Rehtorical Strategies & Stylistic Devices Flashcards
Alliteration
the occurrence of the same letter, word, or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words
Allusion
an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference.
Analogy
A comparison between two things, usually for the purpose of explanation or clarification
Anadiplosis
- “to reduplicate”
- repetition of the last word of a preceding clause. The word is used at the end of a sentence and then used again at the beginning of the next sentence
Anaphora
The use of a word referring to or replacing a word used earlier in a sentence, to avoid repetition
Anastrophe
the inversion of the usual order of words or clauses
Anecdote
a short and interesting story about a real incident or person
Antimetabole
a phrase or sentence is repeated, but in reverse order
Antithesis
a person or thing that is the direct opposite of someone or something else
Apostrophe
an exclamatory passage in a speech or poem addressed to a person (typically one who is dead or absent) or thing (typically one that is personified)
Aphorism
a pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”
Apposition
a relationship between two or more words or phrases in which the two units are grammatically parallel and have the same referent
Assonance
in poetry, the repetition of the sound of a vowel or diphthong in nonrhyming stressed syllables near enough to each other for the echo to be discernible
Asyndeton
the omission or absence of a conjunction between parts of a sentence
Balanced sentence
balanced sentence is a sentence made up of two parts that are roughly equal in length, importance, and grammatical structure
Begging the question
The premises include the claim that the conclusion is true or assume that the conclusion is true.
Chaismus
Words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order, in the same or a modified form
Claim
A statement essentially arguable but used as a primary point to support or prove an argument
Cliché
An expression that has been overused to the extent that it loses its original meaning or novelty
Colloquialism
Use of informal words, phrases or even slang in a piece of writing
Concession
Used in argumentative writing where one acknowledges a point made by one’s opponent
Connotation
Refers to a meaning that is implied by a word apart from the thing which it describes explicitly
Consonance
Refers to repetitive sounds produced by consonants within a sentence or phrase
Cumulative sentence
A loose sentence that starts with an independent clause or main clause that is simple and straight
Deductive reasoning
Involves generalization at the initial stage and then moves on towards the specific case
Denotation
Generally defined as literal or dictionary meanings of a word in contrast to its connotative or associated meanings
Dialect
The language used by the people of a specific area, class, district or any other group of people
Diction
As style of speaking or writing determined by the choice of words by a speaker or a writer.
Ellipsis
Used in narratives to omit some parts of a sentence or event, which gives the reader a chance to fill the gaps while acting or reading it out
Epanalepsis
Repetition of same words at the end and start of a sentence
Epiphoria
Repetition of the same word at the end of each clause
Ethos
Represents credibility or an ethical appeal which involves persuasion by the character involved.
Euphemism
Refers to polite, indirect expressions which replace words and phrases considered harsh and impolite or which suggest something unpleasant
Hyperbaton
Inversion in the arrangement of common words
Hyperbole
An exaggeration of ideas for the sake of emphasis.
Idiom
Set expression or a phrase comprising two or more words
Imagery
use figurative language to represent objects, actions and ideas in such a way that it appeals to our physical senses.
Implication
A suggestion an author or speaker makes (implies) without stating it
directly
Inductive reasoning
deriving general principles from particular facts or instances
Inference
Logical deductions are made based on premises assumed to be true
Inverted syntax
Lines do not follow traditional sentence patterns
Irony (dramatic, situational, verbal)
The full significance of a character’s words or actions are clear to the audience or reader although unknown to the character
Isocolon
Involves a succession of sentences, phrases and clauses of grammatically equal length
Jargon
Use of specific phrases and words by writers in a particular situation, profession or trade
Juxtaposition
Two or more ideas, places, characters and their actions are placed side by side in a narrative or a poem for the purpose of developing comparisons and contrasts.
Litotes
A figure of speech which employs an understatement by using double negatives or, in other words, positive statement is expressed by negating its opposite expressions.
Logical fallacy
An error in reasoning that renders an argument invalid.
Logos
A statement, sentence or argument used to convince or persuade the targeted audience by employing reason or logic
Malapropism
use of an incorrect word in place of a similar sounding word that results in a nonsensical and humorous expression.
Maxim
A simple and memorable line, quote or rule for taking action and leading a good life
Metaphor
Figure of speech which makes an implicit, implied or hidden comparison between two things that are unrelated but share some common characteristics
Metonymy
Figure of speech that replaces the name of a thing with the name of something else with which it is closely associated
Mood
Evokes certain feelings or vibes in readers through words and descriptions
Motif
An object or idea that repeats itself throughout a literary work
Paradox
Contrary to expectations, existing belief or perceived opinion
Parallelism
Components in a sentence that are grammatically the same; or similar in their construction, sound, meaning or meter
Parody
Imitation of a particular writer, artist or a genre, exaggerating it deliberately to produce a comic effect
Parenthesis
A qualifying or explanatory sentence, clause or word that writers insert into a paragraph or passage.
Pathos
A quality of an experience in life or a work of art that stirs up emotions of pity, sympathy and sorrow
Periodic sentence
Has a main clause or predicate at the end
Personification
A thing, an idea or an animal is given human attributes
Phonetic intensive
Words that start or end with the same letters that have a similar meaning
Point of view
The mode of narration that an author employs to let the readers “hear” and “see” what takes place in a story, poem, essay etc.
Polysyndeton
Several coordinating conjunctions are used in succession in order to achieve an artistic effect
Purple patch
Signifies a sudden heightening of rhythm, diction, and figurative language that makes a section of verse or prose stand out from its context.
Red herring
An irrelevant topic introduced in an argument to divert the attention of listeners or readers from the original issue
Refutation
Denotes that part of an argument where a speaker or a writer encounters contradicting points of view
Rhetoric
Technique of using language effectively and persuasively in spoken or written form
Rhetorical question
Asked just for effect or to lay emphasis on some point discussed when no real answer is expected
Rhetorical devices
Uses words in a certain way to convey meaning or to persuade
Sarcasm
To mock with often satirical or ironic remarks with a purpose to amuse and hurt someone or some section of society simultaneously
Satire
Technique employed by writers to expose and criticize foolishness and corruption of an individual or a society by using humor, irony, exaggeration or ridicule
Simile
Similes figure of speech that makes a comparison, showing similarities between two different things
Syllogism
starts an argument with a reference to something general and from this it draws conclusion about something more specific
Symbol
Object that signifies an idea or quality
Synecdoche
A part of something represents the whole or it may use a whole to represent a part
Synesthesia
Technique adopted by writers to present ideas, characters or places in such a manner that they appeal to more than one senses like hearing, seeing, smell etc. at a given time
Syntax
Set of rules in a language
Text structure
How the information within a written text is organized
Tone
An attitude of a writer toward a subject or an audience
