AP Lang Comprehension Exam

Figure of balance in which two contrasting ideas are intentionally juxtaposed; usually through parallel structure

• Antithesis

• Colloqualism

• Euphemism

• Juxtaposition

An error in reasoning or logic; used to strengthen and weaken arguments.

• Didactic

• Fallacy

• Aphorism

• Colloqualism

A pithy observation about life that contains an universal truth.

• Aphorism

• Anaphora

• Fallacy

• Colloqualism

A figure of speech where the speaker asks a question or several questions and then answers them.

• Hypophora

• Chiasmus

• Rhetorical Question

• Litotes

A word or phrase that is not formal or literary, typically one used in ordinary or familiar conversation.

• Colloqualism

• Chiasmus

• Hypophora

• Apostrophe

Two items, ideas, characters, etc placed side by side for comparison. Sometimes intentional, Sometimes Not.

• Oxymoron

• Juxtaposition

• Allegory

• Litotes

The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to literal meaning

• Hypophora

• Metonomy

• Allegory

• Litotes

Ironical understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary 

• Fallacy

• Euphemism

• Litotes

• Oxymoron

The substitution of the name of an attribute or adjunct for that of the thing meant

• Oxymoron

• Litotes

• Apostrophe

• Metonymy

What is exigence?

• the specific occasion that prompted the message to be created

• why the speaker is conveying the message

• who the writer is speaking to

• the circumstances surrounding the situation