chapter 2 vocab ap lang

alliteration

repetition of the same sound beginning several works or syllables in sequence

allusion

brief reference to a person, event, or place (real or fictitious) or to a work of art

anaphora

repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or lines

antimetabole

Repetition of words in reverse order

antithesis

opposite, or contrast, of ideas or words in a parallel construction

archaic diction

old-fashioned or outdated choice of words

asyndeton

omission of conjunctions between coordinate phrases, clauses, or words

cumulative sentence

sentence that completes the main idea at the beginning of the sentence and then builds and adds on

hortative sentence

sentence that exhorts, urges, entreats, implores, or calls to action

imperative sentence

sentence used to command or enjoin

inversion

inverted order of words in a sentence (variation of the subject-verb-object order)

juxtaposition

Placement of two things closely together to emphasize similarities or differences

metaphor

figure of speech that compares two things without using like or as

oxymoron

paradoxical juxtaposition of words that seem to contradict one another

parallelism

similarity of structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases, or clauses

periodic sentence

sentence whose main clause is withheld until the end

personification

attribution of a lifelike quality to an inanimate object or an idea

rhetorical question

figure of speech in the form of a question posed for rhetorical effect rather than for the purpose of getting an answer

synedoche

figure of speech that uses a part to represent the whole

zeugma

use of two different words in a grammatically similar way that produces different, often incongruous, meanings

Let us go forth to lead the land we love

Alliteration

Let both sides unite to head in all corners of the earth the command of Isaiah

allusion

"...not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need - not as a call to battle, though embattled we are..."

anaphora

"Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."

antimetabole

We shall ... support any friend, oppose any foe

antithesis

beliefs for which our forebears fought

archaic diction

We shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty

asyndeton

"But neither can two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course - both sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both rightly alarmed by the steady spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to alter that uncertain balance of terror that stays the hand of mankind's final war."

cumulative sentence

Let both sides explore what problems unite us instead of belaboring those problems which divide us.

hortative sentence

My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.

imperative sentence

United there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative ventures. Divided there is little we can do.

inversion

[W]e are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth . . . that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans -- born in this century

juxtaposition

And if a beachhead of cooperation may push back the jungle of suspicion

metaphor

But this peaceful revolution

oxymoron

Let both sides explore . . . Let both sides, for the first time, formulate serious and precise proposals . . . Let both sides seek to invoke . . . Let both sides unite to heed

parallelism

To that world assembly of sovereign states, the United Nations, our last best hope in an age where the instruments of war have far outpaced the instruments of peace, we renew our pledge of support

periodic sentence

with history the final judge of our deeds

personification

Will you join in that historic effort?

rhetorical question

In your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final success or failure of our course

synedoche

Now the trumpet summons us again -- not as a call to bear arms, though arms we need -- not as a call to battle, though embattled we are -- but a call to bear the burden

zeugma