Direct Hits Rhetorical/Literary Vocabulary 7

Question 1

Figurative/ Metaphorical Language

Answer 1

a general term referring to language that describes a thing in terms of something else. The resemblance is figurative, not literal, as the nucances and connotations of the words used in the comparison.

Question 2

Simile

Answer 2

an explicit figure of speech that is a comparison between two essentially unlike things, usually using the words “like” or “as”, which points out a figurative way that the two things are alike.

Question 3

Metaphor

Answer 3

in its more narrow sense, a figure of speech in which one thing is described in terms of another using an implicit or implied comparison, wihout the use of “like” or “as.”

Question 4

Personification

Answer 4

a figure of speech in which an inanimate object is given human qualities or abilities

Question 5

Parallelism/ Parallel Structure

Answer 5

a rhetorical ddevice or syntactical (relating to sentence structure) construcion whicc inclovles using matching grammatical patterns to establish the equivalent relationships or importance of two or more items. Parallelism provides balance and authority to sentences.

Question 6

Irony

Answer 6

literary irony: a figure of speech in which what we say or write conveys the opposite of its literal meaning; situational irony: incongruity between the actual result of a sequence of events and the normal or expected result.

Question 7

Synopsis

Answer 7

a brief summary of the major points of a thesis, theory, story or literary work; an abstract; a pr’ecis

Question 8

Satire, Lampoon, Parody

Answer 8

a work that ridicules human vices, follies, and soibles; comic criticism. Note that lampoon and parody are often used as verbs meaning to ridicule.

Question 9

Abstruse

Answer 9

very abstract hard to understand

Question 10

very abstract hard to understand

Answer 10

Abstruse

Question 11

Foibles

Answer 11

minor weaknesses or failing of character

Question 12

Hyperbole

Answer 12

a figure of speech in whcihc exaggeration is used for emphasis or effect; extreme exaggeration

Question 13

Caricature

Answer 13

visual art of descriptive writing that deliberately exaggerates distincitve features or peculiarities of a subject for comic or absurd effect

Question 14

Epic

Answer 14

a long narrative poem written in a grand style to celebrate the feats of a legendary hero

Question 15

Saga

Answer 15

a long narrative story; a heroic tale

Question 16

Foreshadowing

Answer 16

a suggestion or indication that something will happen in a story; a hint that presages

Question 17

Ancedote

Answer 17

a short account of an interesting or humorous incident

Question 18

Eulogy

Answer 18

a laudatory speech or written tribute, especially one praising someone who has died

Question 19

Conflated

Answer 19

brought together, fused

Question 20

eu-

Answer 20

good

Question 21

Euphemism

Answer 21

an inoffensive word substitued for an offensive one

Question 22

Euphony

Answer 22

a pleasing sound

Question 23

Eugenics

Answer 23

the science of improving offspring

Question 24

Euphoria

Answer 24

a feeling of well-being, an almost excessive feeling of buoyant vigor and health

Question 25

Euthanasia

Answer 25

a method of causing a painless, peaceful death

Question 26

Allusion

Answer 26

an indirect or brief rerence to a person, event, place, phrase, piece of art, or literary work that assumes a common knowledge with the reader of listener