AP Seminar Vocab

Abstract

N. Abbreviated synopsis of a longer work of scholarship or research

Ad hominem

Directed to or appealing to feelings or prejudices instead of to intellect or reason

The adage, Aphorism, Maxim

A saying or proverb containing a generally accepted truth or sentiment

Allegory

A story in which a second meaning is to be read beneath the surface S+S+S+...

Alliteration

Repetition of one or more initial consonants in a group of words or lines in a poem

Allusion

Reference to a person, place, event, meant to create an effect or enhance meaning

Ambiguity

Avagueness of meaning; conscious lack of clarity to evoke multiple meanings or interpretations

Anachronism

Person, scene, or event that fails to correspond with the appropriate time era

Analogy

The comparison that points out similarities between two dissimilar things

Anecdote

The brief narrative is often used to illustrate an idea or make a point

Annotation

A brief explanation, summary, or evaluation of a text or work of literature

Antagonist

Character or force in a work of literature that, by opposing the protagonist, produces tension or conflict

Antecedent

A word to which a pronoun refers

Antithesis

Rhetorical opposition or contrast of ideas by means of a grammatical arrangement of words, clauses, or sentences

Apollonian

In contrast to Dionysian, refers to the noblest, godlike qualities of human nature and behavior

Apostrophe

A locution that addresses a person or personified thing not present

Arch

Characterized by clever or sly humor, often saucy, playful

Archetype

An abstract or ideal conception of a type; a model or form

Assonance

Repetition of two or more vowel sounds in a group of words in prose or poetry

Bard

A poet

Bathos

Insincere or overdone sentimentality Belles-Lettres French term for the world of books, criticism, and literature in general

Burlesque

A work of literature meant to ridicule a subject; a grotesque imitation

Cacophony Grating

inharmonious sounds

Canon

The works considered important in national literature or period

Caricature

likeness of striking qualities in persons and things

Carpe Diem

Seize the day a common theme

Circumlocution

Literally "talking around" a subject

Bombast

inflated, pretentious language used for trivial subjects

Classic

A highly regarded work of literature or other art form that has withstood the test of time

Classical, classicism

Derives from orderly qualities of Greek and Roman culture; implies formality, objectivity, simplicity, and restraint

Clause

Structural element of a sentence consisting of a subject and verb

Climax

The high point, or turning point of a story

Comparison/contrast

A mode of discourse in which two or more things are compared and contrasted

Conceit

An elaborate, usually intellectually ingenious poetic comparison or image, such as an analogy or metaphor

Concrete detail

A highly specific , particular, often real, actual, or tangible detail; the opposite of abstract

Connotation

The suggested or implied meaning of a word or phrase

Consonance

The repetition of two or more consonant sounds in a group of words

Critique

An analysis or assessment of a thing or situation for the purpose of determining its nature, its limitations, and its conformity to a set of standards

Cynic

One who expects and observes nothing but the worst of human conduct

Deductive reasoning

A method of reasoning by which specific definitions, conclusions, and theorems are drawn from general principles

Denotation

The dictionary definition of a word

Denouement

The resolution that occurs at the end of a story

Descriptive detail

Graphic, exact, and accurate presentation of the characteristics of a person, place, or thing

Deus ex machine

In literature, the use of an artificial device or gimmick to solve a problem

Diction

An author's choice of words

Didactic

Having an instructive purpose

Digression

Portion of writing that wanders or departs from the main subject or topic

Dionysian

Distinguished from Apollonian, refers to sensual, pleasure-seeking impulses

Dramatic irony

The audience or reader knows something about a situation that a character does not know

Elegy

Poem or prose that laments on the passing or death of someone or something

Ellipses

... indicates the omission of words in a thought or quotation

Elliptical construction

A sentence containing a deliberate omission of words.

Empathy

A feeling of association or identification with an object or person (what it is to BE them)

Epic

A narrative poem that tells of the adventures and exploits of a hero

Epigram

A concise but ingenious, witty, and thoughtful statement

Euphony

Pleasing, harmonious sounds

Epithet

An adjective or phrase that captures a quality of a person or thing

Eponymous

A term for the title character of a work of literature

Euphemism

A mild or less negative usage for a harsh or blunt term

Exegesis

A detailed analysis or interpretation of a work of prose or poetry

Expose

A piece of writing that reveals weaknesses, faults, frailties, or other shortcomings

Exposition

The background and events that lead to the presentation of the main idea or purpose of an essay or other work; setting forth the meaning or purpose of a piece of writing or discourse

Explication

The interpretation or analysis of a text

Extended metaphor

Series of comparisons between two unlike objects

Fable

A short tale often with nonhuman characters from which a useful lesson may be drawn

Fallacy, fallacious reasoning

An incorrect belief or supposition based on faulty data, defective evidence, or false information

Fantasy

A story containing unreal, imaginary features

Farce

A comedy that contains an extravagant and nonsensical disregard of seriousness, although it may have a serious, scornful purpose

Figure of speech, figurative language

Implies meaning, not literal, like metaphor, simile, personification

Frame

Structure that provides a promise or setting for a narrative or other discourse

Genre

A term used to describe literary forms, such as novel, play, essay

Harangue

A forceful sermon, lecture, or tirade

Homily

A lecture or sermon on a religious or moral theme meant to guide human behavior

Hubris

Excessive pride in a character which leads to his or her downfall

Humanism

A belief that emphasizes faith and optimism in human potential and creativity

Hyperbole

Overstatement, gross exaggeration for rhetorical effect

Idyll

Lyric poem or passage that describes a kind of ideal life or place

Imagery

The use of sensory images in speech and writing

Indirect quotation

A rendering of a quotation in which actual words are not stated but only approximated or paraphrased

Inductive reasoning

Method of reasoning in which a number of specific facts or examples are used to make a generalization

Inference

Conclusion or proposition arrived at by considering facts, observations, or other data

Invective

Direct verbal assault; a denunciation

Irony

When the opposite of what is expected happens

Kenning

The name of a thing is replaced by one of its functions or qualities

Lampoon

A mocking, satirical assault on a person or situation

Litotes

Form of understatement in which the negative of the contrary is used to achieve emphasis or intensity

Loose sentence

A type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause or main clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses.

Lyrical prose

Personal, reflective prose that reveals the speaker's thoughts and feelings about the subject

Malapropism

A confused use of words in which the appropriate word is replaced by one with a similar sound but inappropriate meaning

Maxim

A saying or proverb expressing common wisdom or truth (adage, aphorism)

Melodrama

A literary form in which events are exaggerated to create an extreme emotional response

Metaphor

Figure of speech, compares two unlike objects

Metaphysical

Describes poetry that uses elaborate conceits, expresses complexities of love and life, and is highly intellectual

Metonymy

Figure of speech that uses the name of one thing to represent something else with which it is associated

Middle English

The language spoken in England roughly between 1150 and 1500 AD

Mock Epic

A parody of traditional epic form

Mock Solemnity

Feigned or deliberately artificial seriousness, often for satirical purposes

Mode

The general form, pattern, and manner of expression of a piece of discourse

Montage

A quick succession of images or impressions used to express an idea

Mood

The emotional tone or prevailing atmosphere in a work of literature or other discourse

Moral

A brief and often simplistic lesson that a reader may infer from a work of literature

Motif

A phrase, idea, or event that through repetition serves to unify or convey a theme in an essay or other discourse

Muse

One of the ancient Greek goddesses presiding over the arts; the imaginary source of inspiration for an artist or writer

Myth

An imaginary story that has become an accepted part of the cultural or religious tradition of a group or society

Narrative

A form of verse or prose (both fiction and nonfiction) that tells a story

Naturalism

A term often used as a synonym for realism; also a view of experience that is characterized as bleak and pessimistic

Non sequitur

A statement or idea that fails to follow logically from the one before

Objective

Of or relating to facts and reality, as opposed to private and personal feelings and attitudes

Ode

A lyric poem usually marked by serious, respectful, and exalted feelings toward the subject

Omniscient narrator

A narrator with unlimited awareness, understanding, and insight of characters, setting, background, etc.

Onomatopoeia

The use of words whose sounds suggest their meaning

Oxymoron

A term consisting of contradictory elements juxtaposed to create a paradoxical effect

Parable

A story consisting of events from which a moral or spiritual truth may be derived

Paradox

A statement that seems contradictory but is nevertheless true

Parallel structure

The structure required for expressing two or more grammatical elements of equal rank

Parody

An imitation of a work meant to ridicule its style and subject

Paraphrase

A version of a text put into simpler, everyday words

Pastoral

A work of literature dealing with rural life

Pathetic fallacy

Faulty reasoning that inappropriately ascribes human feelings to nature or nonhuman objects

Pathos

That element in literature that stimulate pity or sorrow

Pedantic

Narrowly academic instead of broad and humane; excessively petty and meticulous

Periodic Sentence

A sentence that expresses its main thought only at the end.

Persona

The role or façade that a character assumes or depicts to a reader or other audience.

Personification

A figure of speech in which inanimate objects are given human characteristics.

Plot

The interrelationship among the events in a story, the pattern of events including exposition, rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution

Point of View

The relation in which a narrator or speaker stands to a subject of discourse.

Predicate

The part of the sentence that is not the grammatical subject.

Prose

Any discourse that is not poetry.

Proverb

A short pithy statement of a general truth, one that condenses common experience into memorable form (adage, aphorism, maxim)

Pseudonym

A false name or alias used by writers

Pulp Fiction

Novels written for mass consumption, often emphasizing exciting and titillating plots

Pun

A humorous play on words, using similar-sounding or identical words to suggest different meanings.

Realism

The depiction of people, things, and events as they really are without idealization or exaggeration for effect (naturalism)

Rebuttal or refutation

The part of discourse wherein opposing arguments are anticipated and answered

Reiteration

Repetition of an idea using different words, often for emphasis or other effect

Repetition

Reuse of the same words, phrases, or ideas for rhetorical effect, usually to emphasize a point

Retraction

The withdrawal of a previously stated idea or opinion

Rhetoric

The language of a work and its style, words, often highly emotional, used to convince or sway an audience

Rhetorical Mode

A general term that identifies discourse according to its chief purpose (exposition, argumentation, description, narration)

Rhetorical Question

A question to which an audience already knows the answer; asked for effect - no answer expected

Rhetorical Stance

Language that conveys a speaker's attitude or opinion with regard to a particular subject

Rhyme

The repetition of similar sounds at regular intervals

Rhythm

The pattern of stressed and unstressed syllables that make up speech and writing

Romance

An extended narrative about improbable events and extraordinary people in exotic places

Sarcasm

A sharp, caustic attitude conveyed in words through jibes, taunts, or other remarks

Satire

A literary style used to poke fun at, attack, or ridicule an idea, vice, or foible, often for the purpose of inducing change

Sentence Structure

The arrangement of the parts of a sentence.

Sentiment

A synonym for view or feeling; also a refined and tender emotion

Sentimental

A term that describes characters' excessive emotional response to experience; also nauseatingly nostalgic and mawkish.

Setting

Time, place, historical milieu, and social, political, and spiritual circumstances of a narrative

Simile

A figurative comparison between two unlike things using like or as

Stream of Consciousness

A style of writing in which the author tries to reproduce the random flow of thoughts in the human mind.