APLAC Vocabulary Unit 4

allusion

A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. Allusions can be historical, literary, religious, topical, or mythical. There are many more possibilities, and a work may simultaneously use multiple layers of allusion.

litotes

A figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmation is expressed by negating its opposite. "We made a difference. We made the city stronger, we made the city freer, and we left her in good hands. All in all, not bad, not bad at all." —Ronald Reagan, Farewell Address to the Nation, 1989

hyperbole

A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. Hyperbole often creates a comic effect; however, a serious effect is also possible. Often, hyperbole produces irony. "I was helpless. I did not know what in the world to do. I was quaking from head to foot, and could have hung my hat on my eyes, they stuck out so far." —Mark Twain, "Old Times on the Mississippi"

epistrophe

A rhetoric device that uses repetition at the end of successive clauses; the opposite of anaphora. "They saw no evil, they spoke no evil, and they heard no evil."

antimetabole

A rhetorical device in which the same words or ideas are repeated in transposed order. "Eat to live, not live to eat." —Socrates "We didn't land on Plymouth Rock. Plymouth Rock landed on us." —Malcolm X

paradox

A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity. "All animals are equal, but some are more equal than others," —George Orwell, Animal Farm

parallelism

Also referred to as parallel construction or parallel structure, this term comes from Greek roots meaning "beside one another." It refers to the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity. This can involve, but is not limited to, repetition of a grammatical element such as a preposition or verbal phrase. A famous example of parallelism begins Charles Dickens's novel A Tale of Two Cities: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity..." The effects of parallelism are numerous, but frequently they act as an organizing force to attract the reader's attention, add emphasis and organization, or simply provide a musical rhythm.

pedantic

Characterized by the annoying habit of correcting small errors and giving too much attention to minor details; making a show of knowledge; didactic, stilted, punctilious, pedagogic.

oxymoron

From the Greek for "pointedly foolish," an oxymoron is a figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox. Simple examples include "jumbo shrimp" and "cruel kindness." This term does not usually appear in the multiple-choice questions, but there is a chance that you might find it in an essay.

anaphora

One of the devices of repetition in which the same expression (word or words) is repeated at the beginning of two or more lines, clauses, or sentences. "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times." —Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities "We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France, we shall fight on the seas and oceans, we shall fight with growing confidence and growing strength in the air, we shall defend our island, whatever the cost may be, we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills. We shall never surrender." —Winston Churchill, from a speech given during World War II

antithesis

Opposition, or contrast of ideas or words in a parallel construction; the presentation of two contrasting ideas which are balanced by word, phrase, clause, or paragraphs. "To err is human; to forgive divine." —Alexander Pope, "An Essay on Criticism" "Patience is bitter, but is has a sweet fruit." —Aristotle

juxtaposition

Placement of two things closely together to emphasize similarities or differences. "The nations of Asia and Africa are moving at jet-like speed toward gaining political independence, but we still creep at horse-and-buggy pace toward gaining a cup of coffee at a lunch counter." —Martin Luther King

jocular

Playful teasing; cleverly amusing in tone; waggish, droll

reverent

Showing a lot of respect; worshipful, deferential, obeisant, pious.

diplomatic

Skilled in dealing with sensitive matters or people; tactful, prudent, skillful.

irony

The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant. The difference between what appears to be and what actually is true. In general, there are three major types of irony used in language; (1) In verbal irony, the words literally state the opposite of the writer's (or speaker's) true meaning; (2) In situational irony, events turn out the opposite of what was expected. What the characters and readers think ought to happen is not what does happen; (3) In dramatic irony, 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. Irony is used for many reasons, but frequently, it's used to create poignancy or humor.

repetition

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

understatement

The ironic minimizing of fact, understatement presents something as less significant than it is. The effect can frequently be humorous and emphatic. Understatement is the opposite of hyperbole.

anadiplosis

The repetition of words or groups of words in successive clauses so that the second clause begins with the same word which ended the previous clause. "He retained his virtues amidst all his—misfortunes—misfortunes which no prudence could foresee or prevent." —Francis Bacon

whimsical

Unusual in a playful or amusing way; not serious; characterized by caprice; fanciful, eccentric, mischievous, capricious, odd.