AP Notes 50-54 Flashcards
(5 cards)
- PARADOX
It is a statement that appears to be self-contradictory or silly but may include a latent truth.
It is also used to illustrate an opinion or statement contrary to accepted traditional ideas. A
paradox is often used to make a reader think over an idea in innovative way. Some memorable
examples are:
“All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others”.
“I must be cruel to be kind.”
Your enemy’s friend is your enemy.
- IRONY:
Irony 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. It may also be a situation that may end up in
quite a different way than what is generally anticipated. In simple words, it is a difference between
the appearance and the reality.
“Go ask his name: if he be married.
My grave is like to be my wedding bed.”
- PARENTHESIS:
Parenthesis is a stylistic device that comes from a Greek word, meaning to
place or alongside. Parenthesis 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 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. However, the overuse of parenthesis may make sentences look
ambiguous and poorly structured.
- SARDONIC
grimly mocking, sarcastic, satirical, mocking in a humorous manner. This is one of those
“TONE” words that describe writing that fits the meaning
- SATIRE
Satire is a technique employed by writers to expose and criticize foolishness and corruption
of an individual or a society by using humor, irony, exaggeration or ridicule. It intends to improve
humanity by criticizing its follies and foibles. A writer in a satire uses fictional characters, which
stand for real people, to expose and condemn their corruption. One current example at this
writing was something spoken by Steven Colbert the other night on his show:
“If this is going to be a Christian nation that doesn’t help the poor, either we have to pretend that Jesus
was just as selfish as we are, or we’ve got to acknowledge that He commanded us to love the poor and
serve the needy without condition and then admit that we just don’t want to do it.”
