AP SEMINAR TEST

Hyperbole

An extreme exaggeration used for emphasis or effect.

Allegory

A story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

Paradox

A statement that seems contradictory or absurd but may actually express a deeper truth.

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality, which includes verbal, situational, and dramatic types.

Understatement

Making something seem less important or serious than it really is.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms.

Assurance

A statement or promise intended to make someone feel confident or certain.

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste).

Euphemism

A polite or mild word/phrase used to replace one that may be harsh or unpleasant.

Metonymy

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

Alliteration

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

Foreshadow

Hints or clues about what will happen later in a story.

Allusion

A brief reference to a person, place, thing, or event from history, culture, or literature.

Anagram

A word or phrase formed by rearranging the letters of another word or phrase.

Anaphora

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

Rhetorical Question

A question asked for effect, not meant to be answered.