AP English 3 Summer Vocab

Abstract

refers to language that describes concepts rather than concrete images

Ad Hominem

in an argument, this is an attack on the person rather than on the opponent's ideas. It comes from the Latin meaning “against the man.”

Allegory

a work that functions on a symbolic level

Alliteration

the repetition of initial consonant sounds, such as “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”

Allusion

a reference contained in a work that brings greater meaning to the piece.

Ambiguity

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

Analogy

a literary device employed to serve as a basis for comparison. It is assumed that what applies to the parallel situation also applies to the original circumstance. In other words, it is the comparison between two different items.

Anecdote

a story or brief episode told by the writer or a character to illustrate a point

Antecedent

the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers. The AP English Language and Composition Exam often expects you to identify the antecedent in a passage.

Antithesis

the presentation of two contrasting images. The ideas are balanced by word, phrase, clause, or paragraphs. “To be or not to be…” “Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country…”

Antithetical Sentence

compares opposites in a parallel structure - often compound

Aphorism

A terse statement of known authorship which expressed a general truth or moral principle. (If the authorship is unknown, the statement is generally considered to be a folk proverb.) An aphorism can be a memorable summation of the author’s point.

Apostrophe

A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. The effect may add familiarity or emotional intensity. William Wordsworth addresses John Milton as he writes, “Milton, thou shouldst be living at this hour: England hath need of thee.”

Argument

a single assertion of a series of assertions presented and defended by the writer.

Atmosphere

The emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by setting and partly by the author’s choice of objects that are described. Even such elements as a description of the weather can contribute to the atmosphere. See mood.

Attitude

the relationship an author has toward his or her subject, and/or his or her audience.

Balance

a situation in which all parts of the presentation are equal, whether in sentences or paragraphs or sections of a longer work.

Balanced Sentence

a sentence with 2 clauses or phrases of fairly equal length and strength for clarity. It expresses parallel or like ideas, often compound. Ex: The novel concentrates on character; the film intensifies the violence

Cacophony

harsh and discordant sounds in a line or passage in a literary work.

Character

those who carry out the action of the plot in literature. Major, minor, static, and dynamic are types of characters.

Colloquial

the use of slang in writing, often to create local color and to provide an informal tone. Huckleberry Finn is written in colloquial style.

Comic Relief

inclusion of a humorous character or scene to contrast with the tragic elements of a work, thereby intensifying the next tragic event.

Conceit

A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects. A conceit displays intellectual cleverness due to the unusual comparison being made.

Conflict

clash between opposing forces in a literary work, such as man vs. man; man vs. nature; man vs. god; man vs. self.

Connective Tissue

elements that help create coherence in a written piece.

Connotation

the interpretive level of a word based on its associated images rather than its literal meaning.

Deduction

the process of moving from a general rule to a specific example.

Denotation

the literal or dictionary meaning of a word.

Dialect

the recreation of regional spoken language, such as a Southern dialect. Zora Neale Hurston uses this in such works as Their Eyes Were Watching God

Diction

the author's choice of words that creates tone, attitude, and style, as well as meaning.

Didactic

writing whose purpose is to instruct or to teach. A didactic work is usually formal and focuses on moral or ethical concerns.

Ellipsis

indicated by a series of three periods, the ellipsis indicates that some material has been omitted from a given text. It could be a word, a phrase, a sentence, a paragraph, or a whole section. Be wary of the ellipsis; it could obscure the real meaning of the piece of writing.

Epigraph

the use of a quotation at the beginning of a work that hints at its theme. Hemingway begins The Sun Also Rises with two epigraphs. One of them is "You are all a lost generation" by Gertrude Stein.

Euphemism

a more acceptable and usually more pleasant way of saying something that might be inappropriate or uncomfortable. "He went to his final reward" is a common euphemism for "he died." Euphemisms are also often used to obscure the reality of a situation. The military uses "collateral damage" to indicate civilian deaths in a military operation.

Euphony

the pleasant, mellifluous presentation of sounds in a literary work.

Exposition

background information presented in a literary work.

Extended Metaphor

a sustained comparison often referred to as a conceit. The extended metaphor is developed throughout a piece of writing.

Figurative Language

the body of devices that enables the writer to operate on levels other than the literal one. It includes metaphor, simile, symbol, motif, and hyperbole, etc.

Flashback

a device that enables a writer to refer to past thoughts, events, or episodes.

Form

the shape or structure of a literary work.

Genre

The major category into which a literary work fits.

Hyperbole

extreme exaggeration, often humorous, it can also be ironic; the opposite of understatement.

Image

a verbal approximation of a sensory impression, concept, or emotion.

Imagery

the total effect of related sensory images in a work of literature

Induction

method of reasoning that moves from specific instances to a general conclusion

Inference

a conclusion one can draw from the presented details

Invective

a verbally abusive attack

Irony

an unexpected twist or contrast between what happens and what was intended or expected to happen. It involves dialog and situation, and can be intentional or unplanned. Dramatic irony centers on the ignorance of those involved; whereas, the audience is aware of the circumstance

Logic

the process of reasoning

Logical fallacy

a mistake in reasoning

Metaphor

a direct comparison between dissimilar things. "Your eyes are stars" is an example.

Metonymy

a figure of speech in which a representative term is used for a larger idea (The pen is mightier than the sword).

Monologue

a speech given by one character (Hamlet's "To be or not to be...").

Motif

the repetition or variations of an image or idea in a work used to develop theme or characters.

Narrator

the speaker of a literary work.

Onomatopoeia

words that sound like the sound they represent (hiss, gurgle, pop).

Oxymoron

an image of contradictory term (bittersweet, pretty ugly, jumbo shrimp).

Pacing

the movement of a literary piece from one point or one section to another

Parable

a story that operates on more than one level and usually teaches a moral lesson. (The Pearl by John Steinbeck is a fine example)

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.

Parody

a comic imitation of a work that ridicules the original. It can be utterly mocking or gently humorous. It depends on allusion and exaggerates and distorts the original style and content.

Pathos

the aspects of a literary work that elicit pity from the audience. An appeal to emotion that can be used as a means to persuade.

Pedantic

a term used to describe writing that borders on lecturing. It is scholarly and academic and often overly difficult and distant.

Periodic Sentence

presents its main clause at the end of the sentence for emphasis and sentence variety. Phrases, dependent clause precede the main clause.

Personification

the assigning of human qualities to inanimate objects or concepts (Wordsworth personifies "the sea that bares her bosom to the moon" in the poem London 1802).

Persuasion

a type of argument that has as its goal an action on the part of the audience

Plot

a sequence of events in a literary work

Point of View

the method of narration in a literary work; the perspective from which the story is told.

Pun

a play on words that often has a comic effect. Associated with wit and cleverness. A writer who speaks of the "grave topic of American funerals" may be employing an intentional or unintentional pun

Reductio ad Absurdum

Latin for "to reduce to the absurd." This is a technique useful in creating a comic effect (see Twain's "At the Funeral.") and is also an argumentative technique. It is considered a rhetorical fallacy, because it reduces an argument to an either/or choice.

Rhetoric

refers to the entire process of written communication. Rhetorical strategies and devices are those tools that enable a writer to present ideas to an audience effectively.

Rhetorical Question

one that does not expect an explicit answer. It is used to pose an idea to be considered by the speaker or audience. (Ernest Downson asks, "Where are they now, the days of wine and roses?")

Sarcasm

A comic technique that ridicules through caustic language. Tone and attitude may both be described as sarcastic in a given text if the writer implies language, irony, and wit to mock or scorn.

Satire

A mode of writing based on ridicule that criticizes the foibles and follies of society without necessarily offering a solution. (Jonathon Swift's Gulliver's Travels is a great satire that exposes mankind's condition.)

Setting

The time and place a story takes place

Simile

An indirect comparison that uses the words like or as to link the differing in the comparison. ("Your eyes are like stars.")

Stage Directions

The specific instructions a playwright includes concerning sets, characterization, delivery, etc.

Stanza

a unit of a poem, similar in rhyme, meter, and length to other units in the poem Structure- organization and form of a work.

Style

the unique way an author presents his ideas. Diction, syntax, imagery, structure, and content all contribute to a particular style.

Syllogism

the format of a formal argument that consists of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.

Symbol

something in a literary work that stands for something else. (Plato has the light of the sun symbolize truth in "The Allegory of the Cave.")

Synecdoche

a figure of speech that utilizes a part as representation of the whole. ("All hands on deck" is an example)

Syntax

the grammatical structure of prose and poetry.

Theme

the underlying ideas the author illustrates through characterization, motifs, language, plot, etc.

Thesis

simply, the main idea of a piece of writing. It presents the author's assertion or claim. The effectiveness of a presentation is often based on how well the writer presents, develops, and supports the thesis.

Tone

the author's attitude toward his subject.

Transition

a word or phrase that links one idea to the next and carries the reader from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph.

Understatement

the opposite of exaggeration, the minimizing of fact. It is a technique for developing irony and/or humor where one writes or says less than intended.

Voice

can refer to two different areas of writing. One refers to the relationship between a sentence's subject and verb (active voice and passive voice). The second refers to the total "sound" of a writer's style.