AP English Language and Composition

Allegory

The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent and abstraction in addition to literal meaning.

Antecedent

Word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.

Antithesis

Opposition or contrast of ideas through parallelism.

Aphorism

Terse statement of unknown authorship which expresses a general truth or moral

Apostrophe

A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.

Colloquial/Colloquialism

The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.

Conceit

A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar

objects.

Euphemism

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

Homily

This term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.

Invective

An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language.

Metonymy

a figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.

Anaphora

A sub-type of parallelism, when the exact repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive lines

or sentences.

Pedantic

An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish

Prose

one of the major divisions of genre, prose refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms.

Semantics

The branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words, their historical and psychological development, their connotations, and their relation to one another.

Syllogism

From the Greek for "reckoning together," a syllogism is a deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion.

Synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part of something is used

to represent the whole or, occasionally, the whole is used to represent a part.

Synesthesia

When one kind of sensory stimulus evokes the subjective experience of another.

Annotation

Explanatory or critical notes added to a text.

Epigram

A brief witty statement.

Digression

The use of material unrelated to the subject of a work.

Ellipsis

the omission of a word or several words necessary for a complete construction that is still understandable.

Ad Hominem

Directed to or appealing to feelings or prejudices instead of to intellect or reason.

Anachronism

A person, scene, event or other element that fails to correspond with the appropriate time or era.

Didactic

Having an instructive purpose; intending to convey information to teach a lesson usually in a dry, pompous manner.

Fallacy

An incorrect belief or supposition based on faulty data, defective evidence, or false information.

Hubris

Excessive pride that often affects tone.

Inductive Reasoning

A method of reasoning in which a number of specific facts or examples are used to make a generalization.

Litotes

A form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity.

Motif

A phrase, idea, or event that through repetition serves to unify or convey a theme in an essay or other discourse.

Non Sequitur

A statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before.

Anecdote

A short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person.

Jargon

Special words or expressions that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand.

Diatribe

A forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something.

Dogmatic

Inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true.

Pernicious

Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way.

Bellicose

Demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight.

Voracious

Craving or consuming large quantities of food.

Zealous

Having or showing zeal.

Tacit

Understood or implied without being stated.

Innuendo

An allusive or oblique remark or hint, typically a suggestive or disparaging one.

Languid

Displaying or having a disinclination for physical exertion or effort; slow and relaxed.

Consecrate

Make or declare (something, typically a church) sacred; dedicate formally to a religious or divine purpose.

Dyspeptic

Of or having indigestion or consequent irritability or depression.

Doggerel

Comic verse composed in irregular rhythm.

Petulant

Childishly sulky or bad-tempered.

Infidel

A person who does not believe in religion or who adheres to a religion other than one's own.

Exhort

Strongly encourage or urge someone to do something.

Cloistered

Kept away from the outside world; sheltered.

Vex

Make (someone) feel annoyed, frustrated, or worried, especially with trivial matters.