AP Literature and Comp.
Anastrophe
"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
Zeugma
"But Ted Lavender, who was scared, carried 34 rounds when he was shot and killed outside Than Khe, and he went down under an exceptional burden, more than 20 pounds of ammunition, plus the flak jacket and helmet and rations and water and toilet paper and tranquilizers and all the rest, plus an unweighed fear." (Tim O'Brien, The Things They Carried)
Periodic sentence
"Ecstatic with my AP score, I let out a loud, joyful shout!"
Anthimeria
"Gift him with Sports Illustrated magazine for Christmas" (as opposed to give him).
Antithesis (an-tih-theh-sis)
"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose" - Jim Elliot "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind" - Neil Armstrong
Anthimeria
"I am going in search of the great perhaps" (Rabelais).
Polysyndeton - Using this literary device, Hemmingway is able to make his readers feel the anxiety that his character is feeling.
"I said, 'Who killed him?' and he said 'I don't know who killed him, but he's dead all right,' and it was dark and there was water standing in the street and no lights or windows broke and boats all up in the town and trees blown down and everything all blown and I got a skiff and went out and found my boat where I had her inside Mango Key and she was right only she was full of water." (Ernest Hemingway, After the Storm)
Satire
"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."
Parallelism
"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 . . ."
Anaphora (uh-naf-er-uh)
"It was the best of times; it was the worst of times."
Polysyndeton (paulee-sin-dih-tawn)
"It's [foorball] a way of life, really, to those particular people who are a part of it. It's more than a game, and regardless of what level it's played upon, it still demands those attributes of courage and stamina and coordinated efficiency and goes even beyond that for [it] is a means - it provides a mental and physical relaxation to everybody that watches it, like yourself." - Vince Lombardi
Ethos - In determining the murder weapon, the basis of ethos of John is his experience of working for the federal government as a forensic and ballistics expert.
"John is a forensics and ballistics expert working for the federal government for many years - if anyone's qualified to determine the murder weapon, it's him."
Syntax - The modified word order in the above lines is Object+Subject+Subject Complement+Verb.
"Lycidas": Milton "Thee, Shepherd, thee the woods and desert caves, With wild thyme and the gadding vine o'ergrown, And all their echoes mourn"
Apostrophe
"O value of wisdom that fadeth not away with time, virtue ever flourishing that cleanseth its possessor from al venom! O heavenly gift of the divine bounty, descending from the Father of lights, that thou mayest exalt the rational soul to the very heavens! Thou art the celestial nourishment of the intellect..." - Richard de Bury
Allusion
"Plan ahead: it wasn't raining when Noah built the ark" - Richard Cushing
Chiasmus (kahy-az-muhs)
"Pleasure's a sin, and sometimes sin's a pleasure" - Lord Byron
Hyperbole (hahy-pur-buh-lee)
"So first of all, let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself" - Franklin D. Roosevelt
Syntax - show a distinct use of syntax. Amy Tan uses short sentences to communicate in a powerful and concise manner. Ernest Hemingway, on the other hand, uses long and complex structures to emphasize the laziness of his character.
"That night I sat on Tyan-yu's bed and waited for him to touch me. But he didn't. I was relieved." (The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan) "They left me alone and I lay in bed and read the papers awhile, the news from the front, and the list of dead officers with their decorations and then reached down and brought up the bottle of Cinzano and held it straight up on my stomach, the cool glass against my stomach, and took little drinks making rings on my stomach from holding the bottle there between drinks, and watched it get dark outside over the roofs of the town." (A Farewell to Arms by Ernest Hemingway)
Chiasmus (kahy-az-muhs)
"The land was ours before we were the land's" - Robert Frost (N, V, Pro: Pro, V, N)
Polysyndeton - along with commas or both the devices. You can see the effects of both the devices in this passage taken from Dombey and Son.
"There were frowzy fields, and cow-houses, and dunghills, and dustheaps, and ditches, and gardens, and summer-houses, and carpet-beating grounds, at the very door of the Railway. Little tumuli of oyster shells in the oyster season, and of lobster shells in the lobster season, and of broken crockery and faded cabbage leaves in all seasons, encroached upon its high places." (Charles Dickens, Dombey and Son)
Anaphora (uh-naf-er-uh)
"They are masters who instruct us without rod or ferule, without angry words, without clothes or money." - Richard de Bury
Antithesis is a kind of parallelism in which two opposite ideas are put together in parallel structures. Alexander Pope in his "An Essay on Criticism" uses antithetic parallel structure:
"To err is human; to forgive divine."
Hypophora
"When the enemy struck on that June day of 1950, what did America do? It did what it always has done in all its times of peril. It appealed to the heroism of its youth." - Dwight D. Eisenhower
Zeugma
"Who sees with equal eye, as God of all, A hero perish, or a sparrow fall, Atoms or systems into ruin hurled, And now a bubble burst, and now a world." (Alexander Pope, Essay on Man)
Enumeratio
"Who's gonna turn down a Junior Mint? It's chocolate; it's peppermint; it's delicious. . . It's very refreshing!" - Kramer (Seinfeld).
Anthimeria
"he sang his didn't, he danced his did." (e. e. cummings)
Chiasmus (kahy-az-muhs)
(From the Greek word for "criss-cross," a designation baed on the Greek letter "chi," written X). A figure of speech in which two successive phrases or clauses are parallel in syntax, but reverse the order of the analogous.
Antimetabole
(also called Epanados) A Scheme of repetition in reverse order: "One should eat to live, not live to eat." Or, "You like it; it likes you." The witches in that Scottish play chant, "Fair is foul and foul is fair." Antimetabole often overlaps with chiasmus.
Synæsthesia
(also spelled synesthesia) A trope mixing one type of sensory input with another in an impossible way, such as speaking of how a color sounds, or how a smell looks: "The scent of the rose rang like a bell through the garden." "I caressed the darkness with cool fingers."
Refutation
A denial of the validity of an opposing argument. In order to sound reasonable, refutations often follow a concession that acknowledges that an opposing argument may be true or reasonable.
Figure of speech
A device used to produce figurate language. Many compare dissimilar things. Include apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, metonymy, oxymoron, paradox, personification, simile, synecdoche, and understatement.
Conceit
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.
Metaphor
A figure of speech (trope) using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, a metaphor says something is something else. ___________ical language makes writing more vivid, imaginative, thought provoking, and meaningful. Debt is a bottomless sea. " the ladder of success (i.e., success is a ladder).
Onomatopoeia (on-uh-mat-uh-pee-uh)
A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Simple examples include such words as buzz, hiss, hum, crack, whinny, and murmur.
Personification
A figure of speech in which the author presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions. Used to make these abstractions, animal, or objects appear more vivid to the reader.
Hyperbole (hahy-pur-buh-lee)
A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. Often have a comic effect; however, a serious effect is also possible. Often, produces irony.
Clause
A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb. An independent, or main, ____________ expresses a complete thought and can sand alone as a sentence. A dependent, or subordinate _______________ cannot stand alone as a sentence and must be accompanied by an independent clause. 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.
Extended metaphor
A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout the work.
Induction
A method of reasoning that moves from specific instances to a general conclusion. In an ____________ argument, a rhetor (that is, a speaker or writer) collects a number of instances and forms a generalization that is meant to apply to all instances.
Coherence
A principle demanding that the parts of any composition be arranged so that the meaning of the whole may be immediately clear and intelligible. Words, phrases, clauses within the sentence; and sentences, paragraphs, and chapters in larger pieces of writing are the unit that by their progressive and logical arrangement, make for ________________.
Syllogism
A rhetorical device that starts an argument with a reference to something general and from this it draws conclusion about something more specific. For instance, "All dogs are canine. Tommy is a dog. Therefore, Tommy is a canine."
Ellipsis
A scheme in which a word is omitted that is implied by the previous clause: "The European soldiers killed six of the remaining villagers, the American soldiers, eight."
Anastrophe
A scheme in which normal word order is changed for emphasis.
Epistrophe
A scheme in which the same word is repeated at the end of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences. "I believe we should fight for justice. You believe we should fight for justice. How can we not, then, fight for justice?"
Alliosis
A scheme of presenting alternatives in a balanced manner: "You can eat well or you can sleep well."
Antithesis
A scheme that makes use of contrasting words, phrases, sentences, or ideas for emphasis (generally used in parallel grammatical structures).
Apostrophe
A scheme, figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. It is an address to someone or something that cannot answer. The effect is to give vent to or display intense emotion, which can no longer be held back:
Predicate nominative
A second type of subject complement - a noun, group of nouns, or noun clause that names the subject. It, like the predicate adjective, follows a linking verb and is located in the predicate of the sentence.
Periodic sentence
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.
Syntax
A set of rules in a language, which shows and how different parts of sentence are put together in such an order that it conveys a complete thought.
Anecdote
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.
Analogy
A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them. An ____________ can explain something unfamiliar by associating it with or pointing out its similarity to something more familiar. _____________ can also make writing more vivid, imaginative, or intellectually engaging.
Thesis
A statement in a non-fiction or a fiction work that a writer intends to support and prove. At the beginning of a literary piece is of utmost importance, as it serves as a clear indicator as to which direction a writer will follow in his work.
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.
Satire
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.
Metonymy (mi-ton-uh-mee)
A term from the Greek meaning "changed label" or "substitute name." A figure of speech (trope) in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it. A news release that claims "the White House declared" rather that "the President declared" is using ________________. The substituted term generally carries a more potent emotional response.
Aphorism
A terse statement of know authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle. (If the authorship is unknown, the statement is generally considered to be a folk proverb.) An ____________ can be a memorable summation of the author's point.
Erotema
A trope in which asking a rhetorical question to the reader is used as a transition or as a thought provoking tool before proceeding. "What should honest citizens do?"
Periphrasis
A trope in which one substitutes a descriptive word or phrase for a proper noun. "The big man upstairs hears your prayers."
Aposiopesis
A trope in which the author breaks off as if unable to continue: "The fire surrounds them while—I cannot go on."
Anthimeria
A trope in which using a different part of speech to act as another, such as a verb for a noun, or a noun for a verb, or an adjective as a verb, etc.
Aporia
A trope talking about not being able to talk about something: "I can't tell you how often writers use aporia!" "It is impossible for me to describe how horrible it was to view the pink, runny mass."
Catachresis
A trope using a completely impossible figure of speech. For instance: "The tears falling from her eyes were so sad they too began to cry with her." "Joe will have kittens when he hears this!" It is closely related to hyperbole and sometimes synaesthesia. Or as Milton so elegantly phrased it, catachresis is all about "blind mouths."
Loose sentence
A type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses. If a period were placed at the end of the independent clause, the clause would be a complete setence. A work containing many loose sentences often seems informal, relaxed, and conversational.
Parody
A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule. As comedy, ___________ distorts or exaggerated distinctive features of the original. As ridicule, it mimics the work by repeating and borrowing words, phrases, or characteristics in order to illuminate weaknesses in the original. Well-written ___________ offers enlightenment about the original, but poorly written ______________ offers only ineffectual imitation. Usually an audience must grasp literary allusion and understand the work being ____________ in order to fully appreciate the nuances of the newer work. Occasionally, however, _____________ take on a life of their own and don't require knowledge of the original
Satire
A work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule.
Persuasive Appeals
According to Aristotle and the many authorities that would echo him, is brought about through three kinds of proof (pistis) or ____________________: logos: The appeal to reason. pathos : The appeal to emotion. ethos : The appeal of one's character. Although they can be analyzed separately, these three appeals work together in combination toward persuasive ends.
Pathos - Romeos's servant Balthasar invokes pity among the audience, when he informs Romeo, who was waiting impatiently to hear about Juliet, that Juliet is dead and is buried in her family's death. We feel sorry for the untimely death of Juliet and her heartbroken Romeo
Act V of Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet". "Then she is well, and nothing can be ill. Her body sleeps in Capels' monument, And her immortal part with angels lives. I saw her laid low in her kindred's vaul"
Satire - The line mocks at the values of the fashionable class of that age. The trivial things were thought of
Alexander Pope's The Rape of the Lock "Whether the nymph shall break Diana's law, Or some frail china jar receive a flaw, Or stain her honor, or her new brocade"
Function of Parallelism
Allows speakers and writers to maintain a consistency within their work and create a balanced flow of ideas. Moreover, it can be employed as a tool for persuasion as well because of the repetition it uses.
Parallelism
Also referred to as __________ construction or ___________ 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.
Concession
An acknowledgement that an opposing argument may be true or reasonable. In a strong argument, a _______________ is usually accompanied by a refutation challenging the validity of the opposing argument.
Pedantic (puh-dan-tik)
An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.
Enthymeme
An informal method of argument in which one of the major pemises is implied or assumed rather than stated.
Syllogism (sil- uh-jiz-uhm)
Conclusion is valid only if each of the two premises is valid. May also present the specific idea first ("Socrates") and the general second ("All men"_).
Synecdoche (si-nek-duh-kee)
Farmer Joes has two hundred head of cattle [whole cattle], and three hired hands [whole people].
Polysyndeton (paulee-sin-dih-tawn)
Figure of addition and emphasis which intentionally employs a series of conjunctions (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) not normally found in successive words, phrases or clauses; the deliberate and excessive use of conjunctions in successive words or clauses. The effect is a feeling of multiplicity, energetic enumeration, and building up - a persistence or intensity.
Enumeratio
Figure of amplification in which a subject is divided into constituent parts or details, and may include a listing of causes, effects, problems, solutions, conditions, and consequences; the listing or detailing of the parts of something.
Antithesis (an-tih-theh-sis)
Figure of balance in which two contrasting ideas are intentionally juxtaposed, usually through parallel structure; a contrasting of opposing ideas in adjacent phrases, clauses, or sentences. _______________ creates a definite and systematic relationship between ideas.
Expletive (ek-spli-tiv)
Figure of emphasis in which a single word or short phrase, usually interrupting normal speech, is used to lend emphasis to the words on either side of the expletive.
Hypophora
Figure of reasoning in which one or more questions is/are asked and then answered, often at length, by one and the same speaker; raising and responding to one's own question(s). A common usage is to ask the question at the beginning of a paragraph and then use the paragraph to answer it. You can use ________________ to raise questions which you think the reader obviously has on his/her mind and would like to see formulated and answered.
Euphemism (yoo-fuh-miz-uhm)
From the Greek for "good speech," ________________ are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept. May be sued to adhere to standards of social or political correctness or to add humor or ironic understatement.
Oxymoron
From the Greek for "pointedly foolish," 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. Take note of the effect which the author achieves with this term.
Syllogism (sil- uh-jiz-uhm)
From the Greek for "reckoning together, " is a deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises (the first one called "major" and the second, "minor") that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion
Sarcasm
From the Greek meaning "to tear flesh," sarcasm involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something. It may use irony is a device, but not all ironic statements are sarcastic, that is, intended to ridicule. When well done, sarcasm can be witty and insightful; when done poorly, it's simply cruel
Litotes (lahy-toh-teez)
From the Greek word "simple" or "plain." A figure of thought in which a point is affirmed by negating its opposite. It is a special form of understatement, where the surface denial serves, through ironic contrast, to reinforce the underlying assertion.
Didactic (dahy-dak-tik)
From the Greek, ______________ literally means "teaching." ______________ works have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles.
Polemic
Greek for "hostile." An aggressive argument that tries to establish the superiority of one opinion over all others. _____________ generally do not concede that opposing opinions have any merit.
Analogy
He that voluntarily continues ignorance is guilty of all the crimes which ignorance produces, as to him that should extinguish the tapers of a lighthouse might justly be imputed the calamities of shipwrecks." - Samuel Johnson
Litotes (lahy-toh-teez)
He's no fool (which implies he is wise).
Enumeratio
I love her eyes, her hair, her nose, her cheeks, her lips.
Synecdoche (si-nek-duh-kee)
If we had some wheels [whole vehicle], I'd put on my best threads [clothes] and ask for Jane's hand [hopefully her whole person] in marriage.
Thesis
If you really want to hear about it, the first thing you'll probably want to know is where I was born, and what my lousy childhood was like, and how my parents were occupied and all before they had me, and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth. —J. D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye
Irony/ironic
In a verbal ___________, the words literally state the opposite of the writer's (or speaker's) true meaning.
Exposition
In essays, one of the four chief types of composition, the others being argumentation, description, and narration. The purpose of ______________ is to explain something. In drama, the _______________is the introductory material, which creates the tone, gives the setting, and introduces the characters and conflict.
Thesis
In expository writing, the thesis statement is the sentence or a group of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or position. Expository writing is usually judged by analyzing how accurately, effectively, and thoroughly a writer has proven this.
Point of view
In literature, the perspective from which a story is told. There are two general divisions of ___________________, and many subdivisions within those. (1) the first person narrator tells the story with the first person pronoun, "I," and is a character in the story. This narrator can be the protagonist, a participant (character in a secondary role), or an observer (a character who merely watches the action). 2) the third person narrator relates the events with the third person pronouns, "he," "she," and "it." There are two main subdivisions to be aware of: omniscient and limited omniscient. In the "third person omniscient" point of view, the narrator, with godlike knowledge., present the thoughts and actions of any or all characters. This all-knowing narrator can reveal what each character feels and thinks at any given moment. The "third person limited omniscient" point of view, as its name implies, presents the feelings and thoughts of only one character, presenting only the actions of all remaining characters. This definition applies in question in the multiple-choice section. However on the essay portion of the exam, the "point of view" carries an additional meaning. When you are asked to analyze the author's point of view, the appropriate point for you to address is the author's attitude.
Function of Syllogism
In logic, it aims at identify the general truths in a particular situation. It is a tool in the hands of a speaker or a writer to persuade the audience or the readers as their belief in a general truth may tempt them to believe in a specific conclusion drawn from those truths. In literature, it can contribute to add wit to the statements. Moreover, ______________ fallacy may give us an opportunity to enjoy the nonsensical conclusion.
Irony/ironic
In situational ____________, events turn out the opposite of what was expected. What the characters and the readers think ought to happen. (3) In dramatic ____________, facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or piece of fiction, but know 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.
Syntax
In the essay section, you will need to analyze how an author manipulates the way words are joined into phrases, clauses, and sentences and produces effects
Syntax
In the multiple-choice section, expect to be asked some questions about how an author manipulates the way words are joined into phrases, clauses, and sentences.
Function of Logos
Is used in citing facts besides statistical, literal and historical analogies. It is something through which inner thoughts are presented in a logical way before the audience for persuasion. In society, rationality and logic are greatly valued and this type of convincing approach is generally honored more than appeals made by a speaker or character to the audience. On the other hand, scientific reasoning and formal logic are perhaps not suitable for general audiences, as they are more appropriate for scientific professionals only.
Function of Metonymy
Is used in developing literary symbolism i.e. it gives more profound meanings to otherwise common ideas and objects. Texts exhibit deeper or hidden meanings and thus drawing readers' attention.
Thesis
It is a truth universally acknowledged that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. - Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice
Parallelism - Contrasting ideas of "good" and "ill", "love" and "hate" are placed together in parallel structures to emphasize the fact that we love good because it is always good and we hate bad because it is always bad.
John Donne's poem "Community", "Good we must love, and must hate ill, For ill is ill, and good good still; But there are things indifferent, Which we may neither hate, nor love, But one, and then another prove, As we shall find our fancy bent."
Zeugma
John lost his coat and his tempe
Satire - Swift relentlessly satirizes politics, religion, and Western Culture. Criticizing party politics in England, During Swift's times, two rival political parties, the Whigs and the Tories, dominated the English political scene. Similarly, "The Kingdom of Lilliput" is dominated by two parties distinguished by the size of the heels of their boots. By the trivial disputes between the two Lilliputian parties", Swift satirizes the minor disputes of the two English parties of his period.
Jonathan Swift's Gulliver Travels "that for above seventy Moons past there have been two struggling Parties in this Empire, under the Names of Tramecksan and Slamecksan from the high and low Heels on their shoes, by which they distinguish themselves."
Subordinate clause
Like all clauses, this word group contains both a subject and a verb (plus any accompanying phrases or modifiers), but unlike the independent clause, the subordinate clause cannot stand alone; it does not express a complete thought. Also called a dependent clause, the subordinate clause depends on a main clause, sometimes called an independent clause, to complete its meaning. Easily recognized key words and phrases usually begin these clauses 0 for example: although, because, unless, if even though, since, as soon as, while who, when , where, how and that.
Metonymy - John Milton uses "oat" for a musical instrument made out of an oak-stalk. Thus, "oat" represents the song that the poet is composing next to the ocean.
Lycidas written by John Milton. "But now my oat proceeds, And listens to the herald of the sea That came in Neptune's plea, He asked the waves, and asked the felon winds, What hard mishap hath doomed this gentle swain?"
Syllogism (sil- uh-jiz-uhm)
Major premise: All men are mortal Minor premise: Socrates is a man. Conclusion: Therefore, Socrates is mortal.
Function of Zeugma
May create confusing or dangling sentences. However, if used correctly, it adds flavor to literary texts as it helps produce a dramatic effect, which could possibly be shocking in its result.
Pathos - is created by presenting a contrast between "the free bird" and "a caged bird". We see the words "grave", "shouts, scream", "clipped, tied" are associated with a bird in a cage, which makes us feel pity toward that miserable bird.
Maya Angelou's "Caged Bird" "The free bird thinks of another breeze and the trade winds soft through the sighing trees and the fat worms waiting on a dawn bright lawn and he names the sky his own But a caged bird stands on the grave of dreams his shadow shouts on a nightmare scream his wings are clipped and his feet are tied so he opens his throat to sing."
Function of Polysyndeton
Not only does it join words, phrases and clauses and thus brings continuity in a sentence, but it acts also as a stylistic device, brings rhythm to the text with the repetition of conjunctions in quick succession. It is also employed as a tool to lay emphasis to the ideas the conjunctions connect.
Litotes (lahy-toh-teez)
Not uncommon (which implies that the act is frequent)
Asyndeton (uh-sin-di-tuhn)
On his return he received medals, honors, treasures, titles, fame.
Anaphora (uh-naf-er-uh)
One of the devices of repetition, a scheme in which the same word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences.
Prose
One of the major divisions of genre, ___________ refers to fiction and non-fiction, including all its forms. In ____________ the printer determines the length of the line; in poetry, the poet determines the length of the line.
Predicate adjective
One type of subject complement is an adjective, group of adjectives, or adjective clause that follows a linking verb. It is an the predicate of the sentence, and modifies, or describes, the subject.
Satire
Regardless of whether or not the work aims to reform human behavior, is best seen as a style of writing rather than a purpose for writing. It can be recognized by the many devices used effectively: irony, wit, parody, caricature, hyperbole, understatement, and sarcasm. The effects of are varied, depending on the writer's goal, but good , often humorous, is thought provoking and insightful about the human condition.
Diction
Related to style, diction refers to the writer's word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness. For the AP exam, you should be able to describe an author's ______________ (for example, formal or informal, ornate or plain) and understand the ways in which diction can complement the author's purpose. ______________, combined with syntax, figurative language, literary devices, etc., creates an author's style.
Euphemism (yoo-fuh-miz-uhm)
Saying "earthly remains" rather than "corpse" is an example of euphemism.
Tone
Similar to mood, this describes the author's attitude toward his material, the audience, or both. Tone is easier to determine in spoken language than in written language. Considering how a work would sound if it were read aloud can help in identifying this.
Chiasmus (kahy-az-muhs)
Sitting together at lunch, the kids talked incessantly; but they said nothing at all sitting in the dentist's office.
Semantics
The branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words, their historical and psychological development, their connotations, and their relation to one another.
Theme
The central idea or message of a work, the insight it offers into life. Usually theme is unstated in fictional works, but in nonfiction, the theme may be directly stated, especially in expository or argumentative writing.
Style
The consideration of style has two purposes: (1) An evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices. Some authors' styles are so idiosyncratic that we can quickly recognize works by the same author (or a writer emulating that author's style)/ Compare, for example, Jonathan's Swift to George Orwell or William Faulkner to Ernest Hemingway. We can analyze and describe an author's personal style and make judgments on how appropriate it is to the author's purpose. Styles can be called flowery, explicit, succinct, rambling, bombastic, commonplace, incisive, or laconic, to name only a few examples. (2) Classification of authors to a group and comparison of an author to similar authors. By means of such classification and comparison, we can see how an author's style reflects and helps to define a historical period, such as the Renaissance of the Victorian period, or a literary movement, such as the romantic, transcendental or realist movement.
Irony/ironic
The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant. The difference between what appears to be and what actually is true.
Allegory
The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. In some ____________, for example, an author may intend the characters to personify an abstraction lie hope or freedom. The _________________ meaning usually deals with moral truth or a generalization about human existence.
Repetition
The duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern.
Periodic sentence
The effect is to add emphasis and structural variety. It is also a much stronger sentence than the loose sentence.
Atmosphere
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. Even such elements as description of the weather can contribute to the _______________. Frequently atmosphere foreshadows events. Perhaps it can create a mood.
Ambiguity (am-bi-gyoo-i-tee)
The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.
Connotation
The non literal, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning. _________________ may involve ideas, emotions, or attitudes. _______________ are usually positive or negative, and can greatly affect the author's tone.
Rhetorical mode
The purpose of argumentation is to prove the validity of an idea, or point of view, by presenting sound reasoning, discussion, and argument that thoroughly convince the reader. Persuasive writing is a type of argumentation having an additional aim of urging some form of action. The purpose of argumentation is to prove the validity of an idea, or point of view, by presenting sound reasoning, discussion, and argument that thoroughly convince the reader. Persuasive writing is a type of argumentation having an additional aim of urging some form of action.
Rhetorical mode
The purpose of description is to re-create, invent, or visually present a person, place, event or action so that the reader can picture that being described. Sometimes an author engages all five senses in description; good descriptive writing can be sensuous and picturesque. Descriptive writing may be straightforward and objective or highly emotional and subjective.
Rhetorical mode
The purpose of exposition (or expository writing) is to explain and analyze information by presenting an idea, relevant evidence, and appropriate discussion. The AP language exam essay questions are frequently expository topics.
Rhetorical mode
The purpose of narration is to tell a story or narrate an event or series of events. This writing mode frequently uses the tools of descriptive writing. These four modes are sometimes referred to as mode of discourse.
Alliteration
The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonants in tow 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 __________________ in any essay passage. The repetition can reinforce meaning, unify ideas, supply a musical sound, and/or echo the sense of the passage.
Function of Satire
The role is to ridicule or criticize those vices in the society, which the writer considers a threat to civilization. The writer considers it his obligation to expose these vices for the betterment of humanity. Therefore, the function is not to make others laugh at persons or ideas they make fun of. It intends to warn the public and to change their opinions about the prevailing corruption/conditions in society.
Imagery
The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions. On a physical level, uses terms related to the five senses; we refer to visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory, or olfactory imagery. On a broader and deeper level, however, one image can represent more than one thing. For example, a rose may present visual _____________ while also representing the color in a woman's cheeks and/or symbolizing some degree of perfection (It is the highest flower on the Great Chain of Being). An author may use complex _____________ while simultaneously employing other figure s of speech, especially metaphor and simile. In addition, this term can apply to the total of all the images in a work. ON the AP exam, pay attention to how an author creates ______________ and to the effect of this imagery.
Propaganda
The spread of ideas and information to further a cause. In its negative sense, used in rumors, lies, disinformation, and scare tactics in order to damage or promote a cause.
Denotation
The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion attitude, or color.
Narrative
The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events.
Colloquial/colloquialism (kuj-loh-kwee-uhl)
The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing. Not generally acceptable for formal writing, _________________ give a work a conversational, familiar tone. ______________ expressions in writing include local or regional dialects.
Syntax
The way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences. Similar to diction, but you can differentiate them by thinking of this as the groups of words, while diction refers to the individual words.
Subject complement
The word (with any accompanying phrases) or clauses that follows a linking verb and complements, or completes, the subject of the sentence by either (1) renaming it or (2) describing it. The former is the technically a predicate nominative, the latter a predicate adjective. Multiple-choice questions.
Antecedent (an-tuh-seed-nt)
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.
Metonymy - In these lines, the expression "The life from spilling" is a metonymy that refers to spilling of blood. It develops a link between life and blood. The loss of too much blood means loss of life. Countee Cullen uses "flesh" to represent human and questions God why we have to die when we are created in His likeness.
These lines are from the poem "Yet Do I Marvel". "The little buried mole continues blind, Why flesh that mirror Him must someday die,"
Polysyndeton (paulee-sin-dih-tawn)
They read and studied and wrote and drilled. I laughed and talked and flunked.
Asyndeton (uh-sin-di-tuhn)
They spent the day wondering, searching, thinking, understanding.
Rhetoric
This flexible term describes the variety, the conventions, and purposes of the major kinds of writing.
Rhetorical modes
This flexible term describes the variety, the conventions, and purposes of the major kinds of writing.
Hyperbole (hahy-pur-buh-lee)
This stuff is used motor oil compared to the coffee you make, my love.
Mood
This term has two distinct technical meanings in English writing. The first meaning is grammatical and eals with verbal units and a speaker's attitude. The indicative _________ is used only for factual sentences. For example, "Joe eats too quickly." The subjective _________ is used to express conditions contrary to fact. For example, "If I were you, I'd get another job." The imperative __________ is used for commands. For example, "Shut the door!" The second meaning of ___________ is literary, meaning the prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work. Setting, tone, and events can affect the mood. In this usage, mood is similar to tone and atmosphere.
Homily
This term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.
Function of Syntaz
To convey meaning through varying structures can be employed by writers along with diction to achieve certain artistic effects like mood, tone etc. Like diction, __________ not only intends to affect the readers but also it expresses writer's attitude. Besides, the unique sentence structures in poetry make it distinct from the more common syntax of prose.
Inference/infer
To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented. When a multiple-choice question asks for an ______________ to be drawn from a passage, the most direct, most reasonable ______________ is the safest answer choice. If an _______________ is implausible, it's unlikely to be the correct answer. Note that if the answer choice is directly stated, it is not ____________ and is wrong. You must be careful to note the connotation - negative or positive - of the choices.
Meiosis
Understatement (opposite of exaggeration): "I was somewhat worried when the psychopath ran toward me with a chainsaw." (i.e., I was terrified).
Diacope
We give thanks to Thee, O God, we give thanks (Psalm 75:1)
Function of Pathos
We humans are emotional beings and writers know it very well. They introduce___________ in their works to touch upon our delicate sensations such as pity, sympathy, sorrow and, consequently, try to develop an emotional connection with readers.
Rhetorical Question [erotesis]
We shrink from change; yet is there anything that can come into being without it? What does Nature hold dearer, or more proper to herself? Could you have a hot bath unless the firewood underwent some change? Could you be nourished if the food suffered no change? Do you not see, then, that change in yourself is the same order, and no less necessary to Nature? --Marcus Aurelius
Diacope
We will do it, I tell you; we will do it.
Juxtaposition (juhk-stuh-puh-zish-uhn)
When two words, phrases, images, ideas are placed close together or side by side for comparison or contrast.
Parallelism takes form of "Diazeugma" in which a single subject is connected with multiple verbs. Creates a dramatic effect in the speech of Norfolk that makes his description vivid.
William Shakespeare Henry VIII, Act 3, Scene 2: "My lord, we have Stood here observing him: Some strange commotion Is in his brain: he bites his lip, and starts; Stops on a sudden, looks upon the ground, Then, lays his finger on his temple; straight, Springs out into fast gait; then, stops again, Strikes his breast hard; and anon, he casts His eye against the moon: in most strange postures We have seen him set himself."
Apostrophe
William Wordsworth addresses John Milton as he writes, " Milton, thou shouldst be living at this hour: /England hath need of thee."
Figurative language
Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid.
Parallelism
adds balance and rhythm to sentences giving ideas a smoother flow and thus can be persuasive because of the repetition it employs.
Invective
an emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attach using strong, abusive language.
Function of Ethos
confirms the credibility of a writer or a speaker and thus they become trustworthy in the eyes of listeners and readers who as a result are persuaded by their arguments and is created largely by the choice of words he or she makes in order to convince listeners or readers.
Asyndeton (uh-sin-di-tuhn)
consists of omitting conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses. This can give the effect of unpremeditated multiplicity, of an extemporaneous rather than a labored account. Asyndetic lists can be more emphatic than if a final conjunction were used.
Ethos
credibility or an ethical appeal which involves persuasion by the character involved.
Rhetorical Question [erotesis]
differs from hypophora in that it is not answered by the writer because its answer is obvious or obviously desired, and usually just a yes or no answer would suffice. It is used for effect, emphasis, or provocation, or for drawing a conclusionary statement from the fact at hand.
Zeugma
from Greek "yoking" or "bonding", is a figure of speech in which a word, usually a verb or an adjective, applies to more than one noun, blending together grammatically and logically different ideas.
Expletive (ek-spli-tiv)
in fact, of course, to be sure, indeed, I suppose, I hope, you know, you see, clearly, in any event, in effect, certainly, remarkably.
Synecdoche (si-nek-duh-kee)
is a type of metaphor in which the part stands for the whole, the whole for a part, the genus for the species, the species for the genus, the material for the thing made, or in short, any portion , section, or main quality for the whole or the thing itself (or vice versa).
Tone
playful, serious, businesslike, sarcastic, humorous, formal, ornate, sardonic, and somber.
Diacope
repetition of a word or phrase after an intervening word or phrase: word/phrase X, . . ., word/phrase X.
Parallelism
the use of components in a sentence that are grammatically the same; or similar in their construction, sound, meaning or meter.