in the future1
7200750840epideictic argumentarguments about beliefs and assumptions that are widely held within society; usually held in public2
7200751345stasis theorya four-question, pre-writing process developed in ancient Greece that helps researchers, writers, and people working together in teams to build information and compose communication3
7200753930rhetorical situationany set of circumstances that involves at least one person using some sort of communication to modify the perspective of at least one other person4
7200762800sanguinecheerfully optimistic, hopeful, or confident5
7200763532cholericextremely irritable or easily angered; irascible6
7200764078phlegmaticnot easily excited to action or display of emotion; apathetic; sluggish7
7200764448auspiciouspromising success; propitious; opportune; favorable8
7200765701unctuouscharacterized by excessive piousness or moralistic fervor, especially in an affected manner; excessively smooth, suave, or smug9
7225774207pathosa method of convincing people with an argument drawn out through an emotional response10
7225780479ethosa means of convincing others of the character or credibility of the persuader11
7225783146logosa statement, sentence or argument used to convince or persuade the targeted audience by employing reason or logic12
7225784960kairosa time when conditions are right for the accomplishment of a crucial action13
7225787667inductive argumentan argument in which it is thought that the premises provide reasons supporting the probable truth of the conclusion14
7225790240abaseto lower in rank, office, prestige, or esteem15
7225793906capricea sudden, impulsive, and seemingly unmotivated notion or action16
7225795244hoodwinkto deceive by false appearance17
7225797620parsimoniousexhibiting or marked by the quality of being careful with money or resources18
7225799706tantamountequivalent in value, significance, or effect19
7313997015deductive argumentan argument in which it is thought that the premises provide a guarantee of the truth of the conclusion20
7313998803logical fallacycommon errors in reasoning that will undermine the logic of your argument.21
7314000948connotationthe associated or secondary meaning of a word or expression in addition to its explicit or primary meaning22
7314002228denotationthe explicit or direct meaning or set of meanings of a word or expression, as distinguished from the ideas or meanings associated with it23
7314004126exordiumIn classical rhetoric, the introductory part of an argument in which a speaker or writer establishes credibility (ethos) and announces the subject and purpose of the discourse24
7314005361bravadoa pretentious, swaggering display of courage25
7314006616condescendto show that you believe you are more intelligent or better than other people26
7314008196dogmaticcharacterized by or given to the expression of opinions very strongly or positively as if they were facts27
7314009275engenderto make people have a particular feeling or make a situation start to exist28
7314010626visagethe face, usually with reference to shape, features, expression, etc.29
7805708005syllogisma deductive scheme of a formal argument consisting of a major and a minor premise and a conclusion; deductive reasoning30
7805711863enthymemean argumentative statement in which the writer or the speaker omits one of the major or minor premises, does not clearly pronounce it, or keeps this premise implied.31
7805715462ad hominem argumentattacking an opponent's character rather than answering his argument.32
7805721643equivocationsusing an ambiguous term in more than one sense, thus making an argument misleading.33
7805724561non-sequiturstatements, sayings and conclusions that do not follow the fundamental principles of logic and reason.34
7805726858indignantfeeling, characterized by, or expressing strong displeasure at something considered unjust, offensive, insulting, or base35
7805731371moratoriuma suspension of activity36
7805733494sequacioussomeone who blindly adopts ideas without much thought.37
7805740747zeitgeistthe general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of an era38
7805757230weala sound, healthy, or prosperous state39
8009263726anadiplosisthe repetition of a word or words in successive clauses in such a way that the second clause starts with the same word which marks the end of the previous clause.40
8009265801antanagogeplacing a good point or benefit next to a fault, criticism, or problem in order to reduce the impact or significance of the negative point41
8009267326diacopea repetition of a phrase or word, broken up by other intervening words.42
8009269080epanalepsisa figure of speech in which the beginning of a clause or sentence is repeated at the end of that same clause or sentence, with words intervening.43
8009272858pleonasmthe use of more words than are necessary to express an idea; redundancy44
8009274471blitheof a happy lighthearted character or disposition45
8009276356dilettantea person having a superficial interest in an art or a branch of knowledge46
8009277982forswearto give up or do without47
8009280333maladya disease or disorder of the animal body; an unwholesome or disordered condition48
8009281776rectituderightness of principle or conduct; moral virtue49
8233040304antimetabolea device that involves repeating a phrase in reverse order50
8233043881antiphrasisa phrase or word is employed in a way that is opposite to its literal meaning, in order to create an ironic or comic effect51
8233148054appositivea noun phrase or a noun that defines or explains another noun, which it follows52
8233240214epizeuxisa rhetorical device in which the words or phrases are repeated in quick succession, one after another, for emphasis53
8233355055metanoiaa writer or speaker deliberately goes back and modifies a statement that they just made, usually either to strengthen it or soften it in some way54
8233628280parablea short allegorical story designed to illustrate or teach some truth, religious principle, or moral lesson55
8237862521precociousunusually advanced or mature in development, especially mental development56
8237865103resplendentshining brilliantly; gleaming; splendid57
8237906296dolefulsorrowful; mournful; melancholy58
8237913239trepidationtremulous fear, alarm, or agitation; perturbation59

AP Literature Terms Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
6696362795AllegoryA narrative in which objects, characters, and actions are equated with meanings that lies outside the narrative itself.0
6696369752ChiasmusA verbal pattern in which the second half of an expression is balanced against the first but with the parts reversed.1
6696374094ConceitA far-fetched comparison between two seemingly unlike things; an extended metaphor that gains appeal from its unusual or extraordinary comparison.2
6696377365EnjambmentIn poetry, when one line ends without a pause and continues into the next line for its meaning. This is also called a run-on line.3
6696386483EncomiumA tribute or eulogy in prose or verse glorifying people, objects, ideas, or events.4
6696395552PastoralWriting that expresses a romanticized fondness for the peace and simplicity of rustic existence, especially that of shepherds5
6696402076LitoteAffirmation of an idea by using a negative understatement. The opposite of hyperbole6
6696406383ZeugmaA single word standing in the same grammatical relation to two other terms, but with some alteration in its meaning7
6706823545SynecdocheA figure of speech where one part represents the entire object, or vice versa8
6706828593BurlesqueAn extended comic imitation of someone or something in which s/he is put into incongruous situations and made to look ridiculous9
6706845279PaeanA joyful song, usually in praise of something or someone10
6706851584MelodramaAn exaggerated type of literature in which the characters are all good or evil.11
6706857299ProsodyThe systematic study of versification; including meter, rhyme, and stanza forms12
6706869493EncomiumA tribute or eulogy in prose or verse glorifying people, objects, ideas, or events.13
6706874360CoordinationThe grammatical connection of two or more ideas to give them equal emphasis and importance.14

AP English Language Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary for AP English Language

Terms : Hide Images
4289732264Ad Hominem ArgumentAttacks the opposing speaker or another person rather than addressing the issues at hand0
4289732265AllegoryFictional work in which the characters represent ideas or concepts1
4289732266AlliterationThe repetition of consonant sounds, usually at the beginning of words2
4289732267AllusionA reference, usually oblique or faint, to another thing, idea, or person3
4289732268AmbiguityUncertain or indefinite; subject to more than one interpretation4
4289732269AnalogyThe correspondence or resemblance between two things that are essentially different5
4289732270AnecdoteA short story used to illustrate a point the author is making6
4289732271AntecedentEvery pronoun refers back to a previous noun or pronoun7
4289732272AntithesisAn opposition or contrast of ideas that is often expressed in balanced phrases or clauses8
4289732273ApostropheA figure of speech in which an absent person or personified object is addressed by a speaker9
4289732274AppositiveA word or phrase that follow a noun or pronoun for emphasis or clarity10
4289732275AssonanceA type of internal rhyming in which vowel souds are repeated11
4289732276AsyndetonWhen the conjunctions (such as "and" or "but") that would normally connect a string of words, phrases, or clauses are omitted from a sentence12
4289732277AtmosphereThe emotional feeling -or mood- of a place, scene, or event13
4289732278AttitudeThe feelings of a particular speaker or piece of writing toward a subject, person, or idea14
4289732279ContrastOppositions15
4289732280Colloquial LanguageSlang or common language that is informal16
4289732281ConnotativeThe interpretive level of a word based on associated images rather than the literal meaning17
4289732282Deductive ArgumentThe process of moving from a general rule to a specific example18
4289732283DictionAn author's choice of words19
4289732284DidacticWriting which has the purpose of teaching or instructing20
4289732285ElegyA work that expresses sorrow21
4289732286EllipsesIndicated by a series of three periods; shows that words have been omitted22
4289732287EthosRefers to generally ethics, or values23
4289732288EuphemismA mild or pleasant sounding expression that substitutes for a harsh, indelicate, or simply less pleasant idea24
4289732289ExpositionWriting or speech that is organized to explain25
4289732290Figurative LanguageAll uses of language that imply an imaginative comparison26
4289732291ForeshadowingA purposeful hint placed in a work of literature to suggest what may occur later in the narrative27
4289732292HyperboleA figure of speech in which exaggeration is used to achieve emphasis28
4289732293ImageryA mental picture that is conjured by specific words and associations29
4289732294Inductive ArgumentCreating a case by providing specific examples and drawing a conclusion based on the evidence they provide30
4289732295IronyWhen a situation produces and outcome that is the opposite of what is expected31
4289732296JuxtapositionWhen two contrasting things are placed next to each other for comparison32
4289732297LogosThe use of reason as a controlling principle in an argument33
4289732298MetaphorA figure of speech in which two unlike things are compared directly34
4289732299MetonymyA figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it35
4289732300MoodThe prevailing or dominant feeling of a work, scene, or event36
4289732301OnomatopoeiaAn effect created by words that have sounds that reinforce their meaning37
4289732302OxymoronTwo contradictory words in one expression38
4289732303ParadoxA seeming contradiction that in fact reveals some truth39
4289732304ParallelismA literary technique that relies on the use of the same syntactical structures40
4289732305ParodyAn effort to ridicule or make fun of a literary work or an author by writing a comic imitation of the work41
4289732306PathosA sympathetic feeling of pity or compassion evoked by an artistic work42
4289732307Periodic SentencePresents the main clause at the end of the sentence, for emphasis43
4289732308PersonaThe character created by the voice and narration of the speaker of a text44
4289732309PersonificationA figure of speech in which ideas or objects are described as having human qualities or personalities45
4289732310Point of ViewThe particular perspective from which a story is told46
4289732311PunA play on words47
4289732312RepetitionThe reiteration of a word or phrase for emphasis48
4289732313RhetoricThe art and logic of a written or spoken argument to persuade, to analyze, or to expose49
4289732314Rhetorical StrategyThe way an author organizes words, sentences, and overall argument in order to achieve a particular purpose50
4289732315Rhetorical DevicesThe specific language tools that an author uses to carry out a rhetorical strategy (diction, imagery, or syntax)51
4289732316Rhetorical QuestionA question that is asked for the sake of argument52
4289732317SatireTo ridicule or mock ideas, persons, events, or doctrines53
4289732318Selection of DetailThe specific words, incidents, images, or events the author uses to create a scene or narrative54
4289732319SimileA commonly used figure of speech that compares one thing with another using the words "like" or "as"55
4289732320SpeakerThe narrator of a story, poem, or drama56
4289732321SyllogismA form of deductive reasoning in which pieces of evidence are used to create a new conclusion57
4289732322SymbolSomething that stands for something else58
4289732323SynonymA word that has the same, or nearly the same, meaning as another word59
4289732324SyntaxThe way words are arranged in a sentence60
4289732325TensionA feeling excitement and expectation the reader or audience feels because of the conflict, mood, or atmosphere of the work61
4289732326ThemeThe central idea62
4289732327ToneAttitude63
4289732328UnderstatementWhen an author assigns less significance to an event or thing than it deserves64
4289732329ZeugmaWhen a word is used with two adjacent words in the same construction, but only makes literal sense with one of them65

Ap Literature Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
8358903438Anecodotea short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.0
8358903439AnalogyA similarity or comparison between two different things typically on the basis of their structure and for the purpose of explanation or clarification1
8358903440OxymoronA figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase.2
8358903441aphorisma short witty saying a hit dog always barks3
8358903442ClichèAn overused saying or idea4
8358903443AnaphoraThe deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect ( I have a dream )5
8358903444AllegoryA work that functions on a symbolic level ( the Lorax = environmental )6
8358903445InversionThe reversal of the normal order of words ( what big ears you have )7
8358903446AntecedentThe word , phrase or clause that a pronoun refers to .8
8358924073ParrelismRefers to matching grammarical structures in sentences9

The Classical Era - AP World History Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
6803897895BuddhismBelief system that started in India in the 500s BCE. Happiness can be achieved through removal of one's desires. Believers seek enlightenment and the overcoming of suffering. A path of practice and spiritual development leading to Insight into the true nature of reality.0
6803897896600 BCE - 600 CEClassical Era Time Period1
6803897897JudaismA religion that originated in the Middle East, founded by Moses. They believe that there is one God whom they covenant. A common symbol for this religion is David's Star.2
6803897898ChristianityA religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus3
6803897899HinduismMost prevalent religion in India, that integrates spiritual beliefs with daily practices and official institutions such as the caste system.4
6803897900ConfucianismEmphasized education, family, peace, and justice5
6803897901Daoism (Taoism)Philosophy based on the ideas of the Chinese thinker Laozi, Who taught that people should be guided by a universal force called the Dao.6
6803897902ZoroastrianismA religion originating in ancient Iran. It centered on a single benevolent deity-Ahura Mazda, Emphasizing truth-telling, purity, and reverence for nature, the religion demanded that humans choose sides between good and evil7
6803897903TorahSacred Book for the Jewish & Judaism8
6803897904Synagoguesthe building where a Jewish assembly or congregation meets for religious worship and instruction9
6803897905Siddhartha GautamaThe founder of Buddhism10
6803897906VedasReligious texts that were passed down from generation to generation of Aryans in the form of hymns, songs, prayers and rituals honoring the Aryan gods11
6803897907ReincarnationThe rebirth of a soul after the body dies12
6803897908NirvanaUnion with the universal spirit; can be reached through the four noble truths and eightfold paths13
6803897909Pax Romanathe period of peace that existed between nationalities within the Roman Empire14
6803897910Law of Twelve Tablesthe earliest code of Roman civil, criminal, and religious law15
6803897911Punic warsa series of three wars fought between Rome and Carthage from 264 BC to 146 BC. At the time, they were probably the largest wars that had ever taken place.16
6803897912Constantinewas Roman Emperor from 377 - 306BC, he was the first emperor to profess Christianity and turned Rome in a Christian State17
6803897913DiasporaScattering of Hebrews because of conquerers that spread them to other parts of the earth18
6803897914KarmaA destiny that has been shaped by years of cause and effect, that is outwardly revealed by and individuals caste or station life19
6803897915Eightfold pathComposed of eight steps that must be mastered one at a time20
6803897916MahabharataWorlds longest poem that contains Hindu beliefs21
6803897917DharmaSet of duties that the individual must fulfill22
6803897918ShivaA supreme deity, the preserver23
6803897920VishnuA supreme deity, the destroyer24
6803897921PaulOne of the twelve men to follow Jesus and the most responsible for the rapid growth of Christianity. Was a key Christian leader who was initially a Jewish rabbi and hostile towards Christians, but became an ardent follower.25
6803897922Great Wall of ChinaWall began in the Qin Dynasty26
6803897923BrahminPriests who compiled the Vedas27
6803897924Kshatriyawarriors and officials (caste system)28
6803897925Vaishyamerchants, artisans, and landowners (caste system)29
6803897926Shudrapeasants and laborers (caste system)30
6803897928Mauryan Empire(321-184BC) The first united Indian state, founded by Chandragupta Maurya in 324 BCE, after Alexander's defeat of weakened India; it lasted for more than 100 years, before it declined, and fell in 183 BCE.31
6803897929Gupta Empire320BC-550CE, located in northern India32
6803897930Persian EmpireIndo-Europeans who settled in present-day Iran. Defeated the Babylonians and created the largest empire in the world up to 500 BC. It stretched across Africa, the Mediterranean, Turkey, Greece, and Afghanistan. Persia was later conquered by Alexander the Great.33
6803897931Qin DynastyIron weapons helped army defeat other states until it controlled China, King declared himself "First Emperor" or Shi Huangdi (ruled 221 - 210 BCE. The dynasty didn't last long but is significant in regard to the development of the Chinese state, and developed bureaucracy (it also made the Great Wall of China)34
6803897932Han DynastyDynasty that lasted from 206-220BC and began the official establishment of the Silk Road.35
6803897933Byzantine EmpireThe eastern half of the Roman Empire, which survived after the fall of the Western Empire at the end of the 5th century C.E. Its capital was Constantinople, named after the Emperor Constantine.36
6803897934Mayan CivilizationCivilization of the Americas located in Central America that saw its height from 200-900 CE.37
6803897935Hellenistic SynthesisHellenistic culture mixed with other cultures, creating cosmopolitan societies connected by trade and Greek culture38
6803897936Athens and Spartatwo main city-states of Greek Empire39
6803897937LegalismChinese philosophy developed by Han Feizi; taught that humans are naturally evil and therefore need to be ruled by harsh laws.40
6803897938Mandate of HeavenAncient Chinese belief/theory and philosophical idea that tiān (heaven) granted emperors the right to rule based on their ability to govern well, appropriately and fairly.41
6803897939AristotleA Greek philosopher and scientist who was interested in practically every field of human endeavor.42
6803897940SocratesFirst philosopher to focus on ethical questions and truth-seeking regarding human nature, understandings and relationships43
6803897941MarathonBattle in 490 BCE Greeks defeat Persia44
6803897942Peloponnesian war431-404 BCE) between Athens and Sparta. With Sparta winning, both were still majorly weakened, they were conquered by Macedonia45
6803897944Four noble truths・all of life is suffering ・all suffering is caused by desire for things that ultimately won't fulfill us ・desire can only be overcome by ending all desire ・desire can only be ended by following the eighthfold path46
6803897945BoddhisatvaA person who had taken the the eightfold path and reached perfection but had delayed entering nirvana in order to help others along the way47
6803897946Alexander The GreatBetween 334 and 323 B.C.E. he conquered the Persian Empire, reached the Indus Valley, founded many Greek-style cities, and spread Greek culture across the Middle East.48
6803897947BureaucracyA system of government in which most of the important decisions are made by state officials rather than by elected representatives49
6803897948AshokaLeader of the Mauryan dynasty of India who conquered most of India but eventually gave up violence and converted to Buddhism50
6803897949Chandragupta MauryaFounder of the Mauryan Empire, first emperor to unify most of India51
6803897950Chandra GuptaFounder of the Gupta Empire52
6803897951Caste SystemA Hindu social class system that controlled every aspect of daily life53
6803897952AthensA democratic Greek polis who accomplished many cultural achievements, and who were constantly at war with Sparta.54
6803897953SpartaA powerful Greek military polis that was often at war with Athens. Used slaves known as helots to provide agricultural labor.55
6803897954Shi HuangdiFounder of the short-lived Qin dynasty and creator of the Chinese Empire (r. 221-210 B.C.E.). He is remembered for his ruthless conquests of rival states and standardization.56
6803897955AnalectsCollection of moral and social teachings of Confucius, including the concept of the Five Relationships.57
6803897956Confucius(551-479 BCE?) Chinese philosopher and writer of The Analects, a collection of moral and social teachings, including the concept of the Five Relationships. Also known as Kong Fu Zi.58
6803897957Teotihuacan(200 BCE - 750 CE) Highland Mexico, largest city, obsidian, more than 5000 structures, pop 125-200k people, large pyramids, no ball courts, no writing, city of the gods, evidence for large fires.59
6803897958ZoroasterFounder of Zoroastrianism, a religion unique to Persia.60
6803897959Royal RoadCreated by King Darius, a system of roads in the Persian empire stretching over 1,600 miles. It connected the vast empire and helped with communication and transportation61
6803897960Mayan2000 BCE - 1500 CE, located in Southern Mexico, and was divided into city-states each with their own kind, rural area for farming, and city area temples. They also had a fair legal system with laws and courts.62
6803897961QuranSacred religious texts for Islam63
6803897962Cyrus the GreatExtended territory from India to the Mediterranean Sea, Reached its height under Darius I (into Egypt and Macedonia) and established law code based on earlier Mesopotamian codes.64
6803924930DariusPersian ruler who brought order to the Persian Empire. He also built roads; established a postal system; and standardized weights, measures, and coinage.65

AP Language Semester 1 Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
5746862115accrued (use in sentence)to come about as a natural growth, increase, or advantage; to accumulate or be added periodically0
5746862116ad hominem argument (find ex)attacking an opponent's character rather than answering his argument1
5746862117alacrityliveliness; cheerful readiness, promptness, or willingness2
5746863517allusionincidental mention of something; passing or casual reference3
5746863518ambiguous (know both)of doubtful or uncertain nature; difficult to comprehend, distinguish, or classify; open to or having several possible meanings or interpretations; equivocal4
5746865079anecdotea short account of a particular incident or event, especially of an interesting or amusing nature5
5746866270avante-gardeunorthodox or daring; radical with respect to art, culture, and society6
5746866271bourgeoisa person whose political, economic, and social opinions are believed to be determined mainly by concern for property values and conventional respectability; middle class7
5746866272censurestrong or vehement expression of disapproval8
5746867693cirriformslender and prolonged and usually curved9
5746867694colloquialused in ordinary or familiar conversation; not formal or literary10
5746867695concessionthe act of conceding or yielding, as a right, a priviledge, or a point or fact in an argument11
5746869216constancythe quality of being unchanging or unwavering, as in purpose, love, or loyalty; firmness of mind; faithfulness; uniformity or regularity, as in qualities or conditions; invariableness12
5746869217constitutesto appoint to an office, function, or dignity; to compose or form13
5746869218contrailsa visible condensation of water droplets or ice crystals from the atmosphere, occurring in the wake of an aircraft, rocket, or missile under certain conditions14
5746870671conventionsa meeting or formal assembly, as of representatives or delegates, for discussion of and action on particular matters of common concern; an agreement, compact, or contract; a rule, method, or practice established by usage15
5746870672convolutedcomplicated; intricately involved16
5746870673correlated17
5746871879counterclaim18
5746871880counterproposal19
5746871881cynical20
5746873758dangling participle21
5746873759diligence22
5746873760disdain23
5746877641disillusioned24
5746877642dispassionate25
5746877643dispirited26
5746878602doctrine27
5746878603elysian28
5746878604encapsulate29
5746878605enigmatic30
5746880082epigram31
5746880083equivocal32
5746880084eritude33
5746880085exhortation34
5746882023expedient35
5746882024feasible36
5746882025forebears37
5746883581frivolous38
5746883582heretics39
5746883583hitherto40
5746884535ignoble41
5746885655indispensable42
5746885656inherent43
5746885657innate44
5746885658latrine45
5746887354laud (laudatory)46
5746887355logical fallacy47
5746888282malicious48
5746888283mammon49
5746888284methodology50
5746889942monotony51
5746889943nonnative52
5746890977objective53
5746894732paradox54
5746894733permanance55
5746894734pernicious56
5746895884pretentiousness57
5746895885prose58
5746895886provocative59
5746897287rapidity60
5746897288rationale61
5746897289sanctity62
5746898391shortcomings63
5746898392sobering64
5746898393sovereignty65
5746899341spectacle66
5746899342strident67
5746899343sufficient68
5746899344syntax69
5746900492tersely70
5746900493transfiguration71
5746900494underlying72
5746901611unforseen73
5746901612validate74
5746903015vindictive75
5746903016vocation76
5746903017wholeheartedly77
5746904183wholly78
5746905440wrought79

AP Literature - Key Terminology Flashcards

Key terms in AP English Literature and Composition from the Kaplan study guide.

Terms : Hide Images
5104750527allegory - 1a prose or poetic narrative in which the characters, behavior, or setting demonstrate multiple levels of meaning or significance0
5104750528alliteration - 1the sequential repetition of a similar initial sound1
5104750529allusion - 1a reference to a literary or historical event, person, or place2
5104750537assonance - 1a repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds3
5104750540ballad - 1a narrative poem that is, or originally was, meant to be sung4
5104750547conceit - 1a comparison of two unlikely things that is drawn out within a piece of literature, particularly a piece of extended metaphor within a poem5
5104750548connotation - 1what is suggested by a word, apart from what it implicitly describes6
5104750553dialect - 1the language and speech idiosyncrasies of a specific area, region, or group of people7
5104750554diction - 1the specific word choice an author uses to persuade or convey tone8
5104750558epic - 1a poem that celebrates, in a continuous narrative, the achievements of mighty heroes and heroines, often concerned with the founding of a nation or developing of a culture9
5104750559exposition - 1that part of the structure that sets the scene, introduces or identifies characters, and establishes the situation at the beginning of a story or play10
5104750564flashback - 1retrospection, where an earlier event is inserted into the normal chronology of the narrative11
5104750566formal diction - 1language that is lofty, dignified, and impersonal12
5104750568genre - 1a type or class of literature such as epic or narrative poetry or belles lettres13
5104750569hyperbole - 1overstatement characterized by exaggerated language14
5104750572imagery - 1any sensory detail or invocation in a work; also, the use of figurative language to evoke a feeling, call to mind an idea, or describe and object15
5104750574in medias res - 1"in the midst of things"; refers to opening a story in the middle of the action, necessitating filling in past details by exposition or flashback16
5104750575irony - 1a situation or statement characterized by significant difference between what is expected or understood and what actually happens or is meant17
5104750576jargon - 1specialized or technical language of a trade, profession, or similar group18
5104750578limited point of view - 1a perspective confined to a single character, whether a first person or a third person19
5104750579litote - 1a figure of speech that emphasizes its subject by conscious understatement: "Last week I saw a woman flayed and you would hardly believe how it altered her appearance for the worse."20
5104750585metonymy - 1a figure of speech in which an attribute or commonly associated feature is used to name or designate something: "The White House announced today," "The pen is mightier than the sword."21
5104750602personification - 1treating an abstraction or nonhuman object as if it were a person by endowing it with human qualities22
5104750608realism - 1the practice in literature of attempting to describe nature and life without idealism and with attention to detail23
5104750614sarcasm - 1a form of verbal irony in which apparent praise is actually harshly or bitterly critical24
5104750635style - 1a distinctive manner of expression25
5104750636symbol - 1a person, place, thing, event, or pattern in a literary work that designates itself and at the same time figuratively represents or "stands for" something else26
5104750638syntax - 1the way words are put together to form phrases, clauses, and sentences27
5104750641tone - 1the attitude a literary work takes toward its subject and theme28
5104750642tragedy - 1a drama in which a character (usually good and noble and of high rank) is brought to a disastrous end in his or her confrontation with a superior force due to a fatal flaw in his or her character29
5104750531anaphora - 2the regular repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases or clauses30
5104750532anecdote - 2a brief story or tale told by a character in a piece of literature31
5104750534antithesis - 2the juxtaposition of sharply contrasting ideas in balanced or parallel words32
5104750535apostrophe - 2an address or invocation to something that is inanimate33
5104750538asyndeton - 2a style in which conjunctions are omitted34
5104750539attitude - 2the sense expressed by the tone of voice and/or mood of a piece of writing35
5104750545chiasmus - 2a figure of speech by which the order of the terms in the first of two parallel clauses is reversed in the second: "Pleasure is a sin, and sometimes sin's a pleasure."36
5104750549consonance - 2the repetition of a sequence of two or more consonants, but with a change in the intervening vowels: "pitter-patter, pish-posh"37
5104750546colloquial - 2ordinary language, the vernacular38
5104750552denotation - 2a direct or specific meaning, often referred to as the dictionary meaning of a word39
5104750556elegy - 2a poetic lament upon the death of a particular person, usually ending in consolation40
5104750561fable - 2a legend or short story often using animals as characters41
5104750577juxtaposition - 2the location of one thing as being adjacent or juxtaposed with another, to create a certain effect42
5104750581lyric - 2originally designated poems meant to be sung to the accompaniment of a lyre; now any short poem in which the speaker expresses intense personal emotion rather than describing a narrative or dramatic situation43
5104750583metaphor - 2one thing pictured as if it were something else, suggesting a likeness or analogy between them44
5104750586mood - 2a feeling or ambiance resulting from the tone of the piece as well as the writer/narrator's attitude and point of view45
5104750593onomatopoeia - 2a word capturing or approximating the sound of what it describes: "buzz," "clank"46
5104750595oxymoron - 2a figure of speech that combines to apparently contradictory elements: "jumbo shrimp," "deafening silence"47
5104750598parallel structure - 2the use of similar forms in writing for nouns, verbs, phrases, or thoughts: "Jane likes reading, writing, and skiing," NOT "Martha takes notes quickly, thoroughly, and in a detailed manner."48
5104750599parody - 2a work that imitates another work for comic effect by exaggerating the style and changing the content of the original49
5104750601periodic sentence - 2a sentence that is not grammatically complete until the end: "The child, who looked as if she were being chased by demons, ran."50
5104750605plot - 2the arrangement of the narration based on the cause-effect relationship of the events51
5104750610rhetorical question - 2a question that is simply asked for stylistic effect and is not expected to be answered52
5104750615satire - 2a literary work that holds up human failings to ridicule and censure53
5104750617setting - 2the time and place of the action in a story, poem, or play54
5104750620simile - 2a direct, explicit comparison of one thing to another, using the words 'like' or 'as'55
5104750622speaker - 2the person, not necessarily the author, who is the voice of a poem56
5104750631stereotype - 2a characterization based on conscious or unconscious assumptions that some aspect, such as gender, age, ethnic or national identity, religion, occupation, marital status, and so on, are predictable accompanied by certain character traits, action, and even values57
5104750637synecdoche - 2when a part is used to signify a whole: "All hands on deck," "He stole five hundred head of longhorns."58
5104750530anapestic - 3a metrical foot in poetry that consists of two unstressed syllables followed by a stressed one: "Twas the NIGHT before CHRISTmas"59
5104750533antagonist - 3any character or force that is in opposition to the main character, or protagonist60
5104750536archetypes - 3recurrent designs, patterns of action, character types, themes, or images which are identifiable in a wide range of literature61
5104750544caricature - 3a depiction in which a character's characteristics or features are so deliberately exaggerated as to render them absurd62
5104750555dramatic monologue - 3a monologue set in a specific situation and spoken to an imaginary audience; soliloquy63
5104750562falling action - 3that part of plot structure in which the complications of the rising action are untangled; also known as the denouement64
5104750563farce - 3a play or scene in a play or book that is characterized by broad humor, wild antics, and often slapstick or physical jokes65
5104750565foreshadowing - 3to hint at or to present an indication of the future beforehand66
5104750567free verse - 3poetry that is characterized by varying line lengths, lack of traditional meter, and non-rhyming lines67
5104750571idyll - 3a short poem describing a country or pastoral scene, praising the simplicity of rustic life68
5104750573informal diction - 3language that is not as lofty or impersonal as formal diction; similar to everyday speech69
5104750587motif - 3a recurrent device, formula, or situation that often serves as a signal for the appearance of a character or event70
5104750588narrative structure - 3a textual organization based on sequences of connected events, usually presented in a straightforward, chronological framework71
5104750589narrator - 3the character who "tells" the story, or in poetry, the persona72
5104750590occasional poem - 3a poem written about or for a specific occasion, public or private73
5104750591ode - 3a lyric poem that is somewhat serious in subject and treatment, is elevated in style, and sometimes uses elaborate stanza structure, which is often patterned in sets of three; often written to praise or exalt a person, quality, characteristic, or object74
5104750592omniscient point of view - 3also called unlimited focus; a perspective that can be seen from one character's view, then another's, then another's and can be moved at any time75
5104750596parable - 3a short fictional story that illustrates an explicit moral lesson through the use of analogy76
5104750597paradox - 3a statement that seems contradictory but may actually be true: "fight for peace"77
5104750600pastoral - 3a work that describes the simple life of country folk, usually shepherds who live a timeless, painless life in a world full of beauty, music, and love; also called an eclogue, a bucolic, or and idyll78
5104750603persona - 3the voice or figure of the author who tells and structures the story and who may or may not share the values of the actual author (e.g. adult Scout in 'To Kill a Mockingbird,' Watson in 'Sherlock Holmes')79
5104750606protagonist - 3the main character in a work, who may or may not be heroic80
5104750609refrain - 3a repeated stanza or line(s) in a poem or song81
5104750613rising action - 3the development of action in a work, usually at the beginning82
5104750619shaped verse - 3another name for concrete poetry, poetry that is shaped to look like an object83
5104750621soliloquy - 3a monologue in which the character in a play is alone and speaking only to himself or herself84
5104750633stock character - 3character who appears in a number of stories or plays such as the cruel stepmother, the femme fatale, etc.85
5104750634structure - 3the organization or arrangement of the various elements in a work86
5104750640theme - 3a generalized, abstract paraphrase of the inferred central or dominant idea or concern of a work87
5104750644turning point - 3the third part of plot structure, the point at which the action stops rising and begins falling or reversing; also called the climax88

AP Spanish Literature - Poetry Terminology Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
4321062942Aliteración:Repetition of a consonant in a series, either at the beginning of a word or of a stressed syllable. Example: "¿O cuál es más de culpar, / aunque cualquiera mal haga, / la que peca por la paga / o el que paga por pecar?" (Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz).0
4321062943Anáfora:Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. Example: "Que por mayo era, por mayo, / cuando hace la calor, / cuando los trigos encañan / y están los campos en flor" ("Romance del prisionero").1
4321062944Apóstrofe:Figure of speech in which the poet speaks directly to someone or something with vehemence. Example: "¡Oh excelso muro, oh torres coronadas / de honor, de majestad, de gallardía! (Luis de Góngora, "A Córdoba").2
4321062945Asonancia:Repetition of a vowel in a series of words. Example: "Llora monótona / como llora el agua, / como llora el viento / sobre la nevada" (Federico García Lorca).3
4321062946Carpe diemMedieval motif or topos meaning 'make the best of the present moment'. A common theme in European lyric poetry, in which the speaker of a poem argues (often to a hesitant virgin) that since life is short, pleasure should be enjoyed while there is still time. Example: Robert Herrick's line "Gather ye rosebuds while ye may."4
4321062947Consonancia:Repetition of a consonantal sound within a line or series of lines. Example: "Suspiros de luz musical" (Salvador Díaz Mirón).5
4321062948Enlace:Act of linking a word ending with a vowel with a word which begins with a vowel, thus forming one syllable, even if the linked vowels are both strong (a, e, o). Example: "como llora el agua" = co-mo-llo-rae-la-gua.6
4321062949Estrofa:Stanza of a poem.7
4321062950Falacia patética:A form of personification by which the poet attributes human emotions or characteristics to inanimate objects or to nature. Examples: angry clouds, a cruel wind.8
4321062951Hipérbole:Use of exaggeration or overstatement for emphasis or poetic effect. Example: "Shall I compare thee to a summer's day? / Thou art more lovely and more temperate" (Shakespeare).9
4321062952Locus Amoenus(Latin, peaceful place), Medieval motif or topos consisting of a natural scene described thus by E. R. Curtius: "a beautiful, shaded site. Its minimum ingredients comprise a tree (or several trees), a meadow, and a spring or brook. Birdsong and flowers may be added. The most elaborate examples also add a breeze" (European Literature and the Latin Middle Ages).10
4321062953Metáfora:Figure of speech which describes one thing in terms of another. Unlike simile, metaphor draws an implied rather than an expressed comparison and it fuses the two elements in a comparison, while simile usually keeps them distinct. Examples: "¡Día, redondo día! / luminosa naranja de veinticuatro gajos" (Octavio Paz); "El pájaro es el periódico / de la mañana en el campo" (Jorge Carrera Andrade).11
4321062954Metonimia:Technique of substituting one word for another with which it stands in close relationship. Example: "Mientras el corazón y la cabeza / Batallando prosigan" (Gustavo Adolfo Bécquer).12
4321062955Onomatopeya:Poetic device in which the sense is suggested by the sounds of the words used. Examples: "The moan of doves in immemorial elms, / And murmuring of innumerable bees" (Tennyson); "En el silencio sólo se escuchaba / Un susurro de abejas que sonaba" (Garcilaso).13
4321062956Oxímoro:Paradoxical statement which combines two words or phrases usually considered contraries. Example: "Parting is such sweet sorrow" (Shakespeare).14
4321062957Personificación:Figure of speech which attributes human qualities to inanimate or abstract things. Example: "El día se suicida / arrojándose al mar" (Vicente Huidobro).15
4321062958Rima asonante:Patterned repetition of vowels at the end of a poetic line, beginning with the last accented vowel. Examples: plácido <-> tocando <-> campanario; redondos <-> oro <-> olmo.16
4321062959Rima consonante:Patterned repetition of vowels and consonants at the end of a poetic line, beginning with the last accented vowel. Examples: tesoro <-> lloro; volver <-> querer.17
4321062960Silepsis / Zeugma:Construction in which one word is used to modify or govern two or more words, often so that its use is grammatically or logically correct with only one. Examples: "He lost his hat and his temper;" "Pasó un perro, pasó una monja, / pasó una semana y un año" (Neruda).18
4321062961Símbolo:Metaphor from which the first term has been omitted. The rose is a symbol if it represents a beautiful girl, but if we say that a girl is a rose, we are emphasizing metaphorical transfer from one object to another. Example: "And I have seen the eternal Footman hold my coat and snicker / And in short, I was afraid" (T. S. Eliot).19
4321062962Símil:Figure of speech which compares one thing directly with another, usually with the linking word como (like or as). Example: "El verano, redondo como una sandía" (Neruda).20
4321062963Sílaba:Syllable of a word.21
4321062964Sinestesia:Metaphorical description of one of the five senses by means of evoking another of those senses (dry martini, sweet smile, sour note, bitter sight, loud shirt, cold words, warm color). Example: "Y un horizonte de perros / ladra muy lejos del río" (García Lorca).22
4321062965Ubi sunt?:(Latin, where are they?), Medieval motif or topos used to convey sadness about the temporary nature of life and beauty. Example: "Where are the snows of yesteryear?" (Francois Villon).23
4321062966Verso:Verse in general, or an individual line of poetry.24
4321062967Verso agudo:Poetic line with stress on the last syllable. Example: "Onda de luz".25
4321062968Verso esdrújulo:Poetic line with stress on the third-to-last syllable. Example: "Cantan los pájaros"26
4321062969Verso llano:Poetic line with stress on the next-to-last syllable. Example: "Ya lo comprendo".27
4321062970Versos impares:Odd-numbered poetic lines (1, 3, 5, etc.).28
4321062971Versos pares:Even-numbered poetic lines (2, 4, 6, etc.).29

Pages

Subscribe to CourseNotes RSS

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!