AICE Language AS Level Essential Vocabulary

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering literary and rhetorical terms, devices, schemes, and tropes from the AICE Language AS Level study material.

alliteration

The repetition of initial sounds in the first stressed syllable of words in close proximity (technically, any type of repeated sound in proximity, in an initial stressed syllable).

allusion

A reference to a famous event, work of art, person, or idea (such as cultural items including religion, literature, pop stars, etc.).

ambiguity (ambiguous)

Open to or having more than one possible meaning or interpretation.

amplification

Used to embellish a sentence or statement by adding further information, which may take the form of an elaborated paragraph or repetition of a word or words with added description.

anadiplosis

Repeats a word or phrase at the end of a clause or phrase and then again at the beginning of the next clauses or phrases.

analogy

Compares two different things that have similar characteristics along multiple lines, breaking the concept down into parts and comparing the parts (logical comparison).

anaphora

Repeats a word or phrase in successive phrases or clauses on purpose for effect.

anecdote

A short personal narrative detailing particulars of an interesting episode or event, often humorous, but not required to be.

antithesis

Puts two contrasting ideas together; requires parallel structure and exact opposites, unlike juxtaposition.

assonance

Any combination of repeated vowel sounds in quick succession at the beginning, middle, and/or end of words.

asyndeton

Omitting conjunctions (FANBOYS) between words, phrases, or clauses.

antimetabole

Two successive phrases or clauses that are parallel in syntax, but reverse the order of the same words; treated as a type of chiasmus.

chiasmus

An inverted grammatical structure using synonymous or antithetical terms; a reversal of synonyms or antonyms.

colloquialism

The use of regional dialect or informal language in writing or speaking; everyday language used by people of a certain region, which can include idioms and profanity.

consonance

Any combination of repeated consonant sounds in quick succession at the beginning, middle, and/or end of words.

diacope

The same word or phrase occurs on either side of an intervening word or phrase, with the repetition being fairly close to be evident.

enumeration

A type of amplification that lists or details the parts of something by distributing the subject into components, causes, effects, problems, solutions, conditions, and consequences; often uses appositive phrases.

epiphora (epistrophe)

A word or a phrase is repeated at the end of successive clauses (the opposite of anaphora).

epizeuxis

Repeats a word or phrase for emphasis in succession; repetition of very short sentences can also be considered epizeuxis.

euphemism

A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept.

hyperbole

Excessive, purposeful exaggeration not to be confused with realistic description.

hypophora

One or more questions is or are asked and then answered, often at length.

irony

A situation or statement characterized by a significant difference between what is expected or understood and what actually happens or is meant.

metaphor

Comparison by directly relating one thing to another unrelated thing; an abstract comparison.

simile

Comparison using "like" or "as".

metonymy

A metaphor where something being compared is referred to something closely associated with it.

mood

Prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work.

oxymoron

A two-word paradox; a pairing of opposite words that creates a paradox.

paradox

A statement that seems contradictory, but is actually true.

parallelism

A grammatical term referring to the use of words or phrases with a similar structure; repetition is always parallel.

personification

An act of giving human characteristics to animals or objects to create imagery.

anthropomorphism

Aims to make an animal or object behave and appear like it is a human being.

pathetic fallacy

Giving nature (usually the weather) human emotions.

zoomorphism

Animal attributes are imposed upon non-animal objects, humans, and events; animal features are ascribed to humans, gods, and other objects.

polysyndeton

A series of conjunctions not normally found in successive words, phrases, or clauses.

pun

Uses words, commonly in a humorous way, that sound similar but have different meanings.

rhetorical question

A question whose answer is obvious or implied.

rhythm

A literary device that sets the overall tempo or pace of a literary work (applicable to poetry, free verse, or prose).

meter

A literary device that creates a measured beat, often in a work of poetry, established by patterns of stressed and unstressed syllables.

satire

Technique to expose and criticize foolishness and corruption of an individual or a society by using humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule.

parody

Any kind of work which mimics a familiar style (of artist, genre, or work) to invoke humour; relies upon exaggeration to deride its target, but its primary aim is to amuse.

scheme

Figures of speech that deal with word order, syntax, letters, and sounds, rather than the meaning of words.

structure

Internal development of a text (ideas/content) and the relationship between its parts.

style

Evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices; also referred to as a writer's unique "voice."

symploce

Anaphora combined with epiphora in which the first and last word or words in one phrase, clause, or sentence are repeated in successive ones.

synecdoche

A word standing for part of something is used for the whole of that thing or vice versa.

syntax

A grammatical term describing how words function in a sentence; the choice (diction) and arrangement of words (syntax) make up a writer's style.

tricolon

Series of three parallel words, phrases, or clauses.

trope

Figures of speech that play with and shift the expected and literal meaning of words.

understatement

Involves any minimization of something and is used for humorous purposes, to comfort people, to be humble, and many other purposes.

litotes

A specific type of understatement in which an idea or sentiment is expressed ironically by negating a statement to the contrary (always involves negation).

meiosis

Minimizes the importance of something through euphemism or belittles using a degrading epithet or nickname, often through a trope of one word.

zeugma

A word that modifies two or more words in different ways.