AP TERMS 1

Front

A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love. It is an address to someone or something that cannot answer. The effect is to give vent to or display intense emotion, which can no longer be held back:

Back

Apostrophe

Front

consists of omitting conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses. This can give the effect of unpremeditated multiplicity, of an extemporaneous rather than a labored account.

Back

Asyndeton

Front

A figure of speech in which two successive phrases or clauses are parallel in syntax, but reverse the order of the analogous words.

Back

Chiasmus

Front

The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing. Not generally acceptable for formal writing, give a work a conversational, familiar tone. These expressions in writing include local or regional dialects.

Back

Colloquialism

Front

A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects. Displays intellectual cleverness as a result of the unusual comparison being made.

Back

Conceit

Front

The nonliteral, associative meaning of a word; the implied, suggested meaning. May involve ideas, emotions, or attitudes.

Back

Connotation

Front

Related to style, refers to the writer’s word choices, especially with regard to their correctness, clearness, or effectiveness.

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Diction

Front

From the Greek, literally means “teaching.” These works have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles.

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Didactic

Front

From the Greek for “good speech,” a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept

Back

Euphemism

Front

A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout the work/elaborate metaphor.

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Conceit