AP Lang - ALL TERMS

Question 1

The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. An author may intend the characters to personify an abstraction like hope or freedom.
ex. Animal Farm is a _____ for the Russian Revolution

Answer 1

allegory

Question 2

The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words.
ex. she sells sea shells by the sea shore

Answer 2

alliteration

Question 3

A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. These can be historical, literary, religious, topical, or mythical.

Answer 3

allusion

Question 4

A word, phrase, sentence, or passage having multiple meanings–either intentional or unintentional.

Answer 4

ambiguity

Question 5

A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them. Can explain something unfamiliar by associating it with or pointing out its similarities to something more familiar.

Answer 5

analogy

Question 6

The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.
ex. Charles rode his bike to the store
“his” refers to Charles

Answer 6

antecedent

Question 7

A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle. Can be a memorable summation of the author’s point. (A well-known phrase).
ex. “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”

Answer 7

aphorism

Question 8

A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or personified abstraction such as liberty or love; an address to someone/something that cannot answer.
ex. “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” (Romeo is not present, he cannot answer)

Answer 8

apostrophe

Question 9

The emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the author’s choice of objects that are described.

Answer 9

atmosphere

Question 10

A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb.

Answer 10

clause

Question 11

The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.

Answer 11

colloquialism

Question 12

A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects. Displays intellectual cleverness as a result of the unusual comparison being made.

Answer 12

conceit

Question 13

The non-literal associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning.

Answer 13

connotation

Question 14

The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color.

Answer 14

denotation

Question 15

Related to style, refers to the writer’s word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness.

Answer 15

diction

Question 16

A work having the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially teaching moral or ethical principles.

Answer 16

didactic

Question 17

A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept.
ex. “passed away” rather than “died”

Answer 17

euphemism

Question 18

A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work.

Answer 18

extended metaphor

Question 19

Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid.

Answer 19

figurative language

Question 20

A device used to produce figurative language. Many compare dissimilar things. Includes apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, metonymy, etc.

Answer 20

figure of speech

Question 21

Term describing traditions for each genre. Help to define each genre.
ex. differentiates an essay from a journal

Answer 21

generic conventions

Question 22

The major category into which a literary work fits.

Answer 22

genre

Question 23

Usually a sermon, however it includes any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.

Answer 23

homily

Question 24

A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement, often having a comic effect, sometimes producing irony.

Answer 24

hyperbole

Question 25

The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions.

Answer 25

imagery

Question 26

To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented.

Answer 26

inference

Question 27

An emotionally violent verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.

Answer 27

invective

Question 28

The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant. Three major types include verbal, situational, and dramatic. Used for many reasons but frequently for poignancy or humor.

Answer 28

irony

Question 29

A type of sentence in which the main idea comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses.

Answer 29

loose sentence

Question 30

A figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity.

Answer 30

metaphor

Question 31

A figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.

Answer 31

metonymy

Question 32

The emotion felt by the audience due to the writer's choice of words and description.

Answer 32

mood

Question 33

The telling of a story or an account of an event.

Answer 33

narrative

Question 34

A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. ex. buzzzzz, hiss, crack!, boom

Answer 34

onomatopoeia

Question 35

A figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox. ex. jumbo shrimp

Answer 35

oxymoron

Question 36

A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity.

Answer 36

paradox

Question 37

Term referring to the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity.

Answer 37

parallelism

Question 38

A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.

Answer 38

parody

Question 39

An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish; almost annoying ex. Katie

Answer 39

pedantic

Question 40

A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end.

Answer 40

periodic sentence

Question 41

A figure of speech in which the author presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions.

Answer 41

personification

Question 42

The perspective from which a story is told.

Answer 42

point of view

Question 43

A type of subject complement--an adjective, group of adjectives, or adjective clause that follows a linking verb. In the predicate of a sentence and modifies or describes the subject.

Answer 43

predicate adjective

Question 44

A second type of subject complement--a noun, group of nouns, or noun clause that renames the subject. It follows a linking verb and is located in the predicate of the sentence.

Answer 44

predicate nominative

Question 45

One of the major divisions of genre, this refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms.

Answer 45

prose

Question 46

The duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern.

Answer 46

repetition

Question 47

Term describes the principle governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.

Answer 47

rhetoric

Question 48

Describes the variety, the conventions, and the purposes of the major kinds of writing; the main four being exposition, argumentation, persuasion, and description.

Answer 48

rhetorical modes

Question 49

Involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something. When well done it can be witty and insightful, but when poorly done is simply cruel.

Answer 49

sarcasm

Question 50

A work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule.

Answer 50

satire

Question 51

The branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words, their historical and psychological development, their connotations, and their relation to one another.

Answer 51

semantics

Question 52

An evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices.

Answer 52

style

Question 53

The word or clauses that follow a linking verb and complements, or completes, the subject of the sentence by either renaming it or describing it.

Answer 53

subject complement

Question 54

A deductive system of formal logic that presents to premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion.

Answer 54

syllogism

Question 55

Anything that represents itself and stands for something else.

Answer 55

symbolism

Question 56

The way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences; sentence structure.

Answer 56

syntax

Question 57

The central idea or message of a work, the insight it offers into life.

Answer 57

theme

Question 58

The sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or position.

Answer 58

thesis

Question 59

Describes the author's attitude toward their material, the audience, or both.

Answer 59

tone

Question 60

A word or phrase that links different ideas.

Answer 60

transition

Question 61

The ironic minimalizing of fact, presents something as less significant than it is. The effect can frequently be humorous and emphatic. Opposite of hyperbole.

Answer 61

understatement

Question 62

Intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights.

Answer 62

wit