AP Lang HARD Terms (1 & 2)

Ad hoc

Created for a special purpose

Allegory

Narrative demonstrates multiple levels of meaning

Antecedent

The word which came before to which the pronoun refers

Apostrophe

Figure of speech addressing someone or something as though they were there

Aside

Character speaks directly to audience; others do not hear

Chiasmus

Reversal of grammatical structure in successive phrases or clauses

Colloquial

Common language

Conceit

Elaborate and often surprising comparison between two dissimilar things

Consonance

Repetition of final consonance sound following different vowels (made wood)

Deductive reasoning

General to specific

Discourse

Conversation between text and reader

Elegy

Tribute to someone deceased, usually in poetic form

Epistrophe

Repetition of phrase at the ends of successive lines, sentences, phrases, clauses

Epithet

Adjective or phrase applied to a noun to accentuate a certain characteristic

Euphemism

Use of a word or phrase that is less direct but more tasteful

Homily

Sermon

Inductive reasoning

Specific to general

Isocolon

Parallel structure similar in structure, length

Litotes

Understatement that involves making an affirmative point by denying its opposite

Metonymy

Figure of speech in which one thing is represented by another (e.g., crown for king)

Oxymoron

Figure of speech juxtaposing opposite or contradictory words to create a paradox

Paradox

Statement seems contradictory but may be true (e.g., Fight for peace)

Stream of consciousness

Narrative technique that places the reader in thought processes of narrator

Subjective

Produced by the mind

Syllogism

An argument in which two statements and a logical conclusion is drawn

Synecdoche

Figure of speech where a part signifies the whole

Trope

Figure of speech that turns or twists to change meaning

Alter-ego

A character used by the author to express their own thoughts

Anecdote

A quick story about something of interest, usually with a singular theme or lesson

Classicism

Sticks to traditional themes and structures

Comic relief

When a humorous scene is inserted into a serious story to lighten the mood

Didactic

Teaches a specific lesson or moral

Adage

A folk saying with a lesson

Aphorism

A short statement that expresses an important truth about life

Ellipsis

Omitting a portion of the sequence of events, allowing the reader to fill in the narrative gaps

Synesthesia

A description involving a crossing of the senses

Foreshadowing

When an author gives hints about what will occur later in a story

Invective

A long, emotionally violent attack using strong, abusive language

Verbal Irony

Sarcasm

Situational irony

Found in the plot (or story line) of a book, story, or movie

Pacing

The speed or tempo of an author’s writing

Polysyndeton

When a writer creates a list of items which are all separated by conjunctions

Pun

When a word that has two or more meanings is used in a humorous way

Romanticism

Art or literature characterized by an idealistic, unrealistic view of people

Appositive

A word or group of words placed beside a noun or noun substitute to supplement its meaning

Concession

Accepting at least part or all of an opposing viewpoint

Ad hominem

Personally attacking your opponents instead of their arguments

Appeal to the bandwagon

The claim that many people believe it, or used to believe it, or do it

Cliche thinking

Using as evidence a well-known saying, as if it is proven

False cause

Assuming that because two things happened, the first one caused the second one

Unstated premises

Not every argument is fully expressed

Staccato

Sentence length: one to two words, abrupt

Telegraphic

Sentence length: shorter than five words

Short

Sentence length: approx. 5-10 words

Medium

Sentence length: approx. 15-20 words

Long

Sentence length: 30 or more words