AP Rhetorical and Lit terms #4 Flashcards
Rhetoric definition
The art of effective communication.
Aristotle’s Rhetorical Triangle definition
relationships in a piece of writing or a speech among the speaker/writer, the event(s) or experiences that inspired the subject (exigence), the audience, the message, the author’s purpose, and the appeals, tools, and techniques used to achieve that purpose. Context (history, environment, background information, culture) surround and influence every part of the triangle.
Rhetorical Question definition
Question not asked for information but for effect.
Rhetorical Question example
“The angry parent asked the child, ‘Are you finished interrupting me?’” In this case, the parent does not expect a reply, but simply wants to draw the child’s attention to the rudeness of interrupting.
Rhetorical Question impact
to make a point or convey an effect
Romanticism definition
Art or literature characterized by an idealistic, perhaps unrealistic view of people and the world, and an emphasis on nature. Does not rely on traditional themes and structures (see classicism).
Romanticism example
You Are My Everything
Sarcasm definition
A generally bitter comment that is ironically or satirically worded. However, not all satire and irony are sarcastic. It is the bitter, mocking tone that separates sarcasm from mere verbal irony or satire.
Sarcasm example
“they’re really on top of things” to describe a group of people who are very disorganized
Sarcasm impact
Sarcasm can serve as an outlet for expressing frustration or disapproval without resorting to direct confrontation or hurtful language
Satire definition
- A work that reveals a critical attitude toward some element of life to a humorous effect. It targets human vices and follies, or social institutions and conventions. Good satire usually has three layers: serious on the surface; humorous when you discover that it is satire instead of reality; and serious when you discern the underlying point of the
Satire example
South Park, The Simpsons, and Family Guy
Satire impact
‘venomous’, ‘cutting’, ‘stinging’, vitriol. Because satire often combines anger and humor, as well as the fact that it addresses and calls into question many controversial issues, it can be profoundly disturbing.
Sentence definition
A sentence is group of words (including subject and verb) that expresses a complete thought.
Appositive definition
- A word or group of words placed beside a noun or noun substitute to supplement its meaning.
Appositive example
“Bob, the lumber yard worker, spoke with Judy, an accountant from the city.”
Appositive impact
creates ambiguity that can mislead readers
Clause definition
A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb. An independent clause expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence. A dependent, or subordinate clause cannot stand alone as a sentence and must be accompanied by an independent clause. (Example: “Other than baseball, football is my favorite sport.” In this sentence, the independent clause is “football is my favorite sport” and the dependent clause is “Other than baseball.”
Balanced sentence definition
A sentence in which two parallel elements are set off against each other like equal weights on a scale. Both parts are parallel grammatically.
Balanced sentence example
“If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.” Also called parallelism.
Balanced sentence impact
sustain reader interest, inviting them to return to the text multiple times, discovering new meanings or insights with each reading
Compound sentence definition
Contains at least two independent clauses but no dependent clauses.
Compound sentence example
This house is too expensive, and that house is too small.
Complex sentence definition
Contains only one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.
Complex sentence example
He studied hard because he wanted to go to medical school as he suffered from arthritis
Cumulative sentence definition
When the writer begins with an independent clause, then adds subordinate elements.
Cumulative sentence example
He doubted whether he could ever again appear before an audience, his confidence broken, his limbs shaking, his collar wet with perspiration.” The opposite construction is called a periodic sentence.
Periodic sentence definition
When the main idea is not completed until the end of the sentence. The writer begins with subordinate elements and postpones the main clause
Periodic sentence example
His confidence broken, his limbs shaking, his collar wet with perspiration, he doubted whether he could ever again appear before an audience.” The opposite construction is called a cumulative sentence.
Simple sentence definition
Contains only one independent clause.
Simple sentence example
Joe waited for the train. The train was late.
Declarative sentence definition
States an idea. It does not give a command or request, nor does it ask a question
Declarative sentence example
“The ball is round.”
Imperative sentence definition
Issues a command
Imperative sentence example
“Kick the ball.”
Interrogative sentence definition
Sentences incorporating interrogative pronouns (what, which, who, whom, and whose)
Interrogative sentence example
“To whom did you kick the ball?”
Style definition
The choices in diction, tone, and syntax that a writer makes. Style may be conscious or unconscious.
Symbol definition
Anything that represents or stands for something else. Usually a symbol is something concrete such as an object, actions, character…that represents something more abstract.
Symbol example
Examples of symbols include the Whale in Moby Dick, the river and the jungle in Heart of Darkness, and the Raven in “The Raven.”
Symbol impact
writers can give their greater emotional impact and engage readers on a deeper level, allowing for a more immersive and memorable reading experience.
Syntax/sentence variety definition
Grammatical arrangement of words.
Theme definition
The central idea or message of a work. The theme may be directly stated in nonfiction works, although not necessarily. It is rarely stated directly in fiction.
Theme example
love, survival, perseverance, society, etc.
Thesis definition
The sentence or groups of sentences that directly expresses the author’s opinion, purpose, meaning, or proposition. It should be short and clear. (also see argument)
Thesis example
Topic (problem/need), claim, possible solutions to the problem. Example thesis: The governments of all fifty states in the United States should promote measures to limit global warming by educating consumers, by giving tax incentives to green businesses, and by developing public transit systems.
Tone definition
A writer’s attitude toward his subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language and organization. To identify tone, consider how the piece would sound if read aloud (or how the author wanted it to sound aloud)
Tone example
For instance, you could show your characters attending a party and have the tone be excited, depressed, sarcastic, frightened, or hopeful.
Tone impact
allows us to express a wide range of emotions and attitudes.
Understatement definition
The ironic minimizing of fact, understatement presents something as less significant than it is.
Understatement example
Our defense played valiantly, and held the other team to merely eight touchdowns in the first quarter”
Understatement impact
The effect can frequently be humorous.
