AP Language and Composition Terms

allegory

a narrative in which the characters, behavior, and even the setting demonstrates multiple levels of meaning and significance. often a universal symbol or a personified abstraction

alliteration

the sequential repetition of a similar initial sound, usually applied to consonants, usually in closely proximate stressed syllables

allusion

a literary, historical, religious, or mythological reference in a literary work

anaphora

the regular repetition of the same words or phrases at the beginning of successive phrases or clauses

antithesis

the juxtaposition of sharply contrasting ideas in balanced or parallel words, phrases, grammatical structure, or ideas

aphorism

a concise statement designed to make a point or illustrate a commonly held belief

appeals to…authority, emotion, logic

rhetorical arguments in which the speaker claims to be an authority or expert in a field, or attempts to play upon the emotions, or appeals to the use of reason

apostrophe

an address or invocation to something inanimate

assonance

the repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds, usually in successive or proximate words

asyndeton

a syntactical structure in which conjunctions are omitted in a series, usually producing more rapid prose

attitude

the sense expressed by the tone of voice or the mood of a piece of writing; the author’s feelings toward his or her subject, characters, events, or theme. it might even be his or her feelings for the reader

begging the question

an argumentative ploy where the arguer sidesteps the question or the conflict, evades or ignores the real question

canon

that which as has been accepted as authentic

chiasmus

a figure of speech and generally a syntactical structure wherein the order of the terms in the first half of a parallel clause is reversed in the second

colloquial

a term identifying the diction of the common, ordinary folks, especially in a specific region or area

conceit

a comparison of two unlikely things that is drawn out within a piece of literature, in particular an extended metaphor within a poem

connotation

the implied, suggested, or underlying meaning of a word or phrase

consonance

the repetition of two or more consonants with a change in intervening vowels

critique

an assessment or analysis of something, such as a passage of writing, for determining what it is, what its limitations are, and how it conforms to the standard of the genre

deductive reasoning

the method of argument in which specific statements and conclusions are drawn from general principles: movement from the general to the specific

dialect

the language and speech idiosyncrasies of a specific area, region, or group

diction

the specific word choice an author uses to persuade or convey tone, purpose or effect

didactic

writing or speech that has an instructive purpose or a lesson; often associated with a dry, pompous presentation

elegy

a poem or prose that laments, or meditates upon the death of a person

epistrophe

in rhetoric, the repetition of a phrase at the end of successive sentences

epitaph

writing in praise of a dead person, most often inscribed upon a headstone

ethos

in rhetoric, the appeal of a text to the credibility and character of the speaker, writer, or narrator

eulogy

a speech or written passage in praise of a person; an oration in honor of a deceased person

euphemism

an indirect, kinder or less harsh or hurtful way of expressing unpleasant information

exposition

the interpretation or analysis of a text; also, the opening section of a narrative or dramatic structure in which characters, setting, theme, and conflict can be revealed

extended metaphor

a series of comparisons within a piece of writing; if they are consistently one concept, this is also known as a conceit

figurative language

language with levels of meaning expressed through figures of speech such as personification, metaphor, litote, etc

flashback

an earlier event is inserted into the normal chronology of the narration

genre

a type or class of literature, such as epic, narrative, poetry, biography, history

homily

a sermon, but more contemporary uses include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual life

hyperbole

overstatement characterized by exaggerated language, usually to make a point or draw attention

imagery

any sensory detail or evocation in a work to evoke a feeling, to call to mind an idea, or to describe an object; involves any or all of the five senses

inductive reasoning

the method of reasoning or argument in which general statements and conclusions are drawn from specific principles: movement from the specific to the general

inference

a conclusion or proposition arrived at by considering facts, observations, or some other specific data: looking at the clues, learning the facts

irony

the contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant; the intended meaning is often the opposite of what is stated, often suggesting light sarcasm

isocolon

parallel structure in which the parallel elements are similar not only in grammatical structure, but also in length

jargon

specialized or technical language of a trade, profession, or similar group

juxtaposition

the location of one thing adjacent to another to create an effect, reveal an attitude, or accomplish some other purpose

litote

a figure of speech that emphasizes its subject by conscious understatement

loose sentence

a long sentence that starts with its main clause, which is followed by several dependent clauses and modifying phrases

metaphor

one thing pictured as if it were something else, suggesting a likeness or analogy; an implicit comparison or identification of one thing with another, without the use of like or as

metonymy

a figure of speech in which an attribute or commonly associated feature is used to name or designate something

mode of discourse

the way in which information is presented in written or spoken form; narration, description, process analysis, and cause and effect are all types of this

mood

a feeling or ambiance resulting from the tone of a piece as well as the writer/narrator’s attitude and point of view. it is a “feeling” that establishes the atmosphere in a work of literature or other discourse

narrative

a mode of discourse that tells a story of some sort and it is based on sequences of connected events, usually presented in a straightforward, chronological framework

onomatopoeia

a word capturing or approximating the sound of what is described; the purpose of these words is to make a passage more effective for the reader or listener

oxymoron

a figure of speech that combines two apparently contradictory elements

paradox

a statement that seems contradictory but may probably be true

parallel structure

the use of similar forms in writing for nouns, verbs, phrases, or thoughts. in prose, recurrent syntactical similarity where several parts of a sentence or several sentences are expressed alike to show that their ideas are equal in importance.

pathos

that element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow; in argument or persuasion it tends to be the evocation of pity

periodic sentence

a long sentence in which the main clause is not completed until the end

personification

treating an abstraction or nonhuman object as if it were a person by endowing it with human features or qualities

point of view

the relation in which a narrator/author stands to a subject of discourse; requires the reader to establish the historical perspective of what is being said

prose

the ordinary form of written language without metrical structure in contrast to verse and poetry

realism

attempting to describe nature and life without idealization and with attention to detail

rebuttal

an argument technique wherein opposing arguments are anticipated and countered

rhetoric

the art of using words to persuade in writing or speaking

rhetorical question

a question that is asked simply for the sake of stylistic effect and is not expected to be answered

sarcasm

a form of verbal irony in which apparent praise is actually critical; can be light, and gently poke fun at something, or it can be harsh and mean

satire

a literary work that holds up human failings to ridicule and censure

simile

a direct, explicitly comparison of one thing to another, using the words like or as

style

the manner in which a writer combines and arranges words, shapes ideas, and utilizes syntax and structure

symbolism

use of a person, place, thing, event, or pattern that figuratively represents or “stands for” something else

synecdoche

a figure of speech in which a part signifies a whole

syntax

the way words are put together to form phrases, clauses, and sentences; basically, sentence structure

theme

the central or dominant idea or focus of a work; the statement a passage makes about its subject

tone

the attitude the narrator/author has toward the subject and theme; based on particular stylistic devices employed by the author

voice

the acknowledged or unacknowledged source of the words of the story; the speaker’s or narrator’s particular “take” on an idea based on a particular passage and how all the elements of the style of the piece come together to express his/her feelings

zeugma

a grammatically correct construction in which a word, usually a verb or adjective, is applied to two or more nouns without being repeated