Terms for AP Lang Exam

attitude

A writer's intellectual position or emotion regarding the subject of the writing.

concrete detail

Strictly defined, it refers to nouns that name physical objects—a bridge, a book, a coat.

descriptive detail

Look for the writer's sensory description, primarily appealing to the visual sense.

devices

The figures of speech, syntax, diction, and other stylistic elements that collectively produce a particular artistic effect.

language

Concentrate on how the elements of this combine to form a whole—how diction, syntax, figurative language, and sentence structure create a cumulative effect.

narrative devices

The tools of the storyteller, such as ordering events to build to a climactic moment or withholding information until revealing it creates a desired effect.

narrative technique

The style of telling the 'story,' even if the passage is nonfiction.

persuasive devices

Look for the words in the passage that have strong connotations, intensifying the emotional effect.

persuasive essay

Present a coherent argument in which the evidence builds to a logical and relevant conclusion.

resources of language

All the devices of composition available to a writer, such as diction, syntax, sentence structure, and figures of speech.

rhetorical features

The tools of rhetoric, such as tone, diction, and imagery.

rhetorical structure

How a passage is constructed, including its organization and how the writer combines images, details, or arguments.

sentence structure

The type of sentences the author uses, including simple, compound, and complex structures.

stylistic devices

Elements in language that contribute to style, such as diction, syntax, tone, attitude, figures of speech, connotations, and repetitions.

allegory

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

alliteration

The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words.

allusion

A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book, myth, place, or work of art.

ambiguity

The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passage.

analogy

A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them.

antecedent

The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.

aphorism

A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or a moral principle.

apostrophe

A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction.

atmosphere

The emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work, established partly by the setting and partly by the author's choice of objects that are described.

clause

A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb.

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.

connotation

The nonliteral, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning.

denotation

The strict, literal, dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color.

diction

Related to style, it refers to the writer's word choices, especially with regard to their corrections, clearness, or effectiveness.

didactic

From the Greek, this literally means "teaching." These works have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles.

euphemism

From the Greek for "good speech," this is a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept.

extended metaphor

A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work.

figurative language

Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid.

generic conventions

This term describes traditions for each genre. These help to define each genre.

genre

The major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions of literature are prose, poetry, and drama.

homily

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

hyperbole

A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement.

imagery

The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions.

inference/infer

To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented.

invective

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

irony/ironic

The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant. The difference between what appears to be and what actually is true.

verbal irony

the words literally state the opposite of the writer's (or speaker's) true meaning.

situational irony

events turn out the opposite of what was expected.

dramatic irony

facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or piece of fiction but known to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work.

loose sentence

A type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses.

metaphor

A figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity.

metonymy

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

narrative

The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events.

onomatopoeia

A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sound of words.

oxymoron

A figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox.

paradox

A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some idea of truth or validity.

parallelism

It refers to the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity.they act as an organizing force to attract the reader's attention, add emphasis and organization, or simply provide a musical rhythm

parody

A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule. As comedy, it distorts or exaggerates distinctive features of the original. As ridicule, it mimics the work by repeating and borrowing words, phrases, or characteristics in order to illuminate weaknesses in the original.

pedantic

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

periodic sentence

A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end. This independent clause is preceded by a phrase or clause that cannot stand alone.

personification

A figure of speech in which the author presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions.

point of view

In literature, the perspective from which a story is told. There are two general divisions of point of view and many subdivisions within those.

first person narrator

Tells the story with the first person pronoun, 'I,' and is a character in the story.

third person narrator

Relates the events with the third person pronouns, 'he,' 'she,' and 'it.'

third person omniscient

The narrator, with godlike knowledge, presents the thoughts and actions of any or all characters.

third person limited omniscient

Presents the feelings and thoughts of only one character, presenting only the actions of all remaining characters.

predicate adjective

One type of subject complement—an adjective, group of adjectives, or adjective clause that follows a linking verb. The term used for the word or phrase that describes the subject following a linking verb.

predicate nominative

A second type of subject complement—a noun, group of nouns, or noun clause that renames the subject. The term used for the word or phrase that renames the subject following a linking verb.

prose

One of the major divisions of genre, this refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms, because they are written in ordinary language and most closely resemble everyday speech.

repetition

The duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern. When it is poorly done, it bores, but when it's well done, it links and emphasizes ideas while allowing the reader the comfort of recognizing something familiar.

rhetoric

From the Greek for "orator," this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.

rhetorical modes

This flexible term describes the variety, the conventions, and the purposes of the major kinds of writing.

sarcasm

From the Greek meaning "to tear flesh," this involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something. It may use irony as a device, but not all ironic statements are intending to ridicule.

satire

A work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule. This is best seen as a style of writing rather than a purpose for writing.

semantics

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

style

The consideration of this has two purposes. (1) An evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices. (2) Classification of authors to a group and comparison of an author to similar authors.

subject complement

The word (with accompanying phrases) or clause that follows a linking verb and complements, or completes, the subject of the sentence by either (1) renaming it or (2) describing it.

exposition

The purpose is to explain and analyze information by presenting an idea, relevant evidence, and appropriate discussion.

argumentation

The purpose of this is to prove the validity of an idea, or point of view, by presenting sound reasoning, discussion, and argument that thoroughly convince the reader.

persuasive writing

A type of argumentation having an additional aim of urging some form of action.

description

The purpose of this is to re-create, invent, or visually present a person, place, event, or action so that the reader can picture that being described.

narration

The purpose of this is to tell a story or narrate an event or series of events.

wit

A device used in satire that often involves clever humor.

parody

A device used in satire that imitates the style of a particular writer or genre for comic effect.

caricature

A device used in satire that exaggerates certain features or qualities of a subject for comic effect.

understatement

A device used in satire that presents something as being smaller or less important than it actually is.

caustic language

Language that is bitter and meant to hurt or ridicule.

idiosyncratic style

A style that is unique to an author, making their works easily recognizable.

historical period

A classification that reflects and helps to define a specific time in history, such as the Renaissance or the Victorian period.

literary movement

A classification that reflects and helps to define a specific trend in literature, such as the romantic, transcendental, or realist movement.

subordinate clause

A word group that contains both a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone; it does not express a complete thought and depends on a main clause to complete its meaning.

syllogism

A deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises (major and minor) leading to a sound conclusion, such as: All men are mortal; Socrates is a man; therefore, Socrates is mortal.

symbol/symbolism

Anything that represents or stands for something else, often categorized into natural, symbols, and symbols.

syntax

The way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences, differentiating it from diction, which refers to individual words.

theme

The central idea or message of a work, often unstated in fictional works but may be directly stated in nonfiction.

thesis

In expository writing, the sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or proposition.

tone

The author's attitude toward their material, audience, or both, often determined by the choice of words and style.

transition

A word or phrase that links different ideas, effectively signaling a shift from one idea to another.

understatement

The ironic minimalizing of fact, presenting something as less significant than it is, often with a humorous effect.

wit

Intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights, often using terse language to make a pointed statement.

Anaphora

the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses or lines.

Antistrophe

repetition of the same word or phrase at the end of successive clauses.

Antithesis

opposition, or contrast of ideas or words in a balanced or parallel construction.

Aporia

expression of doubt (often feigned) by which a speaker appears uncertain as to what he should think, say, or do.

Audience

the intended readership for a piece of writing (or listeners at a speech).