AP LANG MIDTERM TERMS

Alliteration

Repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of nearby words. Example: "She sells seashells by the seashore."

Allusion

A reference to another work of literature, person, or event. Example: "He was a real Romeo with the ladies" (referring to Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet").

Anadiplosis

Repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the next. Example: "Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering."

Anaphora

Repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses. Example: "I have a dream that one day... I have a dream that my children... I have a dream today."

Antimetabole

Repetition of words in reverse order. Example: "Ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country."

Antithesis

A contrast of ideas by balancing opposite words or phrases. Example: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

Apostrophe

A figure of speech where the speaker addresses a person, object, or idea that is not present. Example: "O, death, where is thy sting?"

Asyndeton

Omission of conjunctions between parts of a sentence. Example: "I came, I saw, I conquered."

Assonance

Repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words. Example: "The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain."

Connotation

The implied or suggested meaning of a word, apart from its literal meaning. Example: "Home" suggests warmth and security, not just a physical structure.

Consonance

Repetition of consonant sounds, typically at the end of words. Example: "The lumpy, bumpy road."

Denotation

The literal, dictionary definition of a word. Example: "Snake" literally means a reptile, but its connotation can include danger or deceit.

Epigraph

A short quotation or saying at the beginning of a book or chapter, meant to suggest the theme. Example: "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself." – Franklin D. Roosevelt (used at the start of a book).

Epistrophe

The repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses. Example: "See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil."

Epanalepsis

Repetition of the initial word or phrase at the end of a sentence or clause. Example: "The king is dead, long live the king."

Ethical Appeal (Ethos)

Persuasion based on the character or credibility of the speaker or writer. Example: "As a doctor, I can confidently say this medicine is safe."

Euphemism

A mild or indirect word or expression used in place of something harsh or direct. Example: "Passed away" instead of "died."

Hyperbole

Exaggeration for emphasis or effect. Example: "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse."

Litotes

A form of understatement that uses a double negative to express a positive. Example: "He's not bad at singing" (meaning he's good).

Logical Appeal (Logos)

Persuasion using reason, facts, or logic. Example: "Studies show that exercise improves mental health."

Loose Sentence

A sentence where the main idea is stated at the beginning, followed by additional details. Example: "I went to the store to buy some bread, milk, and eggs."

Lyrical

Having the qualities of a song or poetry, expressing emotion. Example: "The wind whispered through the trees, carrying secrets of the past."

Metaphor

A comparison between two unlike things without using "like" or "as." Example: "Time is a thief."

Onomatopoeia

A word that imitates a sound. Example: "The clock tick

Oxymoron

A figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms. Example: "Deafening silence."

Paradox

A statement that seems self

Parallelism

The use of similar grammatical structures in a sentence or series of sentences. Example: "She likes reading, writing, and drawing."

Pathetic Appeal (Pathos)

Persuasion by appealing to emotions, feelings, or sympathies. Example: "Think of the children, starving and alone."

Periodic Sentence

A sentence where the main idea comes at the end, creating suspense. Example: "In spite of heavy winds and rain, the team won the game."

Personification

Giving human characteristics to non

Polysyndeton

The use of several conjunctions in close succession. Example: "We have ships and men and money and stores."

Simile

A comparison between two unlike things using "like" or "as." Example: "Her smile was as bright as the sun."

Synecdoche

Synecdoche: A part represents the whole or vice versa. Example: "All hands on deck" (hands represent people).

Synesthesia

A blending of senses, where one sense is described using another. Example: "The loud color of the music filled the room."

Metonymy

Metonymy: Substituting one thing with another closely related thing. Example: "The White House issued a statement" (The White House represents the president or administration).