AP Lang Figurative Language Terms – Flashcards
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Figurative Language
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Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid.
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Figure of Speech
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A device used to produce figurative language. Many compare dissimilar things.
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Metaphor
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A figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity.
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Extended Metaphor
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An author exploits a single metaphor for an extended time
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Simile
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A comparison of two things using like or as.
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Onomatopoeia
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A sound word.
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Paradox
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A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense, but upon closer inspection contains some truth.
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Oxymoron
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An oxymoron is a figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox.
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Analogy
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A logical argument that compares two things.
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Symbol
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Anything that represents itself and stands for something else.
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Personification
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A figure of speech in which the author presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions.
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Allusion
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A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, book or myth.
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Hyperbole
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A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement.
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Imagery
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The sensory details or figurative language used to describe, arouse emotion or represent abstractions.
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Theme
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A central topic the text covers.
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Dialect
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A particular form of a language that is peculiar to a specific group of people or area.
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Genre
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A category of an artistic work that is characterized by a specific style, form or content.
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Stream of Consciousness
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A literary technique that presents the thoughts and feelings of a character in unedited form.
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Parable
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A short story that uses familiar events to illustrate a religious, ethical or moral point.
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Allegory
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The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning.
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Irony
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The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant or the difference between what appears to be and what is actually true.
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Verbal Irony
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When a speaker says the opposite of what they mean.
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Situational Irony
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Occurs when the final outcome is contradictory to what is expected.
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Dramatic Irony
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When a reader knows more than the characters.
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Point of View
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How the author allows the reader to view the story.
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Conceit
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A comparison which is unlikely, but very imaginative.
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Apostrophe
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A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or personified abstraction.
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Synecdoche
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A figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole or the whole is used to represent a part.
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Metonymy
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A figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated to it.
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Euphemism
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A polite expression used to replace words or phrases considered to be harsh or impolite.
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Understatement
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Figure of speech to make intentionally make a situation seem less important than it really is.
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Pun
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Planned words in which a humorous effect is produced by using a word that results in a funny expression.
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Colloquialism
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A use of informal words or slang in writing.
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Malapropism
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The use of an incorrect word in place of a similar sounding word that results in a funny expression.
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Parody
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An imitation that exaggerates the original item deliberately to create a comic effect.
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Satire
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A work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule.
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Clause
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Consists of a subject and predicate.
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Subordinate Clause
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Introduced by a conjuction that forms part of and is dependant on a main clause.
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Periodic Sentences
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Long and involved sentence marked by postponing the full idea or main point until the very end.
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Loose sentence
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A type of sentence in which the main idea is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases.
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Antecedent
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A thing or event that existed before or logically precedes another.
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Subject Complement
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The adjective, noun or pronoun that follows a linking verb.
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Predicate Adjective
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An adjective that is used to predicate an attribute of the subject.
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Predicate Nominative
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A word in the nominative case that completes a copulative verb.
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Syntax
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The arrangement of words and phrases to create well formed sentences.
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Rhetoric
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Language designed to have a persuasive or impressive effect on its audience.
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Rhetorical purpose
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Explaining the goal of your argument.
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Thesis
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An unproved statement put forward as a premise in an argument.
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Rhetorical Mode
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One of the several ways of writing that include variety, conventions and purposes of writing.
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Rhetorical Appeal
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Ethos, Pathos, Logos, Kairos. The appeal to emotions, credibility, logic, etc.
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Rhetorical Device
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A technique used to make a reader consider a topic from a different perspective.
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Rhetorical Strategy
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The effective use of rhetoric devices to prove a point.
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Discourse
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Written or spoken communication.
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Mode of Discourse
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Narration, description, exposition and argument.
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Cause and Consequence
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Cause and effect.
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Narration
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First person, second person, third person.
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Anecdote
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A usually short narrative or an interesting, amusing or biographical incident.
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Definition
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A statement of the exact meaning of a word.
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Description
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A spoken or written representation or account of a person, object or event.
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Descriptive/Sensory details
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Using the five senses in writing to improve it.
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Classification and Division
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Takes what you learned and proves the importance of it. (Batman isn't a superhero; he's a vigilante.)
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Process Analysis
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A method of writing development that gives a step-by-step.
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Comparison and Contrast
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Comparing two or more objects to see similarities and differences.
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Juxtaposition
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A literary device wherein the author places a person, concept, place, idea or theme parallel to another.
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Exemplification
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A pattern of essay development using examples to clarify a point.
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Argument
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The main statement of a poem, essay, short story or novel that the author uses to convince.
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Ethical Appeal (Ethos)
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Persuasion through credibility.
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Logical Appeal (Logos)
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Persuasion through logic.
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Pathetic Appeal (Pathos)
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Persuasion through emotion.
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Syllogism
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Deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, minor premise and conclusion.
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Deductive Reasoning
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A method of reasoning from the general to specific.
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Inductive Reasoning
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A method of reasoning that takes specific information and makes a broader generalization that is considered probable, but not always accurate.
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Inference
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Using background knowledge and observation to determine a conclusion that makes sense.
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Tone
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The general character or attitude of a place, piece of writing, situation, etc.
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Sarcasm
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The use of irony to mock or convey contempt.
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Attitude
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A settled way of thinking of feeling about someone or something.
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Mood
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A temporary state of mind or feeling.
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Diction
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The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing.
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Style
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A manner of doing something.
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Prose
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Written in spoken language in its ordinary form without metrical structure.
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Denotation
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The literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests.
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Connotation
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An idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning,
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Wit
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Mental sharpness and inventiveness.
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Aphorism
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A pithy observation that contains a general truth.
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Homily
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A religious discourse that is intended primarily for spiritutal edification; a sermon.
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Bombast
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High-sounding language with little meaning.
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Circumlocution
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The use of many words when fewer would do.
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Rhythm
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A strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound.
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Parallelism
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The use of successive verbal constructions
