AP Language and Composition Mid-terms

Allusion

a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance, often used to enhance meaning.

Analogy

A technique where two completely unrelated things are compared

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect

Antithesis

rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect.

Aphorism

A concise statement that expresses a general truth or principle, often in a witty or memorable way.

Archaism

A word, phrase, or other linguistic feature that is considered outdated or no longer in common use.

Archetype

a typical example of a person or thing, often representing universal patterns of human nature.

Asyndeton

a stylistic device that omits conjunctions between phrases or clauses, creating a concise and dramatic effect.

Epistrophe

the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences, emphasizing a particular idea.

Cataloging

the technique of listing or creating a series of items to emphasize a point or theme.

Caricature

a humorous or exaggerated portrayal of a person or subject, highlighting specific traits for comic effect.

chiasmus

a rhetorical device in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order, creating a mirror effect.

connotation

A meaning that is implied by a word apart from the thing which it describes explicitly, often involving emotional or cultural associations.

Colloquialism

a word or phrase used in informal language or everyday conversation, often specific to a particular region or group.

Euphemism

a mild or indirect word or expression used to replace one that may be considered harsh or blunt, often to soften the impact of the message.

Exigence

The issue, problem, or situation that prompts someone to write or speak, often driving the need for communication. (the context)

Hyperbole

An exaggerated statement or claim not meant to be taken literally, often used for emphasis or rhetorical effect.

Jargon

specialized terminology used within a particular field or group, often difficult for outsiders to understand.

juxtaposition

the act of placing two or more ideas, characters, or concepts side by side to highlight their differences or similarities, often used in literature and art.

loose sentence

A typically long sentence in which the main clause comes first and subordinate modifiers or trailing elements follow

metonymy

a figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely associated. (suit for business executives)

Neologism

A newly coined word or term which has emerged into everyday use that can be a completely new word, a new meaning for an existing word, or a combination of existing words.

parallelism

the use of components in a sentence that are gramatically the same or similar

Periodic Sentence

a sentence which has been deliberately structured to place the main point at the end to create suspense or emphasize the main idea.

Polysyndeton

repetition of the same conjunction between items in a seried where conjunctions normally would be used

synecdoche

a figure of speech in which a word or phrase that refers to a part of something is substituted to stand in for the whole