Literary and Rhetorical Devices Flashcards
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.
Anaphora
Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences or clauses in a row. This is a deliberate form of repetition and helps make the writer’s point more coherent. “I came, I saw, I conquered.”
Anecdote
A brief recounting of a relevant episode; often inserted into fictional or nonfictional texts as a way of developing a point or injecting humor.
Antithesis
Two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses, or even ideas, with parallel structure. “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”
Chiasmus
When the same words are used twice in succession, but the second time, the order of the words is reversed. “Fair is foul and foul is fair.” “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Also called antimetabole.
Deductive Argument
An argument in which it is thought that the premises provide a guarantee of the truth of the conclusion. In a deductive argument, the premises are intended to provide support for the
conclusion that is so strong that, if the premises are true, it would be impossible for the conclusion to be false.
Euphemism
A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for generally unpleasant words or concepts. Sometimes they are used for political correctness. “Physically challenged,” in place of “crippled.”
Sometimes a euphemism is used to exaggerate correctness to add humor. “Vertically challenged” in place of “short.”
Fallacy
A fallacy is an attractive but unreliable piece of reasoning. Writers do not want to make obvious fallacies in their reasoning, but they are often used unintentionally, or when the writer thinks they
can get away with faulty logic.
Imagery
Word or words that create a picture in the reader’s mind. Usually this involves the five senses. Authors often use imagery in conjunction with metaphors, similes, or figures of speech.
Irony
When the opposite of what you expect to happen does.
Juxtaposition
Placing things side by side for the purposes of comparison. Authors often use juxtaposition of ideas or examples in order to make a point.(For example, an author my juxtapose the average day of a typical American with that of someone in the third world in order to make a point of social commentary).
Loose Sentence
Cumulative sentence; When the writer begins with an independent clause, then adds subordinate elements. “He doubted whether he could ever again appear before an audience, his confidence broken, his limbs shaking, his collar wet with perspiration.”
Metonymy
Replacing an actual word or idea, with a related word or concept. “Relations between London and Washington have been strained,” does not literally mean relations between
the two cities, but between the leaders of The United States and England. Metonymy is often used with body parts: “I could not understand his tongue,” means his language or his speech.
Paradox
A seemingly contradictory situation which is actually true.“You can’t get a job without experience, and you can’t get experience without getting a job.”
Parallelism
(Also known as parallel structure or balanced sentences.) Sentence construction which places equal grammatical constructions near each other, or repeats identical grammatical patterns. Parallelism is used to add emphasis, organization, or sometimes pacing to writing. “Cinderella swept the floor, dusted the mantle, and beat the rugs.”
Periodic Sentence
When the main idea is not completed until the end of the sentence. The writer begins with subordinate elements and postpones the main clause. “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.
Personification
Giving human-like qualities to something that is not human. “The tired old truck groaned as it inched up the hill.”
Rhetorical Question
Question not asked for information but for effect. “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.
Synecdoche
A kind of metonymy when a whole is represented by naming one of its parts, or vice versa. “The cattle rancher owned 500 head.” “Check out my new wheels.”
Understatement
The ironic minimizing of fact, understatement presents something as less significant than it is. The effect can frequently be humorous. “Our defense played valiantly, and held the other team to
merely eight touchdowns in the first quarter.”
