AP Lang Final Vocab Test (January-May)

Didactic

Intended to teach or instruct

Sardonic

Grimly mocking or cynical

Cynical

Distrustful of human sincerity or motives

Reverent

Showing deep respect

Nostalgic

Longing for the past

Ironic

Conveying meaning opposite of the literal sense

Contemptuous

Showing scorn or disdain

Optimistic

Hopeful and positive about the future

Ambivalent

Having mixed or conflicted feelings

Pragmatic

Dealing with things practically and realistically

Solemn

Serious and dignified

Whimsical

Playfully odd or fanciful

Polysyndeton

The deliberate use of many conjugations (and, but, or, yet, etc.)

Asyndeton

The deliberate omission of conjugations

Epistrophe

Repetition of a word or phrase at the end of clauses

Chiasmus

Reversal of grammatical structures in successive clauses

Zeugma

A figure of speech where one word applies to multiple parts of a sentence

Syllogism

A form of reasoning with a major premise, minor premise and conclusion

Enthymeme

An argument in which one premise is unstated but implied

Paradox

A statement that seems contradictory but reveals the truth

Qualifier

A word or phrase that limits the strength of a claim

Absolutist Language

Language that expresses certainty without exceptions

Cumulative Sentence

A sentence that begins with a main clause and adds detail

Anaphora

Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of clauses

The author wrote a novel for the purpose of teaching students how to get along with each other.

Didactic

After the performer fell, the audience could be seen snickering and sneering at the mistake.

Sardonic

The man didn’t trust that his coworker would get the job done in time, so he did it himself.

Cynical

The man stayed silent during the prayer even though he didn’t practice the religion.

Reverent

The girl reminisced about her past childhood, remembering all of the good memories she had when her mom was still alive.

Nostalgic

Fire station is on fire!

Ironic

My brother commented that he absolutely hates me, and doesn’t respect me.

Contemptuous

I’m looking on the bright side that I will close this deal and become rich.

Optimistic

The person couldn’t decided if the sandwich he ordered was too salty, or just right.

Ambivalent

Instead of going on intuition, the man followed the guide book step by step in order to build his desk.

Pragmatic

The judge remained serious and formal as he read off the names on the list.

Solemn

Flying a kite as a kid invokes happy emotions, full of magic and joy.

Whimsical

We went to the grocery store and the restaurant and the beach and back to the restaurant.

Polysyndeton

I came, I saw, I conquered

Asyndeton

We shall fight in France,

We shall fight on the seas and oceans,

We shall fight with growing confidence…

Anaphora

Government of the people, by the people, for the people.

Epistrophe

Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country.

Chiasmus

She broke his car and his heart.

Zeugma

All birds lay eggs

Pigeons are birds

Therefore Pigeons lay eggs

Syllogism

That dog is a golden retriever so it must be friendly (Implied that all Golden retrievers are friendly).

Enthymeme

I must be cruel, only to be kind.

Paradox

The water is somewhat hot.

Qualifier

Everybody hates me, and they will never like me.

Absolutist Language

The plane landed, banking sharply to the left, it descended gradually until hitting the tarmac, and rolling to a stop.

Cumulative Sentence

Colloquialism

Informal words or phrases used in everyday speech.

Euphemism

 A mild phrase used in place of something harsh

Satire

Writing that criticizes society through humor or irony

Parody

An imitation meant to mock or comment on a work or style

Polemic

A strong verbal or written attack on something

Allegory

A story with symbolic meaning beyond the literal

”…and all that David Copperfield kind of crap, but I don't feel like going into it, if you want to know the truth... Sleep tight, ya morons!" - Catcher on the Rye

Colloquialism

Using the phrase “not the sharpest tool in the shed” instead of “dumb”

Euphemism

The Simpsons mockingly points out the flaws of American families and consumerism in humorous, laughable episodes.

Satire

“The Wind Done Gone” by Alice Randall is based off of Margaret Mitchell’s “Gone with the Wind”, and inverts the perspective of the characters to instead focus on the omitted realities of an enslaved women in the antebellum era.

Parody

“A Vindication of the Rights of Woman" by Mary Wollstonecraft (1792): A powerful treatise arguing against the educational and social inequality of women, by pointing out the wrongdoings and flaws of European society.

Polemic

Animal Farm by George Orwell serves as a powerful story to the dangers of communism, by symbolizing aspects of communist rule through characters and events that happen in the plot.

Allegory