Glossary of Terms -- AP English Language and Composition (Page 1)

Vocabulary flashcards covering key AP Lang glossary terms from Page 1.

allegory

The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an idea in addition to the literal meaning. The allegorical meaning usually deals with moral truth or a generalization about human existence.

alliteration

The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words (as in 'she sells sea shells'). The repetition can reinforce meaning, unify ideas, supply a musical sound, and/or echo the sense of the passage.

allusion

A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art. Allusions can be historical, literary, religious, topical, or mythical, and a work may use multiple layers of allusion.

ambiguity

The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.

anadiplosis

The repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause. Example: 'Fear leads to anger; anger leads to hate; hate leads to suffering.'

analogy

A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them. An analogy explains unfamiliar ideas by associating them with something more familiar and can make writing more vivid or engaging.

anaphora

One of the devices of repetition, in which the same expression (word or words) is repeated at the beginning of two or more lines, clauses, or sentences. Example: 'It was the best of times; it was the worst of times.'

anecdote

A short narrative detailing particulars of an interesting episode or event, typically referring to an incident in the life of a person.

antecedent

The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun. The AP language exam may ask for the antecedent of a given pronoun in a long, complex sentence or in a group of sentences.

aphorism

A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle. If authorship is unknown, the statement is considered a folk proverb. An aphorism can be a memorable summation of the author's point.

apostrophe

A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction (such as liberty or love). It is an address to someone or something that cannot answer, often adding familiarity or emotional intensity.