lang AP terms

Allegory

a narrative or artistic expression in which characters, events, or settings are used to symbolize broader abstract ideas, often conveying moral, political, or philosophical messages.

Alliteration

the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of closely connected words.

Allusion

an indirect reference to a well-known person, event, or work of art, literature, or history.

Ambiguity

the presence of multiple meanings or interpretations, which can make a statement unclear or uncertain.

Anadiplosis

the repetition of the last word of a preceding clause at the beginning of the next clause.

Analogy

a comparison between two different things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification.

Anaphora

the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences.

Anecdote

a brief, entertaining story about a real incident or person, often used to illustrate a point.

Antecedent

the noun or noun phrase to which a pronoun refers.

Antithesis

the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases or clauses.

Aphorism

a concise, witty statement that expresses a general truth or observation.

Apostrophe

a figure of speech in which a speaker directly addresses an absent or imaginary person, or a personified abstraction.

Asyndeton

the omission of conjunctions between parts of a sentence for effect.

Atmosphere

the overall mood or feeling that a literary work evokes, created by the setting, description, and tone.

Chiasmus

a rhetorical figure in which two or more clauses are related to each other through a reversal of structures.

Clause

a group of words containing a subject and a predicate, and functioning as part of a complex sentence.

Conduplicatio

the repetition of a key word or phrase from one sentence or clause at the beginning of the next.

Colloquialism

informal language or slang used in everyday conversation, often specific to a region.

Coherence

the logical connection and consistency that allows a piece of writing to make sense as a whole.

Conceit

an extended metaphor that compares two very unlike things in a surprising or clever way.

Connotation

the implied or suggested meaning associated with a word, beyond its literal definition.

Denotation

the literal, dictionary definition of a word.

Diction

the choice of words and style of expression used by a writer or speaker.

Didactic

intended to teach, often with a moral lesson.

Enumeratio

a rhetorical device used to list details or a process of mentioning parts or steps.

Expletive

an interjection or word that is inserted into a sentence to add emphasis but does not add meaning.

Euphemism

a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered too harsh or blunt.

Exposition

a comprehensive explanation or description of an idea or theory.

Extended metaphor

a metaphor that is developed over several lines or throughout a work.

Figurative language

language that uses figures of speech, such as metaphors, similes, or hyperbole, to convey meaning beyond the literal.

Figure of speech

a word or phrase used in a non-literal sense for rhetorical or vivid effect.

Generic conventions

features shown by texts that allow them to be put into a specific genre.

Genre

a category of artistic composition characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.

Homily

a religious discourse that is intended primarily for spiritual edification rather than doctrinal instruction.

Hyperbole

an exaggerated statement or claim not meant to be taken literally.

Hypophora

a figure of speech in which a writer raises a question and then immediately provides an answer to that question.

Imagery

visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work.

Inference

a conclusion reached based on evidence and reasoning.

Invective

insulting, abusive, or highly critical language.

Irony

a figure of speech where the intended meaning is opposite to the literal meaning.

Juxtaposition

the act of placing two elements close together or side by side, often to highlight contrast.

Litotes

a figure of speech that employs understatement by using double negatives or, in other words, a positive statement expressed by negating its opposite.

Loose sentence

a type of sentence in which the main idea is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases.

Metaphor

a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable.

Metonymy

a figure of speech in which something is referred to by the name of something closely associated with it.

Mood

the emotional feeling or atmosphere that a work of literature produces in a reader.

Narrative

a spoken or written account of connected events; a story.

Onomatopoeia

a word that imitates the sound it represents.

Oxymoron

a figure of speech in which contradictory terms appear in conjunction.

Paradox

a seemingly absurd or contradictory statement that, when investigated, may prove to be true.

Parallelism

the use of successive verbal constructions in poetry or prose that correspond in grammatical structure, sound, meter, meaning, etc.

Parody

an imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect.

Pedantic

overly concerned with minute details or formalisms, especially in teaching.

Periodic sentence

a sentence that, by leaving the completion of its main clause to the end, creates suspense or emphasis.

Personification

a figure of speech in which a thing, an idea, or an animal is given human attributes.

Polysyndeton

the deliberate use of multiple conjunctions between clauses, often slowing the tempo or rhythm.

Point of view

the perspective from which a story is narrated.

Predicate adjective

an adjective that follows a linking verb and modifies (describes) the subject of the sentence.

Predicate nominative

a noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb and refers back to the subject to rename or define it.

Prose

written or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure.

Repetition

the recurrence of a word, phrase, or idea for emphasis or rhythm.

Rhetoric

the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing.

Rhetorical question

a question asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to make a point rather than to get an answer.

Sarcasm

the use of irony to mock or convey contempt.

Satire

the use of humor, irony, or exaggeration to criticize or expose the flaws in human nature or society.

Semantics

the study of meaning in language.

Style

the distinctive way in which a writer uses language, including word choice, sentence structure, and figures of speech.

Subject complement

a word or phrase that follows a linking verb and describes or identifies the subject.

Subordinate clause

a clause that cannot stand alone as a complete sentence and depends on a main clause.

Syllogism

a form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn from two premises, a major and a minor one.

Symbolism

the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities.

Synecdoche

a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa.

Syntax

the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.

Theme

the central idea or message in a work of literature.

Thesis

a statement or theory put forward to be proved or maintained in an argument.

Tone

the attitude or approach that the author takes toward the work’s central theme or subject.

Transition

a word or phrase that links different ideas or sections of writing to ensure a smooth flow.

Understatement

a figure of speech in which a writer or speaker deliberately makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is.

Undertone

an underlying or implied quality or feeling.

Wit

the ability to use words and ideas in a quick and inventive way to create humor.