Download key ap language terms figurative language figure of speech

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. “Ringbestower” for king; “whaleroad” for sea; “candle of
heaven” for the sun; “warbrand” 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.