Glossary of Terms

Question 1

The device of using character and or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. In some of these, for example, an author may intend the characters to personify an obstruction like hope or freedom. The meaning usually deals with moral truth or a generalization about human existence

Answer 1

Allegory

Question 2

The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words (as in “she sells sea shells”. Although the term is not used frequently in the multiple-choice section, you can look for it in any essay passage. The repetition can reinforce meaning, unify ideas, supply musical sound, and or echo the sense of the passage

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. This can be historical, literary, religious, topical, or mythical. There are many more possibilities, and a work may simultaneously use multiple layers of _____

Answer 3

Allusion

Question 4

The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage

Answer 4

Ambiguity

Question 5

The repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause

Answer 5

Anadiplosis

Question 6

A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them. This could explain something unfamiliar by associating it with or pointing out its similarity to something more familiar. This can also make writing more vivid, imaginative, or intellectually engaging

Answer 6

Analogy

Question 7

One of the devices of repetition, in which the same expression is repeated at the beginning of two or more lines, clauses, or sentences

Answer 7

Anaphora

Question 8

A short narrative detailing particulars of an interesting episode or event. The term most frequently refers to an incident in the life of a person

Answer 8

Anecdote

Question 9

The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun. The AP language exam occasionally asks for the ________ of a given pronoun in a long, complex sentence or in a group of sentences

Answer 9

Antecedent

Question 10

A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or moral principal. (If the authorship is unknown, the statement is generally considered to be a folk proverb). An _______ can be a memorable summation of the authors point

Answer 10

Aphorism

Question 11

A figure of speech that directly addresses and absent or imaginary person or personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. It is an address to someone or something that cannot answer. The effect may add familiarity or emotional intensity.

Answer 11

Apostrophe

Question 12

Emotional mood created by an entirely of literary work, establish partly by the settling and partly by the authors choice of objects that are described. Even such elements as description of the weather can contribute to the _____. Frequently ________ foreshadows events. Perhaps it can create a mood

Answer 12

Atmosphere

Question 13

A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb. An independent, or main, ________ expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent, or subordinate _______ cannot stand alone as a sentence and mush be accomplished by an independent _______. The point that you want to consider is the question of what or why the author subordinates one element to the other. You should also become aware of making effective use of subordination in your own writing.

Answer 13

Clause

Question 14

The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing. Not generally acceptable for formal writing, this gives a work a conversational, familiar tone. It includes local or regional dialects

Answer 14

Colloquial/colloquialism

Question 15

A principle demanding that the parts of any composition be arranged so that the meaning of the while may be immediately clear and intelligible. Words, phrases, clauses within the sentence; and sentences, paragraphs, and chapters in larger pieces are united that, by their progressive and logical argument, make for ________

Answer 15

Coherence

Question 16

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

Answer 16

Conceit

Question 17

The nonliteral, associative meaning of the word; the implied, suggested meaning. This may involve ideas, emotions, or attitudes

Answer 17

Connotation

Question 18

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

Answer 18

Denotation

Question 19

This refers to the writers word choices, especially with regard to the correctness, clearness or effectiveness. For the AP exam you should be able to describe an authors _______ and understand the ways in which they can complement the authors purpose. This, combined with syntax, figurative language, literary devices, etc. creates an author’s style

Answer 19

Diction

Question 20

Literally means teaching. These works have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles

Answer 20

Didactic

Question 21

The opposite of anaphors, repetition at the end of successive clauses

Answer 21

Epistrophe

Question 22

These are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept. It may be used to adhere to standards of social or political correctness or to add humor or ironic understatement

Answer 22

Euphemism

Question 23

In essays, one of the four chief types of composition, others being argumentation, description, and narration. The purpose of this is to explain something. In drama, the ______ is the introductory material, which creates the tone, gives the setting, and introduces the characters and conflict

Answer 23

Exposition

Question 24

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

Answer 24

Extended metaphor

Question 25

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

Answer 25

Figurative language

Question 26

A device used to produce figurative language. Many compare dissimilar things. Includes apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, metonymy, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, synecdoche, and understatement

Answer 26

Figure of speech

Question 27

This term describes traditions for each genre. These conventions help to define each genre; for example, they differentiate an essay and journalistic writing or an autobiography and political writing.

Answer 27

Generic conventions

Question 28

The major category into which literary work fits.

Answer 28

Genre

Question 29

This term literally means "sermon", but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice

Answer 29

Homily

Question 30

A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. These often have a comic effect; however, a serious effect is also possible. Often produces irony

Answer 30

Hyperbole

Question 31

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

Answer 31

Imagery

Question 32

To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented

Answer 32

Inference/infer

Question 33

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

Answer 33

Invective

Question 34

The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant

Answer 34

Irony/ironic

Question 35

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

Answer 35

Loose sentence

Question 36

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

Answer 36

Metaphor

Question 37

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

Answer 37

Metonymy

Question 38

The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events

Answer 38

Narrative

Question 39

A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words

Answer 39

Onomatopoeia

Question 40

A figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox

Answer 40

Oxymoron

Question 41

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

Answer 41

Paradox

Question 42

The grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity

Answer 42

Parallelism

Question 43

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

Answer 43

Parody

Question 44

An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish

Answer 44

Pedantic

Question 45

First meaning is grammatical and deals with verbal units and a speakers attitude. The second meaning is literary, meaning the prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work.

Answer 45

Mood

Question 46

A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end. This independent clause is preceded by a phrase or clause that cannot stand alone

Answer 46

Periodic sentence

Question 47

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 47

Personification

Question 48

The perspective from which a story is told

Answer 48

Point of view

Question 49

One type of subject complement-- an adjective, group of adjectives, or adjective clause that follows a linking verb.

Answer 49

Predicate adjective

Question 50

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

Answer 50

Predicate nominative

Question 51

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

Answer 51

Prose

Question 52

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

Answer 52

Repetition

Question 53

The speaker who uses elements of rhetoric effectively in oral or written test

Answer 53

Rhetor

Question 54

The principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively

Answer 54

Rhetoric

Question 55

This flexible term describes the variety, the conventions, and the purposes of the major kinds of writing

Answer 55

Rhetorical modes

Question 56

This involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something. It may use irony as a device, but not all ironic statements are intended to ridicule

Answer 56

Sarcasm

Question 57

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

Answer 57

Satire

Question 58

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

Answer 58

Semantics

Question 59

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

Answer 59

Syllogism

Question 60

Like all clauses, this word group contains both a subject and a verb, but unlike the independent clause it cannot stand alone; it does not express a complete thought

Answer 60

Subordinate (dependent) Clause

Question 61

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

Answer 61

Subject complement

Question 62

An evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices. It can also be described as a classification of authors to a group and comparison of an author to similar authors

Answer 62

Style

Question 63

Generally anything that represents itself and stands for something else

Answer 63

Symbol

Question 64

The way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences

Answer 64

Syntax

Question 65

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

Answer 65

Theme

Question 66

In expository writing this is the sentence or group of sentences that directly express the authors opinion, purpose, meaning it position

Answer 66

Thesis

Question 67

Similar to mood, this describes the authors attitude toward his material, the audience, or both

Answer 67

Tone

Question 68

A word or phrase that links different ideas; this effectively signals a shift from one idea to another

Answer 68

Transition

Question 69

An artful variation from expected modes of expression of thoughts and ideas, a figure of speech involving a turn or change of sense- a use of the word in a sense other than its proper or literal one

Answer 69

Trope

Question 70

The ironic minimizing of a fact, this presents something as less significant than it is. The effect can frequently by humorous and emphatic; opposite of hyperbole

Answer 70

Understatement

Question 71

An attitude that may lie under the ostensible tone of the piece.

Answer 71

Undertone

Question 72

An untrustworthy or naïve commentator on events and characters in a story

Answer 72

Unreliable narrator

Question 73

In modern usage, intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights. This is humorous, while suggesting the speakers verbal power in creating ingenious and perceptive remarks.

Answer 73

Wit

Question 74

A trope, one word (usually a noun or main verb) governs two other words not related in meaning

Answer 74

Zeugma

Question 75

The fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect.

Answer 75

Juxtaposition