KEY AP LANGUAGE TERMS

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE

FIGURE OF SPEECH

• A device used to produce figurative language. Many compare dissimilar things. Ex: apostrophe, hyperbole, irony, metaphor, metonymy, understatement, etc.

ALLUSION

• an indirect or passing reference to an event, person, place or artistic work that the author assumes the reader will understand. Can be historical, literary, religious, mythical, etc.

ANADIPLOSIS

• The repetition of a key word, especially the last one, at the beginning of the next sentence or clause. “He gave his life; life was all he could give.”

ANALOGY

• a comparison of similar things, often to explain something unfamiliar with something familiar. (The branching of a river system is often explained using a tree and its branches.)

APOSTROPHE

• a rhetorical device in which the speaker addresses a dead or absent person, or an inanimate object or abstraction.

CLICHÉ

• An overused, worn-out, hackneyed expression that used to be fresh but is no more. “Blushing bride” and “clinging vine” are clichés used to describe people.

HYPERBOLE• exaggeration for the sake of

emphasis in a figure of speech not meant literally. Ex: “This book weighs a ton!”

KENNING• a metaphoric compound word

or phrase used as a synonym for a common noun. “Ring-bestower” for king; “whale-road” for sea; “candle of heaven” for the sun; “war-brand” for a sword.

LITOTES

• Understatement employed for the purpose of enhancing the effect of the ideas expressed. Contains a negative: “I’m not unhappy”

METAPHOR

• A comparison, like a simile but usually implied and without a comparative word such as like or as. Ex: “My heart is a singing bird”; “He wolfed his food.”

TYPES OF METAPHOR

• Extended: an idea sustained throughout the work

• Dead: has been used so much it has lost its figurative meaning & is taken literally (eye of a needle, head of the class)

TYPES OF METAPHOR

• Mixed: a combination of two or more inconsistent metaphors in a single expression (He’ll have to take the bull by the horns to keep the business afloat.)

METONYMY

• The use of the name of one thing for that of another associated with or suggested by it. For example, “the White House” of the “President.”

SYNECDOCHE• figure of speech that utilizes a

part as representative of the whole. (e.g. “hands” for manual laborers; “the law” for a police officer).

TROPE

• A figure of speech

UNDERSTATEMENT• AKA Meiosis – The opposite of

hyperbole. It is a type of verbal irony in which something is purposely represented as being far less important than it actually is.

SYNTAX/GRAMMAR

SYNTAX/GRAMMAR• Syntax: The way an author

chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences. Syntax is similar to diction, but differentiate the two by thinking of syntax as referring to groups of words, while diction refers to individual words.

SYNTAX/GRAMMAR• Syntax: When you analyze

syntax, consider elements such as length of sentences, unusual sentence constructions, sentence patterns used, & kinds of sentences.

ANAPHORA

• the regular repetition of the same word or phrase at the beginning of successive phrases or clauses. “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds. We shall fight in the fields and in the streets.” – Winston Churchill

ANASTROPHE

• a rhetorical term for the inversion of the normal order of the parts of a sentence. “After great pain a formal feeling comes/The nerves sit ceremonious like tombs.” Emily Dickinson

ANTECEDENT

• the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers.

ANTIMETABOLE

• Repeating words in reverse order for surprise and emphasis.

• "But we must remember a crucial fact: East and West do not mistrust each other because we are armed; we're armed because we mistrust each other.“ – Ronald Regan

ANTITHESIS

• Figure of speech in which opposing or contrasting ideas are balanced against each other using grammatically parallel syntax. Ex: You are going; I am staying. The exact opposite (Joy is the antithesis of sorrow).

ASYNDETON

• conjunctions are omitted, producing a fast-paced and rapid prose. “I came. I saw. I conquered.”

CHIASMUS

• grammatical structure in which the first clause or phrase is reversed in the second, sometimes repeating the same words. “And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you: ask what you can do for your country. John F. Kennedy

INVERSION

• Constructing a sentence so the predicate comes before the subject, e.g. In California grow oranges.

PARALLELISM

• expressing similar or related ideas in similar grammatical structure. “He tried to make the law clear, precise and equitable.”

PERIODIC SENTENCE• the main idea comes last in the

sentence, leaving the reader with a more powerful last impression. Ex: That morning, after a turbulent flight and some exciting experiences, we reached Edmonton.

POLYSYNDETON• the opposite of asyndeton. Figure

of addition and emphasis which intentionally employs a series of conjunctions (and, or, but, for, nor, so, yet) not normally found in successive words, phrases, or clauses. The use of many conjunctions has a slowing effect.

POETIC TERMS

Alliteration

• The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonant sounds in 2+ neighboring words.

• Can reinforce meaning, unify ideas, and/or supply a musical sound.

ASSONANCE• the repetition of identical or

similar vowel sounds in neighboring words. Ex: Fleet feet sweep by sleeping geeks.

EUPHONY• a pleasing smoothness of sound,

perceived by the ease with which the words can be spoken in combination. Adjective: euphonious. Antonym: cacophonous

ELEMENTS OF STYLE

STYLE• An evaluation of the sum of the

choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, & other literary devices.

ATTITUDE• the author’s viewpoint

regarding his subject matter. Attitude can usually be detected in author’s tone.

AMBIGUITY• word, phrase or attitude that has

double or even multiple meanings, resulting in multiple interpretations.

CONNOTATION• the range of further associations

that a word or phrase suggests in addition to its straightforward dictionary meaning.

DENOTATION• The precise, literal meaning of a

word, without emotional associations or overtones.

DICTION• The writer’s word choices

(informal, formal, ornate, plain, etc.)

JUXTAPOSITION• the side-by-side comparison of

two or more objects or ideals for the purpose of highlighting similarities or differences.

MOOD• the prevailing emotional

attitude in a literary work, for example, regret, hopefulness, bitterness, etc.

TONE• the reflection in a work of the

author’s attitude toward his or her subject. Tone in writing is comparable to tone of voice in speech, and may be described as brusque, friendly, imperious, insinuating, teasing, etc.

VOICE• the sense a written work

conveys to a reader of the writer’s attitude, personality and character.

RHETORIC

RHETORIC• The skill of using spoken or

written communication effectively. It is the art of guiding the reader or listener to agreement with the writer or speaker.

AD HOMINEM ARGUMENT• From Latin “to or against the

man.”

• An argument that appeals to emotion rather than reason, to feeling rather than intellect

APPEALS

• LOGOS: appeal based on logic or reason.

• ETHOS: Ethos is appeal based on the character of the speaker.

• PATHOS: Pathos is appeal based on emotion. The most powerful & immediate appeal.

RHETORICAL MODES• Narrative: Tells a story

• Descriptive: re-create, invent, or visually present a person, place, event, or action so that the reader can picture it.

RHETORICAL MODES

• Expository: explain & analyze info by presenting an idea, relevant evidence, & appropriate discussion.

• Argumentative: prove the validity of an idea, or pov, by presenting sound reasoning, discussion, & argument that convince the reader.

RHETORICAL QUESTION• A question that is asked merely

for effect and does not expect a reply. The answer is assumed.

RHETORICAL STRATEGIES

• Argument & Persuasion: stating opinions & proposals

• Cause & Effect: asking why

• Classification: sorting into kinds

• Definition: tracing boundaries

• Description: Writing with your senses

RHETORICAL STRATEGIES

• Division of Analysis: slicing into parts

• Example: pointing to instances

• Narration: telling a story

• Process analysis: explaining step by step

SYLLOGISM

• An argument or form of reasoning in which two statements or premises are made and a logical conclusion is drawn from them.