AP Lang Summer Work Terms

Allusion

An indirect reference to a person, event, statement, or theme, found in literature, the other

arts, history, myths, religion, or popular culture.

Analogy

A similarity between like features of two distinct things on which a comparison may be

based. Similes and metaphors are commonly used to create an analogy, however, an analogy may be

more extensive than just a metaphor or simile alone.

Anaphora

the use of a word referring to or replacing a word used earlier in a sentence, to avoid repetition

Antithesis

a person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else.

Aphorism

a pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it.".

Asyndeton

the omission or absence of a conjunction between parts of a sentence.

Chiasmus

a rhetorical or literary figure in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order, in the same or a modified form; e.g. 'Poetry is the record of the best and happiest moments of the happiest and best minds.'.

Diction

A speaker's or author's word choice.

Hyperbole

A figure of speech that uses deliberate exaggeration to achieve an effect, also known as

overstatement.

Imagery

A compilation of sensory details that appeal to one or more of the senses: sight, taste,

touch, hearing, and smell.

Irony

An instance of language conveying the opposite of its literal meaning

Juxtaposition

the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect.

Ex: Superhero and villain fighting

Metaphor

A direct comparison of two distinct ideas, events, objects, or people that does not use

"like" or "as." An extended metaphor, or conceit, is a lengthy metaphor that continues the comparison

for several sentences, paragraphs, or even pages.

Parallelism

The repetition of grammatically similar construction to highlight, emphasize, or make a

point.

Oxymoron

A pairing of seemingly contradictory terms used to convey emphasis or tension.

Paradox

a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or proposition that when investigated or explained may prove to be well founded or true.

Personification

Attributing human traits to non-human entities.

Polysyndeton

a rhetorical device where a speaker or writer uses several coordinating conjunctions (like "and," "but," "or," "nor") in close succession, often where some might be omitted, to emphasize each word or phrase in a series

Repetition

The conscious and purposeful replication of words or phrases in order to make a point

Rhetorical Question

figure of speech in the form of a question posed for rhetorical effect rather than

for the purpose of getting an answer.

Satire

A literary genre that uses irony, wit, and sometimes sarcasm to expose humanities vices and

defects and provoke change or reform.

Simile

A figure of speech that compares two distinct things by using words such as like or as.

Syntax

The arrangement of words into phrases, clauses, and sentences. This includes word order

(subject/verb/object or inverted order); the length and structure of sentences (simple, compound,

complex, or compound-complex) and such techniques such as parallelism, antimetabole, anaphora, ect

Tone

The attitude of the author toward the reader and subject matter which generally pervades the

entire work. Tone is established by the connotation of the author's word choice.