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AP Language Terms Flashcards

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4423510395EpistropheThe repetition of a word at the end of successive clauses or sentences. For no government is better than the men who compose it, and I want the best, and we need the best, and we deserve the best. - John F. Kennedy0
4423543671Foil1) Prevent from succeeding 2) The track or a scent of a hunted animal. 3) A setback in an enterprise; a defeat. Example: "A brave policewoman foiled the armed robbery."1
4423545555OdeA lyric poem in the form of an address to a particular subject, often elevated in style or manner and written in varied or irregular meaning. Example: "Scatter, as from an unextinguish'd hearth Ashes and sparks, my words among mankind! Be through my lips to unawaken'd earth The trumpet of a prophecy! O Wind, If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?"2
4423548799MalapropismThe mistaken use of a word in place of a similar-sounding one, often with unintentionally amusing effect. Example: " Dance a flamingo" ( Instead of flamenco)3
4423548800AnthropomorphismThe attribution of human characteristics or behavior to a God, animal, or object. Example: Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends4
4423560089PloceFigure of speech in which a word is separated or repeated by way of emphasis. Example:"I am stuck on Band-Aid, and Band-Aid's stuck on me."5
4423562894AsyndetonThe omission or absence of a conjunction between parts of a sentence. Example: "This is the villain among you who deceived you, who cheated you, who meant to betray you completely......."6
4423572038AnadiplosisThe 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. Example: "For Lycidas is dead, dead ere his prime, Young Lycidas and hath not left his peer."7
4423573539ZeugmaA figure of speech in which a word applies to two others in different senses or to two others of which it semantically suits only one. Example: "John lost his coat and his temper. "8
4423574956ApostropheIn literature, apostrophe is a figure of speech sometimes represented by exclamation "O". A writer or a speaker, using an apostrophe, detaches himself from the reality and addresses an imaginary character in his speech. Example: "Twinkle, twinkle, little star, How I wonder what you are. Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky."9
4423580305AntithesisAntithesis, literal meaning opposite, is a rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect. Example: " Setting foot on the moon may be a small step for a man but a giant step for mankind. "10
4423582393SynecdocheSynecdoche is a literary device in which a part of something represents the whole or it may use a whole to represent a part. Example: The phrase "gray beard" refers to an old man.11
4423582394MetonymyA figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with the name of something else with which it is closely associated. We can come across examples of metonymy both from literature and in everyday life. Example: Let me give you a hand. (Hand means help.)12
4423585013AllegoryAllegory is a figure of speech in which abstract ideas and principles are described in terms of characters, figures and events. Example: The Lord of the Flies by William Golding has many allegories about society, morality and religion, etc. Piggy's glasses symbolize knowledge, The beast stands for evil and darkness, and The fire represents hope and destruction.13
4423586352AphorismAphorism is a statement of truth or opinion expressed in a concise and witty manner. Example: Life's Tragedy is that we get old too soon and wise too late. [Benjamin Franklin]14
4423586353AnaphoraThe deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect is known as Anaphora. Example: "Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better and better"15
4423587899ElegyElegy is a form of literature which can be defined as a poem or song in the form of elegiac couplets, written in honor of someone deceased. Example: "With the farming of a verse Make a vineyard of the curse, Sing of human unsuccess In a rapture of distress; In the deserts of the heart Let the healing fountain start, In the prison of his days Teach the free man how to praise."16
4423587900EllipsesEllipsis is a literary device that is used in narratives to omit some parts of a sentence or event, which gives the reader a chance to fill the gaps while acting or reading it out. It is usually written between the sentences as "...". Example: Cary Grant received a telegram from an editor inquiring, 'HOW OLD CARY GRANT?-to which he responded: 'OLD CARY GRANT FINE. HOW YOU?'"17
4423589657AnalogyAn analogy is a comparison in which an idea or a thing is compared to another thing that is quite different from it. Example: " Just as a caterpillar comes out of its cocoon, so we must come out of our comfort zone. "18
4423589658ConnotationConnotation refers to a meaning that is implied by a word apart from the thing which it describes explicitly. Example: Pushy refers to someone loud-mouthed and irritating.19
4423591885DenotationDenotation is generally defined as literal or dictionary meanings of a word in contrast to its connotative or associated meanings. Example: A dove is used to suggest peace or gentility.20
4423591886LitoteLitotes, derived from a Greek word meaning "simple", is a figure of speech which employs an understatement by using double negatives or, in other words, positive statement is expressed by negating its opposite expressions. Example: New York is not an ordinary city.21
4423593635EuphemismThe term euphemism refers to polite, indirect expressions which replace words and phrases considered harsh and impolite or which suggest something unpleasant. Example: You are becoming a little thin on top (bald).22
4423596100OnomatopoeiaOnomatopoeia is defined as a word, which imitates the natural sounds of a thing. It creates a sound effect that mimics the thing described, making the description more expressive and interesting. Example: He looked at the roaring sky.23
4423601618Logical FallaciesA fallacy is an erroneous argument dependent upon an unsound or illogical contention. There are many fallacy examples that we can find in everyday conversations. Example: "You can't demonstrate that there aren't Martians living in caves on the surface of Mars, so it is sensible for me to accept there are."24
4518968664Active VoiceWhen the verb of a sentence is in the active voice, the subject is doing the acting. Example: Kevin hit the ball. Effect: Kevin is the subject and acts in relation to the ball.25
4518993881HyperboleHyperbole, derived from a Greek word meaning "over-casting" is a figure of speech, which involves an exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis. Example: Her smile was a mile wide.26
4519005422IronyIrony is a figure of speech in which words are used in such a way that their intended meaning is different from the actual meaning of the words. Example: A man who is a traffic cop gets his license suspended for unpaid parking tickets.27
4519025370ParadoxA statement that appears to be self-contradictory or silly but may include a latent truth. Example: I'm happy but I'm sad.28
4519037010JuxtapositionThe fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect. Example: Despair and hope29
4519051454MetaphorA figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. Example: She is fishing in troubled waters.30
4519086755Passive VoiceObject of an active sentence. Example: The savannah is roamed by beautiful giraffes.31
4519099844Point of ViewPoint of view is the angle of considering things, which shows us the opinion, or feelings of the individuals involved in a situation. Example: "I felt like I was getting drowned with shame and disgrace."32

AP LANGUAGE AND COMP RHETORICAL TERMS 1 Flashcards

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2821050587ConcessionAn acknowledgment that an opposing argument may be true or reasonable.0
2821050588ConnotationMeanings or associations that readers have with a word beyond its dictionary definition, or denotation.1
2821050589CounterargumentAn opposing argument to the one a writer is putting forward.2
2821050590PersonaThe face or character that a speaker shows to his or her audience.3
2821050591PolemicAn aggressive argument that tries to establish the superiority of one opinion over all others.4
2821050592PropagandaThe spread of ideas and information to further a cause.5
2821050593RefutationA denial of the validity of an opposing argument.6

AP Language Schemes and Tropes Flashcards

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4600068291schemean artful variation from the typical arrangement of words in a sentence0
4871395745alliterationrepetition of consonant sounds at the beginning or in the middle of two or more adjacent words1
4871400038Assonancevowel repetition2
4871401096Consonanceconsonant repetition3
4871402216Anaphorarepetition of words or words in successive clauses at the beginning of sentences or clauses4
4871407837Parallelismto give two or more parts of sentences a similar form so as to give the whole a definite pattern5
4871412196Antithesisa counter-proposition and denotes a direct contrast to the original proposition. In setting the opposite, brings a contrast in the meaning and obvious contrast in the expression6
4871419547Asyndetona stylistic scheme in which conjunctions are deliberately omitted from a series of related clauses7
4871424405Polysyndetonscheme in which conjunctions are deliberately placed consecutively with a series of commas8
4871429182Periphrasisthe use of a longer expression to express a common/shorter subject or idea9
4871430789Tropesplay with the meaning of words; more figurative devices10
4871434348Metonymya substitution that conveys a higher idea11
4871435262Analogyinference that if two or more things agree with one another in some respects they will probably agree in others12
4871441969Symbolismthe art or practice of using symbols especially by investing things with a symbolic meaning13
4871446152Allegoryan extended metaphor (can be characters or objects) that is meant to represent a moral/lesson/theme14
4871452656Motifa usually recurring salient thematic element (as in the arts); especially: a dominant idea or central theme15
4871499513Ironyopposite of what is expected16
4871501161Oxymoronusing two terms together, that normally contradict each other17
4871502973Paradoxuse of apparently contradictory ideas to point out some underlying truth18
4871515726Juxtapositionplacing two or more ideas in close proximity to convey a point19
4871523435Punplay on words20
4871524677Onomatopoeiawords used to describe a sound21
4871525855Sarcasmusually for word play can be offensive sometimes22
4871530292Understatementminimize much more serious situation23
4871532272Contradictionsays one thing, then another, and they both cancel each other out24
4871535415Aphorisma statement of common truth and unknown authership25
4871537027Allusionreference to history, culture, literature, religion26
4871540387Apostropheaddressing a thing, an abstraction or a person not present27
4871542648Anecdotea story told from personal experience28
4871544167Epigraphbrief motto or quotation set at the beginning of a text to suggest its meaning29
4945895623rhetoricstudy of the effect of language30
4945896196rhetorical modeform the rhetoric takes on the class i.e. AP Lang is nonfiction31
4945898421rhetorical questionsaid to prove a point,no real answer, used as sarcasm32
4945900664dictionword choice33
4945900665syntaxsentence structure34
4945901215laconic syntaxshort sentences35
4945905688varied syntaxa little of every type of syntax36
4945907319elongated syntaxlong sentences37
4945910294periodic sentencesubject of sentence is somewhere in the middle38
4945911744declarative sentenceboring, usual sentences39
4945913315toneauthor's attitude towards the topic (established through diction)40
4945916044stylistic deviceswords learned in elementary41
4945917654rhetorical triangle/rhetorical appealsethos, pathos, logos42
4945918101ethosuse of morals, ethics, and values in an argument43
4945918877logosuse of logic, data, examples, statistics, and/or defense in an argument44
4945921181pathosuse of emotion in an argument45
4945923451qualitative argumentpathos46
4945925012claimthe thesis or main idea47
4945925647assertiona point the author makes, an argument48
4945926186claim statementone sentence that contains: author's name, text title, and the claim49
4945928744effecthow the audience/reader is supposed to feel, what audience is supposed to do, reflect on, or change50
5592475679euphenismlighter way of phrasing a negative/serious idea ("hitched" instead of married51
5592479746idiomsphrases that a culture excepts the meaning of52
5592483440colloquialismregional dialect (pop and soda)53
5592485206slangnot standard form of language (English)54
5592489871pedanticscholarly (long words everywhere)55
5592491492jargonlanguage particularly to a profession or field56
5592492896didactictone or diction is educational and informational (textbook)57
5649683497quantitative argumentethos58

AP World History Unit 2 Test Flashcards

Chapter 7-12 Test Questions

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523756846The Medes and the Persians wereD) Indo-Europeans who migrated from central Asia to Persia.0
523756847Which of the following descriptions is NOT correct with regard to the Medes and Persians from the tenth to the sixth century B.C.E.?E) descendants of the Greeks; related to Alexander of Macedon1
523756848Which of the following is true of Cyrus?E) All these answers are correct.2
523756849Egypt was conquered byB) Cambyses.3
523756850To govern a far-flung empire consisting of more than seventy distinct ethnic groups, the Achaemenid rulersA) established lines of communication and centralized administration.4
523756851The Persian Royal Road stretched some 2,575 kilometers (1,600 miles) from Sardis in Lydia to Susa in Iran. To travel from one end to the other, it would takeB) ninety days for caravans5
523756852The "Persian Wars" (500-479 B.C.E.) refers to A) the rebellions of Mesopotamia and Egypt against the Achaemenid overlord.B) the rebellions of the Greek city-states, fighting for their independence.6
523756853Alexander's invasion of the Achaemenid empire met with great success becauseC) his army was well disciplined, was well armed, and used sophisticated tactics.7
523756854The rulers of the Seleucid empire could not control the empire effectively, primarily becauseB) as foreigners, they were opposed by native Persians.8
523756855All of the following are true of the Parthians EXCEPT that theyA) had a centralized government.9
523756856The Parthian empire was toppled byD) a revolt from within the empire.10
523756857The administration of the Persian empires called for a new class of bureaucrats whoE) All these answers are correct.11
523756858The construction of numerous underground canals (known as qanat) was undertaken becauseC) water was scarce, and underground canals could keep water from evaporating.12
523756859In classical Persia, slavesE) All these answers are correct13
523756860The economic foundation of classical Persian society wasE) agriculture.14
523756861The growth of trade was promoted byE) All these answers are correct.15
523756862Zarathustra wasB) a prophet.16
523756863Which of the following was NOT a Zoroastrian teaching?C) ascetic renunciation of the world in favor of a future heavenly existence17
523756864From the mid-seventh century, Zoroastrianism lost its popularity becauseA) Zoroastrians were converting to Islam.18
523756865Which of the following religions did NOT attract large numbers of converts in the Persian empires?D) Hinduism19
523756866In 99 B.C.E. the great historian of China, Sima Qian, suffered from castration becauseC) his view contradicted the emperor's judgment.20
523756867Confucius left an enduring mark on Chinese society asA) an educator and political advisor21
523756868By junzi, or "superior individuals," Confucius meantD) superior individuals with a broad view of public affairs.22
523756869Confucius never composed formal writings, but his disciples collected his remarks into a work called theD) Analects.23
523756870Mencius, the principal spokesman for the Confucian school, advocated thatB) government should be organized through benevolence and humane action.24
523756871The concept dao meansB) the original force of the cosmos, an eternal and unchanging principle that governs all the workings of the world.25
523756872An individual who practiced the Daoist virtue of wuwei wouldD) go with the flow of the cosmos and live in harmony with nature.26
523756873Individuals in traditional China could live as "Confucians by day . . . and Daoists by night." This refers to the notion thatB) Confucianism and Daoism were not mutually exclusive but, in many people's eyes, complemented each other.27
523756874To make a strong and powerful state, Legalist ministersD) encouraged agricultural cultivation and military service.28
523756875The First Emperor Qin ShihuangdiE) All these answers are correct.29
523756876The excavation site of the First Emperor's tomb near modern Xi'an is a great tourist attraction. When you visit the tomb, you can seeA) a great terra-cotta army of Qin soldiers and cavalry.30
523756877The great Qin empire only lasted a few years. It was ended byB) waves of revolts31
523756878Liu BangC) constructed the most highly decentralized state in China's history up to that point.32
523756879Han Wudi, the greatest and most energetic emperor of the Han dynasty, was remembered by later generationsB) as the "Martial Emperor."33
523756880In preparing government officials, the imperial university of the Later Han enrolled more than three thousand students, with its curriculum primarily based onD) Confucianism.34
523756881Han Wudi decided to go on the offensive against the Xiongnu primarily becauseA) he wanted to pacify them and create a central Asian corridor to trade35
523756882Which of the following is NOT true with regard to Chinese silk?A) Sericulture was first discovered by the Chinese during the Han dynasty.36
523756883After 100 C.E. most Chinese writing was onC) paper37
523756884After Wang Mang usurped the throne of the Han, he attempted toA) restore land that had been taken from the royal family.38
523756885An event leading to the collapse of the Han dynasty wasA) the Yellow Turban uprising.39
523756886Which of the following was NOT conveyed by the author of the Indika?C) The Indians were suffering from poverty and all kinds of miseries40
523756887In contrast to Persia and China, classical IndiaC) lacked a strong and continuing imperial tradition.41
523756888The invasions of Darius and Alexander played an important role in Indian politics and history becauseD) the intrusions destroyed many petty kingdoms and created a political vacuum.42
523756889The man who founded the first Indian empire wasA) Chandragupta Maurya.43
523756890Ashoka, the great emperor of the Mauryan empire,C) converted to Buddhism after his bloody war against Kalinga.44
523756891Which of the following caused the Mauryan empire to decline and collapse?A) financial difficulties caused by maintaining the army and bureaucracy45
523756892The Kushan empireE) All these answers are correct46
523756893Compared with the Mauryan empire, the Gupta empire wasE) All these answers are correct.47
523756894The White Huns occupied Bactria and prepared to cross the Hindu Kush into India during the fourth and fifth centuries. Their invasionsC) initially met fierce resistance from the Gupta empire48
523756895Which of the following is true with respect to marriage in classical India?E) All these answers are correct49
523756896In classical India, jatiB) had their own courts to control crimes and solve disputes50
523756897Your textbook states that "economic development and social change in classical India had profound implications for the established cultural as well as the social order." By this the authors mean thatD) new religions emerged to meet the needs of changing times.51
523756898According to legend, Siddhartha Gautama, the first Buddha, abandoned his family and comfortable life to lead the existence of a holy man because of his concern withA) suffering.52
523756899The religious goal of early Buddhism wasD) nirvana.53
523756900According to the authors of the textbook, Jainism and Buddhism appealed especially to members of lower castes because both religionsB) did not recognize social distinctions based on caste or jati.54
523756901Which of the following statements does NOT apply to Ashoka's support of Buddhism?E) He abdicated his throne, abandoned his imperial family, lived in a Buddhist monastery, and finally attained nirvana.55
523756902One of the differences between early Buddhism and Mahayana Buddhism was thatA) Mahayana theologians invented the notion of the boddhisatva56
523756903Buddhism gradually lost its popularity in India becauseD) it grew increasingly remote from the population at large57
523756904Which of the following is NOT true with regard to Hinduism?A) It restricted sexual activities.58
523756905In Homer's Iliad and Odyssey, the ancient Greeks were portrayed asA) expert and fearless seafarers59
523756906Which of the following is true with regard to Minoan and Mycenaean societies?B) Both societies built palaces.60
523756907By "tyrants" the Greeks meantB) ambitious politicians who gained power by irregular means.61
523756908Alexander's troops refused to go any further from home after they reached ________ in 327 B.C.E.E) India62
523756909The principal agent(s) for the spread of Buddhism over the silk roads was/wereB) merchants.63
523756910Which of the following is true with regard to the Indian influence in southeast Asia?E) All these answers are correct.64
523756911Mani, the founder of Manichaeism, promoted a syncretic blend ofB) Zoroastrianism, Christianity, and Buddhism65
523756912With regard to epidemic diseases on the silk roads, which of the following is NOT true?C) The diseases caused the greatest population loss in India.66
523756913Immediately after the dissolution of the Han empire in 220 C.E., ChinaA) was taken over by nomadic peoples.67
523756914Which of the following did NOT contribute to the popularity of Buddhism in post-Han China?A) The threats of epidemic diseases turned the Chinese to Buddhism for personal salvation.68
523756915What happened to the silk roads after the decline of the Han and Roman empires?C) There was less activity, but trade revived along the routes in the sixth century C.E.69

AP literature Flashcards

Terms : Hide Images
6770042908delayed sentenceA sentence that withholds its main idea until the end. For example: Just as he bent to tie his shoe, a car hit him.0
6770045512sarcasmA sharp, caustic attitude conveyed in words through jibes, taunts, or other remarks; differs from irony, which is more subtle.1
6770050703expletiveA single word or short phrase intended to emphasize surrounding words. Commonly separated by commas; e.g in fact, of course, after all, certainly.2
6770050704ironyA contrast or discrepancy between what is stated and what is really meant, or between what is expected to happen and what actually does happen.3
6770052047eulogyspeech in praise of someone who has died4
6770058417paradoxA statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity.5
6770089435epiphanySudden enlightenment or realization, a profound new outlook or understanding about the world usually attained while doing everyday mundane activities.6
6770093841onomatopoeia7

AP Language Vocab 23 Flashcards

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6573271459ComplicityDegree of Involvement as an accomplice in a crime or wrongdoing- Noun0
6573273756DeployTo put into use or action- Verb1
6573273757ExplicateTo explain- Verb2
6573285632ExplicitClearly-expressed- Adj3
6573288996ImplicateTo entail; To involve or connect incriminatingly- Verb4
6573293592ImplicitUnquestioning- Adj5
6573305419InexplicableDifficult or Impossible to explain or account for- Adj6
6573434216ReplicaA copy or reproduction- Noun7
6573437543SuppleCompliant or adaptable- Adj8
6573443270SupplicantA person who asks, prays, or begs humbly and earnestly- Noun9

AP English Literature and Composition Flashcards

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6103844466allaydiminish or put at rest (fear, suspicion, or worry).0
6103844467capacioushaving a lot of space inside; roomy.1
6103844468didacticintended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive.2
6103844469diurnaldiurnality is a form of plant or animal behavior characterized by activity during the day, with a period of sleeping, or other inactivity, at night.3
6103844470ignominousdeserving or causing public disgrace or shame.4
6103844471mitigatemake less severe, serious, or painful.5
6103844472palpitatea sensation that the heart is racing, pounding, fluttering, or skipping a beat, often bothersome, but hardly ever a sign of heart disease.6
6103844473phlegmatic(of a person) having an unemotional and stolidly calm disposition.7
6103844474propitiousgiving or indicating a good chance of success; favorable.8
6103844475prostratelying stretched out on the ground with one's face downward.9

AP Language and Composition Vocabulary Flashcards

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6763333164Expletivenoun, a profane or obscene expression usually of surprise or anger0
6763333165Asyndetonnoun, the omission of conjunctions like "and" or "but" where they would normally be used to make a speech more dramatic and effective by speeding up its rhythm and pace. This is a rhetorical device.1
6763333166Polysyndetonnoun, using several conjunctions in close succession, especially where some might be omitted (as in `he ran and jumped and laughed for joy'), a rhetorical device opposite to asyndeton.2
6763333167Understatementnoun, a statement that is restrained in ironic contrast to what might have been said. You make an understatement when you say a lot less than you could. If you say "We didn't do our best" when your team loses 56 to 0, that's quite an understatement.3
6763333168Litotesnoun, understatement for rhetorical effect (especially when expressing an affirmative by negating its contrary). "He's not the brightest bulb in the lamp," meaning "He's dumb" Or "She's no beauty queen" meaning "She's ugly"4
6763333169Parallelismnoun, similarity by virtue of corresponding. Parallelism is used in sentence construction to give matching structure. In the sentence, "I like to read, dancing, and fighting off Zombie attacks," the parts of the list are not parallel. You can revise the sentence for parallelism: "I like to read, to dance, and to fight off Zombie attacks."5
6763333170Chiasmusnoun, inversion in the second of two parallel phrases, a rhetorical technique that involves a reversal of terms, such as "It's good to be lucky, but it's lucky to be good."6
6763333171Zeugmanoun, rhetorical use of a word to govern two or more words though only one of the two thoughts should make literal or grammatical sense. For example, you could use the zeugma, "I lost my keys and my temper." In Greek, zeugma means "a yoking," as in yoking one word to two ideas.7
6763333172Antithesisnoun, exact opposite, An antithesis wouldn't exist without a thesis because it works as a comparison. Though the counterculture was strong in America in 1968, voters elected Richard Nixon, the antithesis of a hippie.8
6763333173Anaphoranoun, repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses. Used to show emphasis in speech or writing, anaphora is a popular tool for politicians, religious leaders, lyricists, and poets.In Martin Luther King Jr's most famous speech, he said "I have a dream" eight different times.9
6763333174Epistrophenoun, repetition of the ends of two or more successive sentences, verses, etc. Similar to Anaphora but at the end of sentences, you can use epistrophe as a rhetorical device when you give a speech, to emphasize your ideas. One example is President Barack Obama's repetition, at the end of sentence after sentence, of the phrase "Yes, we can."10
6763333175Anadiplosisnoun, repetition of the final words of a sentence or line at the beginning of the next. Part of another figure of speech Chiasmus, every anadiplosis does not necessarily reverse its structure like it is done in chiasmus. "Forget what you want to remember, and remember what you want to forget," is an example of chiasmus (as it involves a reversal of structure in the second clause) and anadiplosis as word "remember" marks the end of one clause and the start of the subsequent clause. "The land of my fathers and my fathers can have it." is an example of anadiplosis involving a typical repetition of the word "my father" but, unlike chiasmus, the structure of the final clause is not reversed.11
6763333176Conduplicationoun, Figure of repetition in which the key word or words in one phrase, clause, or sentence is/are repeated at or very near the beginning of successive sentences, clauses, or phrases; repetition of a key word over successive phrases or clauses. ex. "I answered their questions truthfully, including questions about my private life -- questions no American citizen would ever want to answer."12
6763333177Epanalepsisnoun, rhetoric, a repetition of a word or a phrase with intervening words setting off the repetition, sometimes occurring with a phrase used both at the beginning and end of a sentence, as in Only the poor really know what it is to suffer; only the poor.13
6763333178HypophoraHypophora is a figure of speech in which a writer raises a question and then immediately provides an answer to that question. Commonly, a question is asked in the first paragraph and then the paragraph is used to answer the question. In hypophora, the writer first poses a question and then answers that question immediately such as in this example, "What should young people do with their lives today? Many things, obviously. But the most daring thing is to create stable communities in which the terrible disease of loneliness can be cured." while in Rhetorical question, the answer is not provided by the writer since it does not require an answer. Such as, ".....For if we lose the ability to perceive our faults, what is the good of living on?"14
6763333179Rhetorical QuestionA rhetorical question is asked just for effect or to lay emphasis on some point discussed when no real answer is expected. A rhetorical question may have an obvious answer but the questioner asks rhetorical questions to lay emphasis to the point. In literature, a rhetorical question is self-evident and used for style as an impressive persuasive device. "O Wind, If Winter comes, can Spring be far behind?", "It's too hot today. Isn't it?", "The actors played the roles well. Didn't they?"15
6763333180ProcatalepsisProcatalepsis is a figure of speech which is also known as prebuttal or prolepsis in which the speaker or writer gives response to the objection of an opponent in his speech by repeating his objection. It could also be that he responds to his own objection in order to strengthen his argument by using counterarguments. Once the speakers bring attention to a possible rebuttal, they immediately refute or discredit it, for the fear that people may get confused. "I know what you're going to say...'That if they look at it properly they'll see that it wasn't our fault. But will they look at it properly? Of course they won't. You know what cats they are...", "I can think of no one objection that will possibly be raised against this proposal, unless it should be urged that the number of people will be thereby much lessened in the kingdom. This I freely own, and it was indeed the principal design in offering it to the world."16
6763333181MetabasisA transition or change from one subject to another. Consists of a brief statement of what has been said and what will follow. It might be called a linking, running, or transitional summary, whose function is to keep the discussion ordered and clear in its progress: ex. Now that I have made this catalogue of swindles and perversions, let me give another example of the kind of writing that they lead to. --George Orwell17
6763333182DistinctioFigure of explication in which an introductory reference to a word's meaning is made (e.g., "by x I mean", "which is to say that", "that is") followed by a further elaboration of that word's meaning; explicit definition of or elaboration upon the meaning or meanings of a particular word or set of words. "A team of Minot airmen was dispatched to the base Weapons Storage Area to pick up and transport two pylons to a Barksdale B-52 aircraft. For those of you unfamiliar with the term "pylon," for our purposes today, a pylon is a self-contained package of six cruise missiles that can be quickly mounted to the wing of a B-52."18
6763333183AmplificationA rhetorical device used to embellish a sentence or statement by adding further information. Increase readability and worth of the statement or sentence. It is usually used when a simple sentence is abrupt and cannot convey the desired implications. Writers then use amplification to make structural additions and give further meanings by describing and repeating a certain statement or idea. "Mr. and Mrs. Veneering were bran-new people in a bran-new house in a bran-new quarter of London. Everything about the Veneerings was spick and span new. All their furniture was new, all their friends were new, all their servants were new, their place was new, . . . their harness was new, their horses were new, their pictures were new, they themselves were new, they were as newly-married as was lawfully compatible with their having a bran-new baby..."19
6763333184Scesis OnomatonFigure of repetition in which a set of two or more different words having the same (or very nearly the same) meaning occurs within the same sentence; a successive series of words or phrases whose meanings are generally equivalent. "America is all about opportunity. That's why my parents came to America more than 40 years ago. And that's why most of your parents came here generations ago in search of an opportunity, a chance, a fair shake."20
6763333185ApophasisRhetoric. denial of one's intention to speak of a subject that is at the same time named or insinuated, as "I shall not mention Caesar's avarice, nor his cunning, nor his morality.", mentioning something by saying it will not be mentioned (as in "we won't discuss his past crimes")21
6763333186Metanoia (correctio)A self-correction. It's when a writer or speaker deliberately goes back and modifies a statement that they just made, usually either to strengthen it or soften it in some way. Metanoia involves correcting a statement just made - when an author corrects a much earlier statement, it isn't metanoia. "To help or, at least, to do no harm.", "I have my shortcomings, through my own fault and through my failure to observe the admonitions of the gods - and I may almost say, their direct instructions."22
6763333187AporiaAn expression of insincere doubt. When the writer or speaker pretends, briefly, not to know a key piece of information or not to understand a key connection. After raising this doubt, the author will either respond to the doubt, or leave it open in a suggestive or "hinting" manner. When an aporia is phrased in the form of a question, it's called a rhetorical question. "You see, we believe that 'We're all in this together' is a far better philosophy than 'You're on your own.' So who's right?" We all know that he believes the Democratic philosophy is better, and he goes on to make his argument for that position. The aporia is a way of setting up the argument.23
6763333188Similenoun, a figure of speech that expresses a resemblance between things of different kinds (usually formed with `like' or `as'). Use a simile when describing a comparison between two fundamentally different things, such as: "His voice was smooth, like butter in a warm pan."24
6763333189Analogynoun, drawing a comparison in order to show a similarity in some respect. When you draw an analogy between two things, you compare them for the purpose of explanation. The movie character Forest Gump made a silly analogy famous: "Life is like a box of chocolates." If a scientist explains that the earth's forests function as its lungs, we understand the analogy to mean that both trees and lungs take in important elements from the air.25
6763333190MetaphorA figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable, used to refer to something that it does not literally denote in order to suggest a similarity. You make an analogy between two things to show how one resembles the other in some way. When a character from Shakespeare calls the world his oyster, that's his boastful way of saying that all the riches of the world are his for the taking, like plucking a pearl from an oyster shell.26
6763333191CatachresisCatachresis is a figure of speech in which writers use mixed metaphors in an inappropriate way to create rhetorical effect. Often, it is used intentionally to create a unique expression. Catachresis is also known as an exaggerated comparison between two ideas or objects. "Tis deepest winter in Lord Timon's purse; that is, one may reach deep enough, and find little", "A man that studies revenge keeps his own wounds green...."27
6763333192SynecdocheSynecdoche is a figure of speech in which you use a part of something to stand for the whole thing (or vice versa). If your parents buy you a car and you say that you just got a new set of wheels, you're using synecdoche — you're using the wheels, which are part of a car, to refer to the whole car. The word "bread" refers to food or money as in "Writing is my bread and butter" or "sole breadwinner". 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.28
6763333193MetonymyIt is a figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with the name of something else with which it is closely associated. Synecdoche refers to a thing by the name of one of its parts. In a metonymy, on the other hand, the word we use to describe another thing is closely linked to that particular thing, but is not a part of it. For example, "Crown" which means power or authority is a metonymy. "Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears."29
6763333194PersonificationPersonification is a figure of speech in which a thing, an idea or an animal is given human attributes. The non-human objects are portrayed in such a way that we feel they have the ability to act like human beings. Look at my car. She is a beauty, isn't it so?, The wind whispered through dry grass, The flowers danced in the gentle breeze, Time and tide waits for none.30
6763333195HyperboleHyperbole is a figure of speech, which involves an exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis. Praising your favorite sports team is one thing, but if you call the team the most incredible group of humans ever to walk the earth, then you're going overboard and indulging in hyperbole.31
6763333196AllusionAllusion is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance. It does not describe in detail the person or thing to which it refers. It is just a passing comment and the writer expects the reader to possess enough knowledge to spot the allusion and grasp its importance in a text. The main thing to remember is that an allusion is a brief hint or a quick mention. It's meant to bring to mind a particular subject, but it always avoids getting into it in great depth.32
6763333197EponymEponym is a name of a legend or real person that writers associate with some other person, object, institution or thing. Simply, we can define it as a famous person whose name is given to someone else, such as Homer has derived the name of ancient epic "The Odyssey" from a major character, Odysseus. Saxophone was given the name of Sax, a surname of family from Belgium, which was skilled at making musical instruments.33
6763333198OxymoronOxymoron is a figure of speech in which two opposite ideas are joined to create an effect. The common oxymoron phrase is a combination of an adjective proceeded by a noun with contrasting meanings, e.g. "cruel kindness" or "living death". However, the contrasting words/phrases are not always glued together. The contrasting ideas may be spaced out in a sentence, e.g. "In order to lead, you must walk behind." "the shackles of love straiten'd him His honour rooted in dishonored stood And faith unfaithful kept him falsely true"34
6763333199EpithetEpithet is a descriptive literary device that describes a place, a thing or a person in such a way that it helps in making the characteristics of a person, thing or place more prominent than they actually are. Also, it is known as a by-name or descriptive title. The noun epithet is a descriptive nickname, such as "Richard the Lionhearted," or "Tommy the Terrible."35
6763333200HyperbatonHyperbaton has been derived from a Greek word that means inversion in the arrangement of common words. It can be defined as a rhetorical device in which the writers play with the normal position of words, phrases and clauses in order to create differently arranged sentences, but which still suggest a similar meaning. "Some rise by sin, and some by virtue fall..."36
6763333201ParenthesisParenthesis is a qualifying or explanatory sentence, clause or word that writers insert into a paragraph or passage. However, if they leave it out, even then grammatically the it does not affect the text that is correct without it. Writers mark them off by round and square brackets or by commas, dashes, little lines and brackets. As far as its purpose is concerned, this verbal unit provides extra information, interrupts syntactic flow of words, and allows the readers to pay attention on explanation. you must sympathize with the reader's plight (most readers are in trouble about half the time) but never seek to know the reader's wants. "you must sympathize with the reader's plight (most readers are in trouble about half the time) but never seek to know the reader's wants."37
6763333202AlliterationA stylistic device in which a number of words, having the same first consonant sound, occur close together in a series. An important point to remember here is that alliteration does not depend on letters but on sounds. So the phrase not knotty is alliterative, but cigarette chase is not. But a better butter makes a batter better, A big bully beats a baby boy, Dunkin' Donuts, Best Buy, "The fair breeze blew, the white foam flew, The furrow followed free; We were the first that ever burst Into that silent sea."38
6763333203OnomatopoeiaA word, which imitates the natural sounds of a thing. It creates a sound effect that mimics the thing described, making the description more expressive and interesting. In addition to the sound they represent, many onomatopoeic words have developed meanings of their own. For example, "whisper" not only represents the sound of people talking quietly, but also describes the action of people talking quietly. "Hark, hark! Bow-wow. The watch-dogs bark! Bow-wow. Hark, hark! I hear The strain of strutting chanticleer Cry, 'cock-a-diddle-dow!'"39
6763333204ApostropheIn literature, apostrophe is a figure of speech sometimes represented by exclamation "O". A writer or a speaker, using an apostrophe, detaches himself from the reality and addresses an imaginary character in his speech. Apostrophe used in literature is an arrangement of words addressing a non-existent person or an abstract idea in such a way as if it were present and capable of understanding feelings. "Is this a dagger which I see before me, The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee! I have thee not, and yet I see thee still." Macbeth has a strange vision of a dagger and talks to it as if it were another person.40
6763333205EnthymemeAn 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. The omitted premise in enthymeme remains understandable even if is not clearly expressed. For instance, "Where there is smoke, there is fire." (The hidden premise: The smoke causes fire.) This is known as truncated or rhetoric syllogism. Its purpose is to influence the audience and allow them to make inferences. They can be easily recognized, as these statements comes after "because." "[M]y parents decide to buy my brothers guns. These are not 'real' guns. They shoot 'BBs,' copper pellets my brothers say will kill birds. Because I am a girl, I do not get a gun."41
6763333206ClimaxAs a stylistic device, the term climax refers to a literary device in which words, phrases and clauses are arranged in an order to increase their importance within the sentence. "This note was a promise that all men, yes, black men as well as white men, would be guaranteed the unalienable Rights of Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." OR Climax is that particular point in a narrative at which the conflict or tension hits the highest point. Climax is a structural part of a plot and is at times referred to as a crisis. It is a decisive moment or a turning point in a storyline at which the rising action turns around into a falling action. Thus, a climax is the point at which a conflict or crisis reaches its peak that calls for a resolution or conclusion.42
6763333207DiacopeThis literary device is a repetition of a phrase or word broken up by other intervening words. For instance, a very popular example of diacope is in William Shakespeare' Hamlet, "to be, or not to be!" In this line, you can notice that the speaker has repeated a phrase "to be" which is separated by another phrase "or not." "You held me down, but I got up,You hear my voice, you hear that sound... You held me down, but I got up Get ready 'cause I've had enough I see it all, I see it now."43
6763333208AntimetaboleAntimetabole is a literary term or device that involves repeating a phrase in reverse order. You like it; it likes you" and "Fair is foul and foul is fair." When a sentence is repeated after reversing it so as to convey an idea or stress on a point, it is called chiasmus. In an antimetabole the words and grammatical structure is also reversed because just reversing the meaning is not enough. All the antimetaboles are chiasmus, but not all instances of chiasmus are antimetaboles. "You stood up for America, now America must stand up for you."44
6763333209AntiphrasisAntiphrasis is a figurative speech in which a phrase or word is employed in a way that is opposite to its literal meaning in order to create an ironic or comic effect. It is the use of phrases or words in their opposite sense than the real meaning. "Yes, I killed him. I killed him for money-and a woman-and I didn't get the money and I didn't get the woman. Pretty, isn't it....." (Double Indemnity by Billy Wilder and Raymond). Here, the speaker is making ironic statement by using opposite sense of the word pretty. He has committed murder, yet he describes his act "pretty".45
6763333210EpizeuxisIt is defined as a rhetorical device in which the words or phrases are repeated in a quick succession after each other for emphasis. It is also called diacope. Epistrophe is the repetition of the words at the end of successive sentences such as "Where now? Who now? When now...,". Whereas, anaphora is the reverse of epistrophe; it is a repetition of the words and phrases at the beginning of successive sentences. Epizeuxis, is less refined but, it makes a very strong impact. Epizeuxis is the repetition of words in succession within a same sentence such as "The horror, the horror." "And my poor fool is hanged! No, no, no life! Why should a dog, a horse, a rat have life, And thou no breath at all? Thou'lt come no more, Never, never, never, never!"46
6763333211AposiopesisA rhetorical device that can be defined as a figure of speech in which the speaker or writer breaks off abruptly and leaves the statement incomplete, as if the speaker is not willing to state what is present in his mind due to being overcome by passion, excitement or fear. In a piece of literature, it means to leave a sentence unfinished so that the reader could determine his own meanings. "Well, I lay if I get hold of you I'll - She did not finish, for by this time she was bending down and punching under the bed with the broom, and so she needed breath to punctuate the punches with. She resurrected nothing but the cat...."47
6763333212AnacoluthonA stylistic device defined as a syntactic deviation and interruption within a sentence from one structure to another. In this interruption, the expected sequence of grammar is absent. The grammatical flow of sentences is interrupted in order to begin more sentences. "I will have such revenges on you both, That all the world shall-I will do such things, What they are, yet I know not....." This excerpt can be considered as one of the good anacoluthon examples as there is interruption from one sentence to another and such interruption is done to attract the readers' attention.48
6763333213EnumeratioEnumeration is a rhetorical device used for listing the details or a process of mentioning words or phrases step by step. In fact, it is a type of amplification or division in which a subject is further distributed into components or parts. The writers use enumeration to elucidate a topic to make it understandable for the readers. It also clarifies the ambiguity that may be created in the minds of the readers. "W]hen we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics, will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old Negro spiritual, 'Free at last! Free at last! Thank God Almighty, we are free at last!"49
6763333214Antanagoge(Rhet.) A figure which consists in answering the charge of an adversary, by a counter charge. Not being able to answer the accusation of an adversary, a person instead makes a counter allegation or counteracting an opponent's proposal with an opposing proposition in one's own speech or writing.50
6763333215ParataxisA rhetorical term in which phrases and clauses are placed one after another independently, without coordinating or subordinating them through the use of conjunctions. It is also called additive style. Parataxis is sometimes used as asyndeton in which the phrases and clauses are coordinated without conjunctions. "Veni, vidi, vici" or, "I came, I saw, I conquered." There are no conjunctions or joining words used. The phrases are used equally. That means phrases are placed with equal status. Opposite of Hypotaxis51
6763333216HypotaxisHypotaxis is subordination of one clause to another, or when the clauses are coordinated or subordinated to one another within sentences. Hypotaxis is defined as a grammatical arrangement of constructs that work in the same way, but they play unequal role in a sentence. It helps in defining the exact meaning of a clause. "One December morning near the end of the year when snow was falling moist and heavy for miles all around, so that the earth and the sky were indivisible, Mrs. Bridge emerged from her home and spread her umbrella." The remaining clauses explain the first/main clause. These subordinated clauses help in recounting the individual thought expressed in the beginning.52
6763333217SententiaFigure of argument in which a wise, witty, or pithy maxim or aphorism is used to sum up the preceding material. "I think that if women aspired higher, took on the problems involved, that they might find surprising support from men. 'Time marches on.'"53
6763333218ExemplumExemplum is a rhetorical device that is defined as a short tale, narrative, or anecdote used in literary pieces and speeches to explain a doctrine or emphasize a moral point. They are generally in the forms of legends, folktales and fables. An exemplum clarifies and proves a point. "In Flaundres whylom was a company, Of yonge folk, that haunteden foley, As ryot, hasard, stewes, and tavernes, Wher-as, with harpes, lutes, and giternes,...." Talks about how greed can destroy everything and how it is the cause of all evil. In this story, nobody got to claim the most coveted treasure since the characters involved ended up killing each other. Can be real or fictional.54
6763333219PleonasmIt is a rhetorical device which can be defined as the use of a second or more words (phrase) to express an idea. These words are redundant such as in the following examples of pleonasm, "burning fire" and "black darkness." Sometimes, pleonasm is also called tautology, which is the repetition of words. "Let me tell you this, when social workers offer you, free, gratis and for nothing..."55
6763333220AssonanceTakes place when two or more words close to one another repeat the same vowel sound but start with different consonant sounds. "Men sell the wedding bells." The same vowel sound of the short vowel "-e-" repeats itself in almost all the words excluding the definite article. The words do share the same vowel sounds but start with different consonant sounds unlike alliteration that involves repetition of the same consonant sounds.56
6763333221Dirimens CopulatioA rhetorical term for a figure by which one balances one statement with a contrary, qualifying statement (sometimes conveyed by "not only ... but also" clauses). "But wait, there's more!"57
6763333222SymploceFigure of repetition that combines Anaphora and Epistrophe in which the first and last word or words in one phrase, clause, or sentence are repeated in one or more successive phrases, clauses, or sentences; repetition of the first and last words in a clause over successive clauses. "Let us let our own children know that we will stand against the forces of fear. When there is talk of hatred, let us stand up and talk against it. When there is talk of violence, let us stand up and talk against it."58
6763333223AppositiveWhen a noun or word is followed by another noun or phrase that renames or identifies it. This is a literary device that appears before or after a noun or noun phrase. It is always used with commas. We can define it as a noun phrase or a noun that defines or explains another noun, which it follows. Writers place elements like noun phrases side by side where one element serves to define the other, and one is in apposition to the other. "We were waiting outside the condemned cells, a row of sheds fronted with double bars, like small animal cages." In this line, "the condemned cells" is a noun phrase, while "a row of sheds" is an appositive that explains this noun phrase. Restrictive Appositive- Gives essential information to identify the phrase or noun in apposition and clarifies the meaning of a phrase but if the appositive is removed, the meaning of the entire sentence changes. Commas are not necessarily used. Non-Restrictive Appositive- Gives non-essential or extra information, which is not important to identify the phrase or noun in apposition and is often used with commas. "Christmas Eve afternoon we scrape together a nickel and go to the butcher's to buy Queenie's traditional gift, a good gnawable beef bone." A restrictive appositive is clarifying and describing a noun "traditional gift of Queenie." Here this literary device has appeared after noun.59

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