AP English Language Exam Review

allegory

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

alliteration

the occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words

allusion

reference to something outside the text that is well-known

analogy

a comparison between two different things that can explain something unfamiliar by associating it with something more familiar

anaphora

repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or lines of poetry

anecdote

a short account of something, usually funny or personal in nature

antecedent

a noun, noun phrase, or clause referred to by a subsequent word

antithesis

juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases

assonance

in poetry, the repetition of the sound of a vowel or diphthong in nonrhyming stressed syllables near enough for the echo to be discernible

asyndeton

omission of conjunctions (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) between words, phrases, or clauses and tends to speed up the flow of the sentence

euphemism

using an inoffensive term instead of one that is offensive or unpleasant

apostrophe

Breaking off discourse to address some absent person or thing, some abstract quality, or a nonexistent character.

hyperbole

a figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement

understatement

figure of speech in which a writer deliberately makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is

invective

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

verbal irony

the words literally state the opposite of the writer's/speaker's true meaning

Irony

the contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant

situational irony

the events turn out the opposite of what was expected

loose sentence

a sentence where the main clause is at the beginning of the sentence

metaphor

a figure of speech using implicit comparison of seemingly unlike things

simile

A comparison of two unlike things using "like" or "as"

symbolism

the use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities

imagery

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

metonymy

a figure of speech in which a thing or concept is not called by its own name but by the name of something associated with it

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.

oxymoron

a pair of self-contradictory words

paradox

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

parallelism

where structures within sentences or parts of a sentence (word, phrase, or clauses) take the same form. this structure acts to attract the reader's attention, add emphasis and organization or simply to provide a rhythm

parody

A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.

Periodic (cumulative) sentence

A sentence with its main clause at the end of the sentence.

Polysyndeton

a style that employs many conjunctions. this usually slows down the flow of the sentence and creates piling-on effect

rhetoric

language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect on its audience, but often regarded as lacking in sincerity or meaningful content.

syntax

the arrangement of words by a speaker or writer

satire

A work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform

Tone

the general character or attitude of a place

tricolon

a sentence with three clearly defined parts of equal length, usually independent clauses and of increasing power

simple sentence

consists of one independent clause

compound sentence

consists of two or more independent clauses

coordinating conjunctions

joins two clauses in a compound sentence (for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so)

complex sentence

consists of one independent clause and one or more subordinate clauses

subordinating conjunctions

after, although, as, because, before, even if, even though, if, in order that, once, provided that, rather than,since, so that, than, that, though, unless, until, what, whatever, when, whenever, where, whereaswherever, whether, while, why

relative pronouns

that, which, whichever, who, whoever, whom, whose, whosever, whomever