AP glossary Flashcards
Active Voice
The subject of the sentence performs the action. This is a more direct and preferred style of
writing in most cases.
passive voice
when the subject of the sentence receives the action.
Allusion
An indirect reference to something (usually a literary text, although it can be other things
commonly known, such as plays, songs, historical events) with which the reader is supposed to be familiar.
Alter-ego
– A character that is used by the author to speak the author’s own thoughts; when an author
speaks directly to the audience through a character.
Anecdote
A brief recounting of a relevant episode. Anecdotes are often inserted into fictional or non
fictional texts as a way of developing a point or injecting humor.
Antecedent
The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.
Classicism
Art or literature characterized by a realistic view of people and the world; sticks to traditional
themes and structures
Comic relief
when a humorous scene is inserted into a serious story, in order to lighten the mood
somewhat.
Diction
Word choice, particularly as an element of style. Different types of words have significant effects
on meaning.
Colloquial
Ordinary or familiar type of conversation. A “colloquialism” is a common or
familiar type of saying, similar to an adage or an aphorism.
Connotation
Rather than the dictionary definition (denotation), the associations suggested by a
word. Implied meaning rather than literal meaning.
Denotation
The literal, explicit meaning of a word, without its connotations.
Jargon
The diction used by a group which practices a similar profession or activity.
Vernacular
- Language or dialect of a particular country. 2. Language or dialect of a regional
clan or group. 3. Plain everyday speech
Didactic
- A term used to describe fiction, nonfiction or poetry that teaches a specific lesson or moral or
provides a model of correct behavior or thinking.
Adage
A folk saying with a lesson.
Allegory
- A story, fictional or non fictional, in which characters, things, and events represent
qualities or concepts.
Aphorism
- A terse statement which expresses a general truth or moral principle. An aphorism
can be a memorable summation of the author’s point.
Ellipsis
The deliberate omission of a word or phrase from prose done for effect by the author.
Euphemism
A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for generally unpleasant words or concepts.
Figurative Language
“Figurative Language” is the opposite of “Literal Language.” Literal language is
writing that makes complete sense when you take it at face value. “Figurative Language” is the opposite:
writing that is not meant to be taken literally.
Analogy
An analogy is a comparison of one pair of variables to a parallel set of variables.
Hyperbole
Exaggeration.
Idiom
A common, often used expression that doesn’t make sense if you take it literally.
Metaphor
Making an implied comparison, not using “like,” as,” or other such words.
Metonymy
Replacing an actual word or idea, with a related word or concept.
Synecdoche
A kind of metonymy when a whole is represented by naming one of its
parts, or vice versa.
Simile
Using words such as “like” or “as” to make a direct comparison between two very
different things.
Synesthesia
a description involving a “crossing of the senses.”
Personification
Giving human-like qualities to something that is not human.
Foreshadowing
When an author gives hints about what will occur later in a story.
Genre
The major category into which a literary work fits.
Gothic
Writing characterized by gloom, mystery, fear and/or death.
Imagery
Word or words that create a picture in the reader’s mind.
Invective
A long, emotionally violent, attack using strong, abusive language.
Irony
When the opposite of what you expect to happen does.
Verbal irony
When you say something and mean the opposite/something different.
Dramatic irony
When the audience of a drama, play, movie, etc. knows something that the
character doesn’t and would be surprised to find out.
Situational irony
Found in the plot (or story line) of a book, story, or movie. Sometimes it
makes you laugh because it’s funny how things turn out.
Juxtaposition
Placing things side by side for the purposes of comparison.
Mood
The atmosphere created by the literature and accomplished through word choice (diction).
Motif
a recurring idea in a piece of literature.
Oxymoron
When apparently contradictory terms are grouped together and suggest a paradox
Pacing
The speed or tempo of an author’s writing.
Paradox
A seemingly contradictory situation which is actually true
Parallelism
Sentence construction which
places equal grammatical constructions near each other, or repeats identical grammatical patterns.
Anaphora
Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences or
clauses in a row.
Chiasmus
When the same words are used twice in succession, but the second time, the order of
the words is reversed.
Antithesis
Two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses, or even ideas, with parallel
structure.
