AP Lang study guide 2025

Ethos

Trust, credentials, commonality

Pathos

Emotion

Logos

Logic, proof precedent

Antithesis

A juxtaposition of opposites or contrasting idea

Discursive

Jumping from subject to subject

Connotation

The implied meaning of a word

Denotation

The dictionary definition of a word

Understatement

The presentation of something as being smaller or less important than it is

Hyperbole

Exassurated statements not meant to be taken literally

Polysyndeton

Deliberate repetition of conjunction in a series of words, phrases, clauses, slows down

Asyndeton

Conjunctions omitted in a series of words, phrases, or clauses, effect: intensify the impact, speeds up rhythm

Tricolon

3 words or phrases in a word, emphasizes the last one

Diction

Word choice

Tetracolon

4 words in a row, evokes a sense of overwhelming, 3 details

Passive voice

The subject receives the action rather than performing it, ex “an informal poll was taken by the teacher”

Allusion

Indirect reference to a person, place event, etc

Repetition

Emphasizes am emotion or idea

Tone

Attitude toward subject

Imagery

Evoke emotion

Concrete

You can sense, apple, table, coin, hand, fire, teacher

Abstract

You can’t sense it, fear, joy, jealousy, freedom, laziness

Proper

A name

Plural

More than one thing, desks, pens, pencils

Possessive

Ownership, mine ours

Nominative

They, I, You, We, She, He, It, they

Objective

Me, us, you, him, her, it, them

Possessive

Mine, ours, theirs, his , hers, their

Antecedent

The word a pronoun stands for, Brianna, her, she

Reflexive

Herself, himself

Intensive

Formed by adding-self or selves to a personal pronoun

Interrogative

Used to ask a question

Demonstrative

Points out specific persons, places, things, or ideas, ex: Did you hear the new SINGLE? I’m dying to hear THAT, read the INSTRUCTIONS. Even THOSE in fine print

Relative

Introduces a subordinate clause, ex: Someone, ACHILLES was the warrior WHO helped sack Troy

Indefinite

Does not refer to a specific person or thing, ex: Another, anyone, anybody, anything, each, everybody, everyone, everything, etc

Personal

I, you, he, she, it

What is Daniel dreaming of in the days leading up to the powwow

Dreams of people running in the streets and gunfire all around

What is in the safe?

Gift cards

Who is in the regalia

Tony

What does Orvil want to believe?

He knows how to dance a prayer and pray for a new world

What POV is this chapter written in (Thomas Frank)

Third

Who did Jacquie just see go by the grand entry?

Orvil

Who all gets in the back of Opals ford bronco?

Jacquie, Orvil, Harvey, opal, loother, lony

When blue sees Jacquie, what does she contemplate on doing?

If she should allow Jacquie and the boy to go into Edwin’s place at the hospital

How/why does the drone land on Carlos head?

Daniel intentionally crashes it onto Carlos head in attempt to stop the violence

What were Tony’s masks?

Him and he drome

What is the point of reference to Optimus prime and transformers?

To provide a moral anchor for his actions, the idea of sacrafice for the greater good

What does tony remember about his grandma teaching him how to dance?

How to be light on his feet

What does the “huge Indian guy” say about dancing?

That you have to dance with feeling

Describe how Orvil is feeling before the performance

Like a fraud

Why does tony stop listening to the older white woman on the train?

Because she wants a story she can bring home

Explain Edwin and blues non-date

They walked around a lake

What is “the only thing a camera can keep its eye wide for”?

This unflinching stare into the void of addiction and depravity

Where is Opal? Why?

Sitting alone in the plaza infield so she cannot be seen by her grandsons

Why is the powwow important for them?

Because it is a new life

Why is Calvin involved in “this shit plan”

Because Charles got him involved in the plan

How do the bullets get into the coliseum?

By the socks that were thrown into the bush

Why is blue ghost white?

Because she thinks Jacquie is her mom and saw her

What POV is this chapter written (Daniel)

First person

In which room did Daniel print the 3D gun?

His room(the basement)

According to Daniel why wouldn’t manny like that Octavio came over so much after Manny died?

Because it was Octavios fault

Describe the content and tone of Daniel’s email to his brother?

It is an update on his life and family life, the tone is intimate and somber

What did Daniel do with the first 5 thousand Octavio gave him?

Left 3000 on the kitchen table in an envelope and used the other 2000 to buy a done and virtual goggles

Why did Daniel buy a drone?

Because he has been wanting a drone since he found out about the powwow

Who is Daniel likely describing when he flies the drone for a test run?

Bill Davis

What POV is this chapter written in?

First person

How did blue and Paul get married?

Pauls dad married them in a tipi ceremony (traditional Cheyanne ceremony)

Who is blues birth mom

Jacquie Red Feather

How did Blue get her job? Her position in relation to the Powwow

They knew her, she was the event’s coordinator for the powwow

What is the plan after Paul says he needs the car all day? What is blue planning to escape and how

She plans to leave Paul for good, she plans to escape by walking to the Greyhound station and taking a bus to Oakland

How do Geraldine and Hector get into their accident? What happens after the crash?

Because hector was trying to grab the wheel, Paul comes looking for Blue after

What POV is this chapter written? (Thomas)

Second person

What sort of heartbeat does Thomas have?

An arrhythmic heartbeat

What is the world made of? What is inside every sound?

Sound, inside is a lurk of sadness

Where is Thomas headed?

A powwow

What is Thomas role at the Indian center?

A janitor and drummer

Most addictions are not what according to the narrator?

Premeditated

What was in the hallway that the narrator needed to get out?

A bat

Who does the narrator find under the canopy?

Bobby