Figurative Language Flashcards
Vocabulary Terms
Allusion
An indirect reference to something (usually a literary text, although it can be other things commonly known, such as plays, songs, historical events) with which the reader is supposed to be familiar.
Alliteration
The repetition os usually initial consonant sounds in two or more neighboring words or syllables: “mass murder” “deliberate and deadly”
Anaphora
Repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successful phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect
Anecdote
A brief recounting of a revenant episode. Anecdotes are often inserted into fictional or non fiction texts as a way of developing a point of injecting humor
Antecedent
The noun(s) a pronoun refers to “Alexandra broke HER leg”
Antithhesis
Parallel structure that juxtaposes contrasting ideas “best of times, worst of times”
Apostrophe
The device of calling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person OR to a place, thing, or personified abstraction; usually notes by the use of “O!” Or “Oh!” At the start of a sentence.
Appositive
A word or phrase that renames a nearby noun or pronoun. “My neighbor, Uncle Seymour, has a …”
Asyndeton
the omission or absence of a conjunction between parts of a sentence. (And, but, or, nor, for, yet, so) “I came. I saw. I conquered.” - and is missing
Chiasmus
an inverted relationship between the syntactic elements of parallel phrases. “Working hard or hardly working?”
Colloquialism
An informal or conversational use of language. “Gonna wanna”
Commonplace
A statement or bit of knowledge that is commonly shared by members of an audience or a community. “Segregation is wrong”
Compare/Contrast
Discussing the similarities and differences between two things to some persuasive or illustrative purpose. “Hybrid cars can have a much smaller… than tradition vehicles”
Concession
Acknowledging another’s argument, and using it to your advantage
Connotation
That which is implied by a word, as opposed to the word’s literal meaning “Cheap, inexpensive”
Definition
A statement explaining what a term means
Deductive logic
Uses a commonplace to reach a conclusion, interpreting the circumstances through a lens of beliefs and values “All men are mortal. Joe is a man. Joe is moral”.
Denotation
The literal meaning of a work; its dictionary definition
Ethos
Focuses attentions on the writer’s or speaker’s trustworthiness: appeals to character and credibility
Hypophora
A figure of speech in which the speaker poses a question and then answers the question
Imagery
Words that create a picture in the reader’s mind. Usually this involves the five sense. Authors often use imagery in conjunction with metaphors, similes, or figures of speech.
Induction
Reasoning from specific to general; may or may not be factually true
Inversion
Sentence in which the verb precedes the subject; the reversal of normal word order in a sentence of phrase “Down the field ran the football player”
Juxtaposition
Placing things side by side for the purpose of comparison and emphasis; can bring out difference or unexpected similarities “best of times, worst of times”
Logos
The appeal to logic; when an author makes clear, logical connections between ideas and includes the use of facts and statistics; and author may also use historical and literal analogies to make a logical argument
Metaphor
a figure of speech in which a word or phrase literally denoting one kind of object or idea is used in place of another to suggest a likeness or analogy between them
Negative/Positive Connotation
Rather than the dictionary definition (denotation), the associations suggested by a word. Implied meaning rather than literal meaning.
Parallel Structure
Sentence construction which places equal grammatical constructions near each other, or repeats identical grammatical patterns. Same as Parallelism
Pathos
Argument by emotion, can cause a mod change, make an audience more receptive to one’s logic, or give an audience commitment to one’s goal.
Patriotism
An emotional appeal/appeals to the audience’s love of country, persuading them to act by implying they are treasonous if they choose not to
Personification
Attributing human qualities to something that is not human
Point of View
the angle of considering things, which shows us the opinion, or feelings of the individuals involved in a situation
Polemic
An argument against an idea, usually regarding philosophy, politics, or religion; polemical texts rely upon pathos more than any other appeal; often concern religion and politics
Polysyndeton
repetition of conjunctions in close succession (and, but, or, nor, for, yet, so)
Quotes
The repetition of a sentence, phrase, or passage from speech or text that someone has said or written
Repetition
Re-using a word or phrase repeatedly for effect or emphasis
Rhetorical Questions
To ask a question of an audience to engage them without having a response from the audience
Simile
A figure of speech comparing two unlike things that is often introduced by like or as
Statistics
A fact or piece of data from a study or of a large quantity of numerical data
Straw Man
A logical fallacy that involves the creation of an easily refutable position; misrepresenting, then attacking a opponent’s position
