AP Lang - Vocab Test

abstract

(n) a short summary of a larger work that presents its main ideas

ad hominem

an argument directed against a person rather than position

adage

a saying containing a truth based on experience

allegory

a story in which there is a second meaning beneath the surface

alliteration

the repetition of initial consonant sounds in a group of words

allusion

reference to a person, place, or event meant to enhance an idea

ambiguity

vagueness of meaning or lack of clarity

anachronism

person or event that doesn’t correspond with the appropriate time

analogy

comparison that shows similarities between two dissimilar things

anecdote

brief narrative used to illustrate an idea

annotation

brief explanation of a text

antagonist

character or force in literature that produces tension

antecedent

word to which a pronoun refers

antithesis

rhetorical opposition by using grammatical arrangement of words

aphorism

short statement of generally accepted truth

Kairos

timing in rhetorical situation

exigence

urgency in rhetorical situation

Apollonian

characteristics such as reason, order, harmony, and balance

apostrophe

when a speaker directly addresses something that is inanimate

arch

characterized by clever or sly humor

archetype

an abstract or ideal conception of a type

assonance

repetition of two or more vowel sounds in a group of words

asyndeton

creating empathis by intentionally omitting conjunctions

bard

a poet in olden times

bathos

anticlimax

belle-lettres

French word for world of books, criticism, and literature

bibliography

a list of works cited

bombast

inflated language

burlesque

a work meant to ridicule a subject

cacophony

grating, inharmonious sounds

canon

the works considered most important in literature

caricature

a grotesque likeness of striking qualities in persons and things

carpe diem

enjoy life while you can

circumlocution

discourse that avoids direct reference to a subject

classic

a highly regarded work of literature that has withstood the test of time

classical/classicism

implies formality, objectivity, and restraint

clause

group of words that contains both a subject and a verb

climax

the high point or turning point of a story

comparison and contrast

discourse of two or more things being compared (similarities) and contrasted (differences)

conceit

witty or ingenuous thought

concrete detail

a highly specific or real detail ; opposite of abstract

connotation

suggested or implied meaning of a word or definition

consonance

repetition of two or more consonant sounds in a group of words

critique

analysis of something to determine its nature to a set of standards

cynic

one who expects the worst of human contact

deductive reasoning

method of reasoning where conclusions are drawn

denotation

dictionary definition of a word

denouement

resolution that occurs at end of a narrative

descriptive detail

graphic, exact, and accurate presentation of a person or thing

deus ex machina

use of device or gimmick to solve a problem

diction

use of words in oral and written discourse

didactic

having an instructive purpose usually in a dry manner

digression

portion of discourse that wanders from main subject

Dionysian

sensual and pleasure seeking impulses

dramatic irony

when audience knows more about a situation than a character

elegy

poem that meditates on death of someone or something

ellipsis

three periods indicating the omission of words in a thought

elliptical construction

sentence containing a deliberate omission of words

empathy

feeling of association with an object or person

epic

narrative poem that tells of adventures of a hero

epigram

concise but witty and ingenuous statement

euphony

pleasing, harmonious sounds

epithet

adjective or phrase that expresses a striking quality of a person or thing

eponymous

term for title character of a work

euphemism

mild usage for a harsh or blunt term

exegesis

detailed analysis of prose or poetry

expose

piece of writing that reveals weaknesses and faults

exposition

sets forth meaning or purpose of a piece (background)

explication

interpretation of a text

extended metaphor

series of comparisons between two unlike objects

fable

short tale with nonhuman characteristics, where a useful lesson is drawn

fallacy, fallacious meaning

incorrect belief based on false info

fantasy

story containing unreal, imaginary features

farce

comedy with nonsecial disregard of seriousness, although series purpose

figure of speech, figurative language

implies meaning ; examples include metaphor, simile, personification

frame

structure that provides a premise for a narrative

genre

to describe literary forms, such as novel, play and essay

harangue

forceful sermon or lecture

hubris

excessive pride that often affects tone

humanism

belief that emphasizes faith in human potential

hyperbole

overstatement for rhetorical effect

idyll

lyrics passage that describes a kind of ideal life

image

word representing which can be seen, touched, or smelled

indirect quotation

actual words not stated but only paraphrased

inductive reasoning

method of reasoning which facts are used for a generalization

inference

conclusion arrived by considering facts and observations

invective

a direct verbal assault

irony

affairs or events that is reverse of what's been expected

kenning

word or phrase that is a metaphor for something simpler

lampoon

mocking, satirical assault on a poem or situation

litotes

understatement in which affirmative is expressed by negative of contrary

loose sentence

A sentence that follows the customary word order of English sentence

lyrical prose

personal prose that reveals speakers feelings about a subject

malapropism

incorrect word that sounds like the correct one

maxim

saying expressing common wisdom or truth

melodrama

literary form in which events are exaggerated to create emotion

metaphor

figure of speech that compares unlike objects

metonymy

figure of speech that uses name of one thing to represent something else in association

Middle English

language spoken in England between 1150-1500 AD

mock epic

parody of traditional epic form