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AP Language and Composition > Literary Terms > Flashcards

Literary Terms Flashcards

0
Q

Alliteration

A

The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words.

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1
Q

Allegory

A

Using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning.

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2
Q

Allusion

A

A direct/indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known. (Event, book, myth, place, work of art)

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3
Q

Ambiguity

A

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

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4
Q

Analogy

A

A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them.

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5
Q

Anaphora

A

Repetition of a word or phrase

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6
Q

Antecedent

A

The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.

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7
Q

Antithesis

A

The opposition or contrast of ideas; the direct opposite.

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8
Q

Aphorism

A

A terse statement or known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle.

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9
Q

Apostrophe

A

A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent of imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. An address to someone or something that cannot answer.

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10
Q

Atmosphere

A

The emotional nod 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.

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11
Q

Caricature

A

A verbal description, the purpose of which is to exaggerate or distort, for comic effect, a person’s distinctive physical features or other characteristics.

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12
Q

Chiasmus

A

A crossing parallelism where the second part of the grammatical construction is balanced or paralleled by the first part, only in reverse order.

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13
Q

Clause

A

A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb. An independent, or main, clause expresses a complete though 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.

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14
Q

Colloquial/Colloquialism

A

The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.

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15
Q

Conceit

A

A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects.

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16
Q

Connotation

A

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

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17
Q

Denotation

A

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

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18
Q

Diction

A

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

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19
Q

Didatic

A

Literally means “teaching”. Didactic words have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles.

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20
Q

Ethos

A

An ethical appeal in classical rhetorical study.

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21
Q

Euphemism

A

“Good speech”, are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept.

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22
Q

Extended Metaphor

A

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

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23
Q

Figurative Language

A

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

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24
Q

Figure of Speech

A

A device used to produce figurative language. Many compare dissimilar things. (Apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, synecdoche, and understatement)

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25
Q

Genre

A

The major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions of literature are prose, poetry, and drama.

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26
Q

Hyperbole

A

A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement.

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27
Q

Imagery

A

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

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28
Q

Independent Clause

A

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

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29
Q

Inference / Infer

A

To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented.

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30
Q

Invective

A

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

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31
Q

Irony/Ironic

A

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.

32
Q

Verbal Irony

A

When the words literally state the opposite of the writer’s (or speaker’s) meaning

33
Q

Situational Irony

A

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.

34
Q

Dramatic Irony

A

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

35
Q

Juxtaposition

A

The act of instance of placing two or more things side by side in order to make comparisons and note contrasts.

36
Q

Litotes

A

Understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the contrary.

37
Q

Logos

A

Logical appeal in classical rhetorical study

38
Q

Loose Sentence/Non-Periodic Sentence

A

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

39
Q

Metaphor

A

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

40
Q

Metonymy

A

“Changing label” or “substitute name”, figure of speed h in which the name of one object is substituted for that or another closely associated with it.

41
Q

Mood

A

Prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work.

42
Q

Narrative

A

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

43
Q

Onomatopoeia

A

A figure of speech in which natural sounds are initiatives. In the sounds of words.

44
Q

Oxymoron

A

“Pointedly foolish”, figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox.

45
Q

Paradox

A

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

46
Q

Parallelism

A

Parallel construction or parallel structure. “Besides one another”. Grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity.

47
Q

Parody

A

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

48
Q

Pathos

A

The emotional appeal in classical rhetorical study

49
Q

Pedantic

A

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

50
Q

Periodic Sentence

A

The opposite of loose sentence, a sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end.

51
Q

Personification

A

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

52
Q

Point of View

A

The perspective from which a story is told.

53
Q

Prose

A

One of the major divisions of genre, prose refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms. Printer determined the length of the line.

54
Q

Repitition

A

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

55
Q

Rhetoric

A

“Orator”, describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.

56
Q

Rhetorical Modes

A

Describes variety, the conventions, and the purposes of the major kinds of writing.

57
Q

Exposition

A

Explain and analyze information by presenting an idea, relevant evidence and appropriate discussion

58
Q

Argumentation

A

Prove the validity of an idea, or point of view, by presenting sound, reasoning, discussion, and argument that thoroughly convince the reader.

59
Q

Description

A

To recreate, invent, or visually present a person, place, event, or action so that the reader can picture that being described.

60
Q

Narraration

A

To tell a story or narrate an event or series of evens.

61
Q

Sarcasm

A

“To tear flesh”, sarcasm involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something.

62
Q

Satire

A

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

63
Q

Sematics

A

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

64
Q

Style

A

Purposes (2):
Evaluation of the sum of choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices.
Classification of authors to a group and comparison of an author to similar authors.

65
Q

Subordinate Clause (Dependent Clause)

A

Word group contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone; doesn’t express a complete thought.

66
Q

Syllogism

A

“Reckoning together” - Deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises (major & minor) that lead to a sound conclusion.

67
Q

Symbol/Symbolism

A

Anything that represents itself and stands for something else.

68
Q

Natural Symbols

A

Objects and occurrences from nature to symbolize ideas commonly associated with them.

69
Q

Conventional Symbols

A

Invested with meaning by a group (religious symbols like Star of David, national symbol like an eagle)

70
Q

Literary Symbols

A

(Sometimes conventional too) found in a variety if works and are more generally recognized.

71
Q

Synecdoche

A

A form if metaphor in which a part stands for the while, the while for a part, the genus for the species, the species for the genus, etc.

72
Q

Syntax

A

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

73
Q

Theme

A

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

74
Q

Thesis

A

In expository writing, the thesis statement is the sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author’s opinion, purpose, meaning, or position.

75
Q

Tone

A

(Similar to mood) describes the author’s attitude toward his material, the audience, or both.

76
Q

Transition

A

A word or phrase that links different ideas. Signal a shift from one idea to another.

77
Q

Understatement

A

The ionic minimizing of fact, understatement presents something as less significant than it is.

78
Q

Wit

A

Intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights.

AP Language and Composition (8 decks)

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