AP Lang flashcards

16 word

Abstract

• Existing as an idea, quality, or concept rather than a physical or concrete object. 

• ex. "Freedom is an abstract concept because you can fight for it, but you cannot physically pick it up or hold it."

 Ad hominem

• (Latin for "to the person") where someone tries to disprove or dismiss an argument by targeting a trait of the person making it—such as their character, motives, background, or identity—rather than addressing the logic or evidence of the argument itself.

• ex. "During the debate, whenever the topic turned to environmental policy, Dave would launch an ad hominem attack by mocking his opponent's clothing instead of addressing the actual climate data."

Adage

• An adage is a short, traditional saying that expresses a general truth or piece of wisdom gained over time.

• Example: "Actions speak louder than words."

  Context Clue Example: "Grandpa loved to quote the old adage 'a stitch in time saves nine' whenever I wanted to put off fixing a small tear in my jacket before it got worse."

Allegory

• An allegory is a story, poem, or picture in which the characters, events, and settings represent deeper moral, hidden, or political meanings.

• Example: In George Orwell's Animal Farm, the story seems to be about farm animals rebelling against a farmer, but it is actually an allegory for the events of the Russian Revolution.

• Context Clue Example: "The novel wasn't just a simple fairytale about a young girl navigating a dark forest; it was a complex allegory where every monster represented one of human nature's deep-seated fears."

Alliteration

• Definition: The repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words.