General vocabulary Flashcards
Anadiplosis
Repetition of last word or phrase of one sentence, phrase, clause at or near the beginning of the next
Ex) when I give I give myself
* builds up to the climax or main point, carries the reader through the text, provides emphasis through repetition
Antimetabole
Repetition of words in successive clauses, but in transposed grammatical order
Ex) one for all and all for one
*contrasts, forces reader to think of the meaning
Epanalepsis
Phrase in the beginning of sentence is repeated at the end
Ex) rejoice in The Lord always, and again I say, rejoice
* emphasizes the phrase
Epistrophe
Ending a sentence with the same word or series of words
Ex) I want the best, and we need the best, and we deserve the best
* draws attention to the series of words and their meaning
Anaphora
The repetition of words at the beginning of successive clauses
Ex) we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight…
* bring attention and emphasize
Polysyndeton
Repetition of conjunctions in close succession for rhetorical effect
Ex) create a feeling of endlessness or overwhelmed feeling
* do the dishes and clean your room and…
Amplification
Author embellishes sentence in order to add worth or understanding
Ex) instead of the paper was hard= the paper required extensive research,data, surveys, and interviews
* drama, clarification
Distinctio
Having a situation and then defining it , writer elaborates on def. of word to make sure there is understanding
Ex) by impossible I mean…
* clarification
Exemplum
Moral anecdote, brief or extended, real or fictitious (moral story/ example)
Ex) zen of clams
* illustrates a point
Chiasmus
A reversal in the order of words in two otherwise parallel phrases
Ex) one should eat to live, not live to eat
* provokes a thought! makes a large point, provides emphasis
Assonance
Repetition of similar vowel sounds
Ex) an old,mad,despised,blind, and dying king
* produces harmony or can be for humor
Alliteration
The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words
Ex) forth from the fatal lions of these two foes…
* provides emphasis
Metaphor
Comparison without using like or as
Ex)he is a fish
* creates emphasis and helps visualize a comparison by painting a picture
Metonymy
Use of an aspect of something referring to a whole
Ex) Hollywood refers to the entertainment industry and Washington refers to our government
* further expresses the value of an entity by having a closely related entity stand in its place, representing it as an abstraction for more profound effect
Synecdoche
A term for a part of something refers to the whole of something - or- a whole of something that refers to a part
Ex)hired hands refers to workmen
* adds to visual imagery, emphasizes importance
Antagoge
Putting a positive spin on something negative or difficult
Ex) when life gives you lemons, make lemonade
* reduces impact/significance of negative point
Analogy
Comparison of two things for the purpose of explanation/clarification
Ex) the body is a unit,though it is made of many parts
* explains thought process/line of reasoning
Juxtaposition
Two things being placed together with contrasting effect
Ex) the young and the whole
A caveman using a microwave
* shows difference between the two objects
Simile
Comparison using like or as
Ex) as white as snow
* imagery and understanding
Inverted sentence
A sentence where the verb comes before the subject
Ex) sitting in the classroom are the students.
* slows the reader down because it is hard to comprehend, makes sentence stand out, important details
Periodic sentence
Details and subordinate clauses are found at the beginning followed by the main idea
Ex) Although she was interested in music, she decided to study English
* evidence then conclusion! inductive reasoning
Loose sentence (aka cumulative)
A sentence where the main idea is at the beginning followed by a subordinate clause
Ex) she decided to study English though she was interested in music
* clearly states main point the elaborates (deductive reasoning)
Asyndeton
A figure of speech in which one or several conjunctions (like’and’) are cut out from a series of related clauses
Ex) I came,I saw, I conquered
* produces hurried rhythm
Ellipsis
A series of dots that usually indicTe an intentional omission of a word, sentence, or whole section of a text
* indicates unfinished thought
Ends sentence
Inspires longing
Be concise in quotingZeugma
Construction of a sentence in which one word modifies or governs two or more words, often in an incongruent or different way, in a single sentence
Ex) the farmers grew potatoes, peanuts, and bored
* voice and comedy
Personification
Assigning lifelike characteristics to inanimate objects
Ex) the fore ran wild
* creates vivid imagery and produces tone/mood
Apostrophy
Some absent or nonexistent person or thing is addressed as if present and capable of understanding
Ex) then come, sweet death, and rid me of this grief
* gives background or character’s thoughts
Metaphor
Comparison without using like or as
Ex)he is a fish
* creates emphasis and helps visualize a comparison by painting a picture
Metonymy
Use of an aspect of something referring to a whole
Ex) Hollywood refers to the entertainment industry and Washington refers to our government
* further expresses the value of an entity by having a closely related entity stand in its place, representing it as an abstraction for more profound effect
Synecdoche
A term for a part of something refers to the whole of something - or- a whole of something that refers to a part
Ex)hired hands refers to workmen
* adds to visual imagery, emphasizes importance
Antagoge
Putting a positive spin on something negative or difficult
Ex) when life gives you lemons, make lemonade
* reduces impact/significance of negative point
Analogy
Comparison of two things for the purpose of explanation/clarification
Ex) the body is a unit,though it is made of many parts
* explains thought process/line of reasoning
Juxtaposition
Two things being placed together with contrasting effect
Ex) the young and the whole
A caveman using a microwave
* shows difference between the two objects
Simile
Comparison using like or as
Ex) as white as snow
* imagery and understanding
Inverted sentence
A sentence where the verb comes before the subject
Ex) sitting in the classroom are the students.
* slows the reader down because it is hard to comprehend, makes sentence stand out, important details
Periodic sentence
Details and subordinate clauses are found at the beginning followed by the main idea
Ex) Although she was interested in music, she decided to study English
* evidence then conclusion! inductive reasoning
Loose sentence (aka cumulative)
A sentence where the main idea is at the beginning followed by a subordinate clause
Ex) she decided to study English though she was interested in music
* clearly states main point the elaborates (deductive reasoning)
Asyndeton
A figure of speech in which one or several conjunctions (like’and’) are cut out from a series of related clauses
Ex) I came,I saw, I conquered
* produces hurried rhythm
Ellipsis
A series of dots that usually indicTe an intentional omission of a word, sentence, or whole section of a text
* indicates unfinished thought
Ends sentence
Inspires longing
Be concise in quotingZeugma
Construction of a sentence in which one word modifies or governs two or more words, often in an incongruent or different way, in a single sentence
Ex) the farmers grew potatoes, peanuts, and bored
* voice and comedy
Personification
Assigning lifelike characteristics to inanimate objects
Ex) the fore ran wild
* creates vivid imagery and produces tone/mood
Apostrophy
Some absent or nonexistent person or thing is addressed as if present and capable of understanding
Ex) then come, sweet death, and rid me of this grief
* gives background or character’s thoughts
Rhetorical questions
A question used in text that is either asked for a purpose other than obtaining info, or inquiries the audiences opinion of something
* adds emphasis, slow a reader down to consider their own values & thoughts, begin the discourse of observation of a subject
Litotes
An ironical understatement in which the affirmative is expressed by the negative of its contrary
Ex) not over clean ground= very dirty ground
* provides emphasis and can retain the effect of the understatement or intensify the expression
Hyperbole
An exaggeration for emphasis that should not be taken seriously
Ex) I have a million homework assignments
* to stress something important, catches the readers attention & solidify a tone
Oxymoron
When two contradictory terms/ideas are used to create a new concept
Ex) alone together
* create new meaning, dramatic effect, humor, insult
Paradox
A statement that seems to contradict itself, a contradiction of two true statements that can’t occur at the same time, defy logic
Ex) I must be cruel to be kind
* main idea! make serious statement, provide insight
Understatement
Intentionally making something seem less important/ serious than it is
Ex) canibalism is frowned upon in most societies
* sarcasm, modesty, comic relief, downplaying facts
Parallelism
A balance within one or more sentences of similar phrases or clauses that have the same grammatical structure
Ex) she likes cooking, jogging, and reading
* organizational tool
Antithesis
Used when twos opposites are introduces in the same thesis
Ex) in peace you are for war and in war you long for peace
* emphasizes a point
Ethos
Writers/speakers trustworthiness/credibility
Ex) mlk letter to pastors while in jail
* demonstrates reliability, respect for audiences ideas
Pathos
Basing a claim of audiences emotions (wc and examples help)
Ex) overachievers
* evokes emotional response from audience
Logos
Appeal to logic and intellect (credible sources, data, quotes)
Ex) more people have a mobile phone than a toilet
* evokes a cognitive, rational response from audience
Aphorism
A short phrase that expresses a true or wise idea
Ex) less is more
* more easily remembered, wrap up ideas Ina concise statemen
Allusion
An expression to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly, an indirect or passing reference
Ex) I violated the Noah rule: predicting rain doesn’t count; building arks does
* taps into the readers prior knowledge and emotions, allows writer to avoid explaining everything
Euphemism
A milder or indirect word/expression replacing a more harsh/blunt one when referring to something unpleasant/embarrassing
Ex) marginalized instead of kill
* allow author to keep desired tone! doesn’t sound harsh, reader receives action differently
Hypophora
Speaker poses a question and then answers it
Ex) why is it better to love than be loved? It is surer
* allows speaker to answer audiences question/ invites a sense of conversation
Imperative sentences
Sentences that request, command, or express a wish/desire
Ex) the the truth the whole truth and nothing but the truth
* expresses exactly what a speaker wants reader to do
Hortative sentences
Sentences that urge, encourage, or call to action
Ex) carry on, you’re doing well
* encourages reader to take action
Aporia
An expression of doubt when speaker is unsure what to do or say
Ex) to be or not to be
* can be used to look at both sides of an argument
