AP Language Exam Terms Flashcards
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| 6681843765 | ad hominem | Latin for "against the man." Attacking the person instead of the argument proposed by that individual. An argument directed to the personality, prejudices, previous words and actions of an opponent rather than an appeal to pure reason. Example: "Rush Limbaugh is a big fat idiot," writes left-wing comedian Al Franken. | 0 | |
| 6681843766 | adage | a familiar proverb or wise saying | 1 | |
| 6681846750 | allegory | -literary works in which characters, objects, or actions represent abstractions -A fiction or nonfiction narrative, in which characters, things, and events represent qualities, moral values, or concepts. Playing out of the narrative is designed to reveal an abstraction or truth. Characters and other elements may be symbolic of the ideas referred to in the allegory. Example: The Pilgrim's Progress by John Bunyan or A Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. | 2 | |
| 6681846751 | anachronism | Something that is historically inaccurate, for example the reference to a clock chiming in Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. | 3 | |
| 6681906561 | analogy | -a comparison of two different things that are similar in some way - | 4 | |
| 6681909940 | anecdote | -a brief narrative that focuses on a particular incident or event -A brief recounting of a relevant episode. Used in fiction and nonfiction. Develops point or injects humor. Commonly used as an illustration for an abstract point being made. Example: Mark Twain is famous for his short anecdotes about growing up in Missouri intertwined with humor and an abstract truth about human nature. | 5 | |
| 6681909941 | antecedent | -the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers -"But it is the grandeur of all truth which can occupy a very high place in human interests that it is never absolutely novel to the meanest of minds; IT exists eternally, by way of germ of latent principle, in the lowest as in the highest, needing to be developed but never to be planted." The antecedent of "it" (bolded) is...? [answer: "all truth"] | 6 | |
| 6681912091 | antithesis | - A balancing of two opposite or contrasting words, phrases or clauses. Example: ". . .one seeing more where the other sees less, one seeing black where the other sees white, one seeing big where the other sees small. . . ." Example: Shakespeare's Macbeth, Act I, Scene I, Line 11: "Fair is foul and foul is fair." Oxymoron: rhetorical antithesis, juxtaposing two contradictory terms like "wise fool" or "eloquent silent." -the opposite of | 7 | |
| 6681912092 | aphorism | -a concise statement that expresses succinctly a general truth or idea. Typically rhymes. -A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle. (If the authorship is unknown, the statement is generally considered to be a folk proverb.) An aphorism can be a memorable summation of the author's point. | 8 | |
| 6681912093 | arch | 9 | ||
| 6681914622 | archetype | -a detail, image, or character type that occurs frequently in literature and appeals in a universal way | 10 | |
| 6681914623 | assonance | -Repetition of a vowel sound within two or more words, usually with different consonant sounds either before or after the same vowel sounds. Example: "Once upon a midnight dreary, while I pondered, weak and weary," Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven." Example: "Thou foster child of silence and slow time," John Keat's "Ode on a Grecian Urn." | 11 | |
| 6681914624 | bombast | -Originally meant "cotton stuffing." Adopted to signify verbose and inflated diction that is disproportionate to the matter it expresses. Popular with the heroic drama of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries. Although a century after the height of this style, James Fenimore Cooper's Leatherstocking Sagas (Last of the Mohicans for example) are typical of bombastic speeches. | 12 | |
| 6681918750 | burlesque | 13 | ||
| 6681918751 | cacophony | -Harsh clashing, or dissonant sounds, often -produced by combinations of words that require a clipped, explosive delivery or words that contain a number of plosive consonants. Opposite of Euphony | 14 | |
| 6681922257 | caricature | -A character described through the exaggeration of a small number of features that he or she possesses. | 15 | |
| 6682055320 | circumlocution | Literally, "talking around" a subject; i.e., discourse that avoids direct reference to a subject. | 16 | |
| 6682055321 | clause | A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb. An independent, or main, clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent, or subordinate clause, cannot stand alone as a sentence and must be accompanied by an independent clause. The point that you want to consider is the question of what or why the author subordinates one element should also become aware of making effective use of subordination in your own writing. | 17 | |
| 6682055322 | conceit | an extended metaphor comparing two unlike objects with powerful effect. | 18 | |
| 6682058682 | connotation | The non-literal, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning. Connotations may involve ideas, emotions, or attitudes. | 19 | |
| 6682058683 | consonance | repetition of consonant sounds, surrounded by different vowel sounds within a line of verse. | 20 | |
| 6682058684 | critique | 21 | ||
| 6682061809 | deductive reasoning | A method of reasoning by which specific definitions, conclusions, and theorems are drawn from general principles. | 22 | |
| 6682064896 | denotation | The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color. (Example: the denotation of a knife would be a utensil used to cut; the connotation of a knife might be fear, violence, anger, foreboding, etc.) | 23 | |
| 6682064897 | denouement | The ending of a play, novel, or drama where "all is revealed" and the plot is unraveled | 24 | |
| 6682068913 | deus ex machina | it means to solve a situation that seems impossible by including an unexpected charachter, object, or scenario. | 25 | |
| 6682068914 | didactic | Fiction or nonfiction that teaches a specific lesson or moral or provides a model of correct behavior or thinking. Designed to expound a branch of theoretical, moral, or practical knowledge, or else to instantiate, in an impressive and persuasive imaginative or fictional form, a moral, religious, or philosophical theme or doctrine. | 26 | |
| 6682071777 | dramatic irony | when facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or piece of fiction but known to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work. | 27 | |
| 6682071778 | elegy | A meditative poem, usually sad and reflective in nature. Sometimes, though not always, it is concerned with the theme of death. | 28 | |
| 6682071779 | ellipsis | The deliberate omission of a word or words that are readily implied by the context; it creates and elegant or daring economy of words. | 29 | |
| 6682075727 | elliptical construction | A sentence containing a deliberate omission of words. | 30 | |
| 6682075728 | empathy | A feeling on the part of the reader of sharing the particular experience being described by the character or writer. | 31 | |
| 6682077975 | epigram | Extended to encompass a very short poem | 32 | |
| 6682077976 | euphony | Use of pleasant or melodious sounds. | 33 | |
| 6682080736 | euphemism | refers to a polite, indirect expression, which replaces something harsh, impolite, or unpleasant EX. using "faux" instead of saying "fake" | 34 | |
| 6682080737 | malapropism | A confused use of words in which the appropriate word is replaced by one with a similar sound but inappropriate meaning. | 35 | |
| 6682082516 | maxim | A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth. | 36 | |
| 6682082517 | melodrama | an exaggerated form of the drama genre, in which characters are one-dimensional/stereotyped, and the plot is sensational (evoking the audience's emotions) | 37 | |
| 6682082518 | metonymy | is the substitution of a word naming an object for another word closely associated with it. EX. Pay tribute tot he crown: "crown" is substituted for king. | 38 | |
| 6682084573 | montage | 39 | ||
| 6682084574 | motif | a recurring idea, image, symbol, theme throughout a story. | 40 | |
| 6682084575 | non sequitur | occurs when a statement's conclusion or reason doesn't make sense. "It does not follow" os an ecpression that fits this fallacy. | 41 | |
| 6682087598 | oxymoron | s a figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox. Simple examples include "jumbo shrimp" and "cruel kindness. | 42 | |
| 6682087599 | parable | a breif, allegorical narrative that teaches a moral. | 43 | |
| 6682090067 | paradox | A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity. | 44 | |
| 6682090068 | parallel structure | Sentence construction which places in close proximity two or more equal grammatical constructions. Might be as simple as listing two or three modifiers in a row to describe the same noun or verb. Might be two or more of the same type of phrases (prepositional, participial, gerund, appositive). Might be two or more subordinate clauses that modify the same noun or verb. Might be a complex blend of single-word, phrase, and clause parallelism all in the same sentence. Simple Example: He lived well, and he died well. | 45 | |
| 6682090094 | parody | Imitates the serious materials and manner of a particular work, or the characteristic style of a particular author, and applies it to a lowly or grossly discordant subject. An exaggerated imitation of a serious work for humorous purposes. | 46 | |
| 6682093363 | pathetic fallacy | 47 | ||
| 6682093364 | pathos | feelings of compassion or sorrow. Pathetic expression or emotion; transient or emotional. | 48 | |
| 6682093365 | pedantic | a writer/speaker who is preoccupied with exactness, correctness, and minutiae while aiming to showcase his or her knowledge. | 49 | |
| 6682096554 | periodic sentence | presents the main clause or predicate at the end of the sentence. This could mean that a dependent clause is given initially. EX. Unless she earns a scholarship, Brianna will not attend college. | 50 | |
| 6682096555 | persona | 51 | ||
| 6682096556 | point of view | 52 | ||
| 6682098897 | proverb | 53 | ||
| 6682098898 | pseudonym | 54 | ||
| 6682098899 | pun | A play on words that are either identical in sound (homonyms) or similar in sound, but are sharply diverse in meaning. | 55 | |
| 6682102542 | rebuttal, refutation | 56 | ||
| 6682102543 | reiteration | 57 | ||
| 6682106236 | retraction | occurs when a statement or something is taken back. | 58 | |
| 6682106237 | rhetoric | term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively. | 59 | |
| 6682108209 | rhetorical mode | The variety, conventions, and purposes of the major kinds of writing (exposition explains and analyzes information; argumentation proves validity of an idea; description re-creates, invents, or presents a person, place, event or action; narration tells a story recount an event) | 60 | |
| 6682110744 | rhetorical stance | 61 | ||
| 6682110745 | satire | A work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule. Regardless of whether or not the work aims to reform human behavior, satire is best seen as a style of writing rather than a purpose for writing. It can be recognized by the many devices used effectively by the satirist: irony, wit, parody, caricature, hyperbole, understatement, and sarcasm. The effects of satire are varied, depending on the writer's goal, but good satire, often humorous, is thought provoking and insightful about the human condition | 62 | |
| 6682112593 | stream of consciousness | A technique in which the writer records thoughts and emotions in a "stream" as they come to mind, without giving order or structure | 63 | |
| 6682112594 | stylistic devices | 64 | ||
| 6682115391 | subtext | 65 | ||
| 6682115392 | syllogism | a logical structure that uses the major premise and minor premise to reach a necessary conclusion. EX. Major Premise: Excercise sharpens cognition Minor Premise: Running is excercise Conclusion: Running sharpens cognition | 66 | |
| 6682117350 | synecdoche | A part of something is used to signify the whole. Or, more rarely, a whole to signify a part. Example: "Give me your hand," does not mean literally just your hand, but your entire physical help. Reminder: do not mix this term with metonymy. They are different tools. | 67 | |
| 6682117351 | syntax | The way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences. Syntax is similar to diction, but you can differentiate them by thinking of syntax as groups of words, while diction refers to the individual words. In the multiplechoice section of the AP exam, expect to be asked some questions about how an author manipulates syntax. In the essay section, you will need to analyze how syntax produces effects. | 68 | |
| 6682119973 | verisimilitude | likeness to the truth as in the resemblance of a fictional text to a real-life event. | 69 | |
| 6682134705 | exegesis | the critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially scripture. | 70 | |
| 6682134706 | expose | 71 | ||
| 6682134707 | explication | 72 | ||
| 6682137061 | extended metaphor | A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work | 73 | |
| 6682137062 | fallacy | 74 | ||
| 6682137063 | farce | A play that aims to entertain the audience through absurd and ridiculous characters and actions. | 75 | |
| 6682137064 | frame | Overall unifying story within which one or more tales are related. Ex. Frankenstein. | 76 | |
| 6682139561 | homily | This term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice. | 77 | |
| 6682139562 | indirect quotation | 78 | ||
| 6682141418 | inductive reasoning | 79 | ||
| 6682141419 | inference | To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented. When a multiple choice question asks for an inference to be drawn from a passage, the most direct, most reasonable inference is the safest answer choice. If an inference is implausible, it's unlikely to be the correct answer. | 80 | |
| 6682160513 | invective | an emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language. | 81 | |
| 6682160514 | irony | The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant, or the difference between what appears to be and what is actually true. (1) verbal irony - when the words literally state the opposite of the writer's (or speaker's) meaning (2) situational irony - when events turn out the opposite of what was expected; when what the characters and readers think ought to happen is not what does happen (3) dramatic irony - when facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or piece of fiction but known to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work. | 82 | |
| 6682160515 | lampoon | 83 | ||
| 6682162625 | litotes | understatement expressed through negating the opposite to achieve emphasis and intensity. EX. saying that one got severely wounded and saying that it's "merely a scratch." | 84 | |
| 6682162626 | loose sentence | starts with a main clause and is followed by phrases and/or clauses that modify the main clause. | 85 | |
| 6682162627 | voice | 86 | ||
| 6682164525 | whimsy | 87 | ||
| 6682164526 | apotheosis | 88 | ||
| 6682167167 | appositive | Nonessential word groups (phrases and clauses) that follow nouns and identify or explain them. | 89 | |
| 6682169197 | asyndeton | Sentence where commas are used with no conjunctions to separate a series of words. Gives equal weight to each part. Speeds up the flow of the sentence. Formula: X, Y, Z. As opposed to X, Y, and Z. | 90 | |
| 6682169198 | ethos | 91 | ||
| 6682169199 | juxtaposition | A poetic and rhetorical device in which normally unassociated ideas, words, or phrases are placed next to one another, often creating an effect of surprise and wit. | 92 | |
| 6682171689 | logos | 93 | ||
| 6682171690 | pacing | 94 | ||
| 6682171691 | rhetorical strategey | 95 | ||
| 6682174943 | rhetorical devices | 96 | ||
| 6682174944 | tension | 97 | ||
| 6682174945 | texture | 98 | ||
| 6682184512 | zeugma | the use of 2 different words in a grammatically similar way that produces different, often incongruous, meanings. EX. When you open a book, you open your mind. | 99 |