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Vital Terms for Success in AP English III
1. Ad hominem- The character attack. Logicians and the argument-averse consider it a bad thing,
but in rhetoric it’s a necessity
2. Allegory: A narrative in which the characters, behavior, and even the setting demonstrates
multiple levels of meaning and significance. Often a universal symbol or a personified
abstraction
3. Alliteration: The sequential repetition of a similar initial sound, usually applied to consonants,
usually in closely proximate stressed syllables
4. Allusion: A literary, historical, religious, or mythological reference in a literary work
5. Ambiguity: The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase,
sentence, or passage.
6. Anadiplosis- A figure that builds one thought on top of another by taking the last word of the
clause and using it to begin the next clause. ("Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate
leads to suffering.")
7. Analogy- Reasoning or explaining from parallel cases. A simile is an expressed analogy; a
metaphor is an implied one. Adjective: analogous. (Another term for analogy is extended
metaphor)
8. Anaphora: The regular repetition of the same words or phrases at the beginning of successive
phrases or clauses
9. Anthropomorphism- A logical fallacy-it attributes human traits to a non-human creature or
object. Common to owners of pets.
10. Anticlimax- an abrupt shift from a noble tone to a less exalted one—often for comic effect.
11. Antithesis- The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases. (Juxtaposition is when
ideas or images are placed side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.)
12. Aphorism: A concise statement designed to make a point or illustrate a commonly held belief
13. Aporia- Doubt or ignorance-feigned or real-used as a rhetorical device
14. Apostrophe: An address or invocation to something inanimate
15. Assonance: The repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds, usually in successive or
proximate words
16. Asyndeton: A syntactical structure in which conjunctions are omitted in a series, usually
producing more rapid prose
17. Attitude: The sense expressed by the tone of voice or the mood of a piece of writing; the
author’s feelings toward his or her subject, characters, events, or theme. It might even be his or
her feelings for the reader
18. Begging the question: An argumentative ploy where the arguer sidesteps the question or the
conflict, evades or ignores the real question
19. Canon: The list of works considered to be permanently established as being of the highest
quality: Example: Hopkins was firmly established in the canon of English poetry
20. Chiasmus: A figure of speech and generally a syntactical structure wherein the order of the
terms in the first half of a parallel clause is reversed in the second
21. Circumlocution- Talking around an issue to get to the point.
22. Colloquial: A term identifying the diction of the common, ordinary folks, especially in a specific
region or area
23. Conceit: A comparison of two unlikely things that is drawn out within a piece of literature, in
particular an extended metaphor within a poem
24. Concessio- Concession. You seem to agree with your opponent’s point, only to use it to your
advantage.
25. Connotation: The implied, suggested, or underlying meaning of a word or phrase
26. Consonance: The repetition of two or more consonants with a change in intervening vowels
27. Critique: An assessment or analysis of something, such as a passage of writing, for determining
what it is, what its limitations are, and how it conforms to the standard of the genre
28. Deductive reasoning: The method of argument in which specific statements and conclusions
are drawn from general principles: movement from the general to the specific
29. Deliberative rhetoric- One of three types of rhetorical persuasion (the other two are forensic
and demonstrative). Deliberative rhetoric deals with arguments about choices. It concerns itself
with matters that affect the future; its chief topic, according to Aristotle, is the “advantageous”--what’s best for the family, community, company, or country. Without deliberative rhetoric,
democracy is impossible.
30. Demonstrative rhetoric- Persuasion that deals with values which bring a group together. It
usually focuses on matters in the present, and its chief topic is right versus wrong. This is the
language of sermons, funeral speeches, and national anthems.
31. Denotation- The direct or dictionary meaning of a word, in contrast to its figurative or
associated meanings.
32. Dialect: The language and speech idiosyncrasies of a specific area, region, or group
33. Diction: The specific word choice an author uses to persuade or convey tone, purpose or effect
34. Didactic: Writing or speech that has an instructive purpose or a lesson; often associated with a
dry, pompous presentation
35. Elegy: A poem or prose that laments, or meditates upon the death of a person
36. Enthymeme- Taking a commonly accepted premise and linking it to a conclusion. For instance,
“Girls like guys who can dance. You should learn to dance.” A small piece of logic.
37. Epistrophe: In rhetoric, the repetition of a phrase at the end of successive sentences
38. Epitaph: Writing in praise of a dead person, most often inscribed upon a headstone
39. Equivocation- This appears to say one thing while meaning the opposite, and it occurs when a
word has multiple meanings.
40. Eristic- A competitive argument for the sake of argument.
41. Ethos: In rhetoric, the appeal of a text to the credibility and character of the speaker, writer, or
narrator
42. Eulogy: A speech or written passage in praise of a person; an oration in honor of a deceased
person
43. Euphemism: The substitution of an inoffensive term for one considered offensively explicit. Ex:
“passed on” instead of “died”
44. Example- The foundation of inductive logic. Aristotle listed three kinds: fact, comparison, and
fable (story).
45. Exposition: The interpretation or analysis of a text. Also, the opening section of a narrative or
dramatic structure in which characters, setting, theme, and conflict can be revealed.
46. Extended metaphor: A series of comparisons within a piece of writing. If they are consistently
one concept, this is also known as a conceit.
47. Fable- A short narrative meant to teach a moral lesson.
48. Figurative Language: Language with levels of meaning expressed through figures of speech
such as personification, metaphor, litotes, etc.
49. Flashback: An earlier event is inserted into the normal chronology of the narration
50. Forensic (legal) rhetoric- Argument that determines guilt or innocence. It focuses on the past.
51. Genre: A type or class of literature, such as epic, narrative, poetry, biography, history
52. Homily: A sermon, but more contemporary uses include any serious talk, speech, or lecture
involving moral or spiritual life
53. Hyperbole: Overstatement characterized by exaggerated language, usually to make a point or
draw attention
54. Hypophora- A figure that asks a rhetorical question and then immediately answers it. The
hypophora allows you to anticipate an audience’s skepticism and nip it in the bud. EX: "What
makes a king out of a slave? Courage! What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage!
What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist, or the dusky dusk? What makes the
muskrat guard his musk? Courage!" (The Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz, 1939)
55. Idiom- Inseparable words with a single meaning. (It’s Greek to me; the whole ball of wax; in a
pickle; quit cold turkey)
56. Imagery: Any sensory detail or evocation in a work to evoke a feeling, to call to mind an idea, or
to describe an object. Involves any or all of the five senses.
57. Inductive reasoning: The method of reasoning or argument in which general statements and
conclusions are drawn from specific principles: movement from the specific to the general
58. Inference: A conclusion or proposition arrived at by considering facts, observations, or some
other specific data. Looking at the clues, learning the facts.
59. Innuendo- The technique of planting negative ideas in the audience’s head.
60. Irony: The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant. The intended
meaning is often the opposite of what is stated, often suggesting light sarcasm.
61. Isocolon: Parallel structure in which the parallel elements are similar not only in grammatical
structure, but also in length
62. Jargon: Specialized or technical language of a trade, profession, or similar group
63. Jeremiad- Prophesy of doom.
64. Juxtaposition: The location of one thing adjacent to another to create an effect, reveal an
attitude, or accomplish some other purpose
65. Litotes: A figure of speech that emphasizes its subject by conscious understatement
66. Logos- Argument by logic (see ethos and pathos)
67. Loose Sentence: A long sentence that starts with its main clause, which is followed by several
dependent clauses and modifying phrases
68. Metaphor: One thing pictured as if it were something else, suggesting a likeness or analogy. An
implicit comparison or identification of one thing with another, without the use of like or as.
69. Metastasis- A figure of thought that slips over an awkward matter. (“Traffic was horrible. I got in
a little fender bender, no big deal, but I got you that shirt you wanted.”)
70. Metonymy: A figure of speech in which an attribute or commonly associated feature is used to
name or designate something
71. Mode of Discourse: The way in which information is presented in written or spoken form.
Narration, description, process analysis, and cause and effect are all types of this.
72. Mood: A feeling or ambience resulting from the tone of a piece as well as the writer/narrator’s
attitude and point of view. It is a “feeling” that establishes the atmosphere in a work of
literature or other discourse.
73. Narrative: A mode of discourse that tells a story of some sort and it is based on sequences of
connected events, usually presented in a straightforward, chronological framework
74. Neologism- A new word. (Example: “selfie”)
75. Non sequitur- Something that literally does not follow. It is a logical fallacy.
76. Onomatopoeia: A word capturing or approximating the sound of what is described. The
purpose of these words is to make a passage more effective for the reader or listener.
77. Oxymoron: A figure of speech that combines two apparently contradictory elements
78. Parable: a short and simple story that illustrates a lesson
79. Paradigm- A rule that follows from examples.
80. Paradox: A statement that seems contradictory but may probably be true
81. Parallel Structure: The use of similar forms in writing for nouns, verbs, phrases, or thoughts. In
prose, recurrent syntactical similarity where several parts of a sentence or several sentences are
expressed alike to show that their ideas are equal in importance. (You may see this called
parallelism.)
82. Pathos: That element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow. In argument or persuasion it
tends to be the evocation of pity. (See ethos and logos)
83. Pedantic: An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly,
academic, or “bookish"
84. Periodic Sentence: A long sentence in which the main clause is not completed until the end
85. Persona- Voice or mask that an author or speaker or performer puts on for a particular purpose.
86. Personification: Treating an abstraction or nonhuman object as if it were a person by endowing
it with human features or qualities
87. Point of View: The relation in which a narrator/author stands to a subject of discourse.
Requires the reader to establish the historical perspective of what is being said.
88. Post hoc ergo propter hoc- A happened before B; therefore, A caused B.
89. Prose: The ordinary form of written language without metrical structure in contrast to verse
and poetry
90. Proverb- Short, pithy statement of a general truth, one that condenses common experience into
memorable form.
91. Pun- A play on words, sometimes on different senses of the same word and sometimes on the
similar sense or sound of different words.
92. Realism: Attempting to describe nature and life without idealization and with attention to
detail
93. Rebuttal: An argument technique wherein opposing arguments are anticipated and countered
94. Red herring- The fallacy of distraction. This is often used in detective novels; both the detective
and the reader are distracted by a clue that leads nowhere, usually causing them to suspect the
wrong individual.
95. Reductio ad absurdism- Taking an opponent’s argument to its illogical conclusion. This is a
fallacy in formal logic, but an effective tool in rhetoric.
96. Rhetoric: The art of using words to persuade in writing or speaking
97. Rhetorical Question: A question that is asked simply for the sake of stylistic effect and is not
expected to be answered
98. Sarcasm: A form of verbal irony in which apparent praise is actually critical. Can be light, and
gently poke fun at something, or it can be harsh and mean
99. Satire: A literary work that holds up human failings to ridicule and censure
100. Semantics: the branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words, their historical and
psychological development, their connotations, and their relation to one another
101. Simile: A direct, explicit comparison of one thing to another, using the words like or as
102. Slippery slope- The fallacy of dire consequences. It assumes that one choice will necessarily lead
to a cascading series of bad consequences.
103. Straw man fallacy- instead of dealing with the actual issue, it attacks a weaker version of the
argument.
104. Style: The manner in which a writer combines and arranges words, shapes ideas, and utilizes
syntax and structure
105. Symbolism: Use of a person, place, thing, event, or pattern that figuratively represents or
“stands for” something else
106. Syncrisis- A figure that reframes an argument by redefining it. “Not manipulation. Instruction.”
107. Synecdoche: A figure of speech in which a part signifies a whole
108. Syntax: The way words are put together to form phrases, clauses, and sentences. Basically,
sentence structure.
109. Theme: The central or dominant idea or focus of a work. The statement a passage makes about
its subject.
110. Tone: The attitude the narrator/author has toward the subject and theme. Based on particular
stylistic devices employed by the author.
111. Trope- Rhetorical device that produces a shift in the meaning of words--traditionally contrasted
with a scheme, which changes only the shape of a phrase.
112. Understatement- A figure of speech in which the writer or speaker deliberately makes a
situation seem less important or serious than it is (see litotes).
113. Voice: The acknowledged or unacknowledged source of the words of the story; the speaker’s or
narrator’s particular “take” on an idea based on a particular passage and how all the elements of the
style of the piece come together to express his/her feelings.
114. Wit: In modern uses, intellectually amazing language that surprises and delights. Wit usually
uses terse language that makes a pointed statement. Historically, wit originally meant ‘basic
understanding’
115. Zeugma: A grammatically correct construction in which a word, usually a verb or adjective, is
applied to two or more nouns without being repeated