1-20 Flashcards
Abstract
Language that describes concepts rather than concrete images
Ad Hominem
In an argument, this is an attack on the person rather than on the opponent’s ideas. Latin meaning “against the man”
Allegory
An extended narrative in prose or verse on which characters, events, and settings represent abstract qualities in which the writer intends a second meaning to be read beneath the surface of the story; can be moral, religious, political, social, or satiric
Alliteration
Repetition of constant sounds at the beginning of words that are close to one another
Allusion
A reference to a well-known person, place, or thing from literature, history etc.
Analogy
A comparison of two similar but different things, usually to clarify an action or a relationship, a comparison to a directly parallel case
Anaphora
Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences in a row, helps to make that author’s point more coherent
Anecdote
A short, simple narrative of an incident; often used for humorous effect or to make a point
Annotation
Explanatory notes added to a text to explain, cite sources, or give bibliographical data
Antithesis
The presentation of two contrasting images. The ideas are balances by word, phrase clause, or paragraphs.
Aphorism
A short, often witty statement of a principle or a truth about life: “early bird gets the worm.”
Apostrophe
Usually in poetry but sometimes on prose; the device of calling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person or to a place, thing, or personified abstraction
Argumentation
Writing that attempts to prove the validity of a point of view of an idea by presenting reasoned arguments; persuasive writing is a form
Assonance
Repetition of vowel sounds between different consonants
Asyndeton
Commas used (with no conjunctions) to separate a series of words. The parts are emphasized equally when the conjunction is omitted; in addition, the use of commas with no intervening conjunction speeds up the flow of the sentence. “X,Y,Z” Rather than “X,Y, and Z”
