AP Lang terms 41-67

Anaphora

Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences for emphasis

personification

giving human qualities or actions to something nonhuman

repetition

reusing words, phrases, or ideas to emphasize a point or create an effect

saracasm

using remarks that often mean the opposite of their literal meaning to mock or criticize

Satire

using humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose flaws in people, society, or institutions

symbol

a person, object, place, or action that represents a larger idea

synecdoche

a figure of speech in which a part represents the whole or the whole represents a part

synesthesia

describing one sense through the language of another sense

understatement

deliberately presenting something as less important, serious, or extreme than it actually is

wit

clever, often humorous language that demonstrates intelligence or sharp observation

rhetoric

the art of using language effectively to inform, persuade, or influence an audience

rhetorical modes

methods of developing and organizing writing, such as narration, description, exposition, and argumentation

syllogism

a logical argument in which a conclusion follows from two premises

thesis

the central claim or main argument that a writer develops and supports

parody

an imitation of a particular work, author, genre, or sty;e that exaggerates its features, often for humor or criticism

tone

the writer’s or speaker’s attitude toward the subject, audience, or situation, conveyed through word choice and style

pedantic

overly concerned with minor details, rules, or displays of knowledge, often unnecessarily

prose

ordinary written or spoken language that is not organized into regular poetic lines or meter

semantics

the study of meaning in words, phrases, and sentences

subject complement

a word or phrase that follows a linking verb and identifies or describes the subject

subordinate clause

a group of words containing a subject and verb that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence

syntax

the arrangement of words and phrases to create sentences; writers use it to influence emphasis, rhythm, and meaning

transition

a word, phrase, or sentence that connects ideas and shows the relationship between them

point of view

the perspective from which a story or account is told, or the position from which an issue is considered

style

a writers distinctive use of language, including diction, syntax, imagery, and figurative language

theme

a central message or insight about life, human nature or society developed through a literary work

Personification example

“the wind whispered through the trees” Making the wind sound human

Sarcasm example

after someone spills a drink: “well, that was graceful”

Prose example

most novels, essays, speeches, and newspaper articles are written in prose

Pedantic example

“technically, you used a semicolon incorrectly in your text message.'“ This is an unnecessary minor detail

Synesthesia

“her voice was velvet” a sound is described through a tactile quality