Rehtorical Terms Flashcards
Ad Hominem
In an argument, this is an attack on the person rather than on the idea. (Latin meaning “against the man”)
Abstract
Refer to language the describes concepts rather than concrete images.
(Idea and quality rather than observable or specific things, people or places). The observable “physical” is usually described in concrete language.
Allegory
Extended narrative representing abstract qualities in which the writer intends a second meaning.
Alliteration
Repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words that are close to one another
Allusion
A reference to a well known person, place, or thing from literature or history.
Anaphora
Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences in a row.
Anecdote
A short, simple narrative of an incident; often used if humorous effect or to make a point.
Annotation
Explanatory notes added at a text to explain, cite sources, or give biological data.
Antithesis
The presentation of two contrasting images. The idea are balanced by word, phrase, clause, or paragraphs.
Ex: to be not to be
aphorism
short, often witty statement of a principle or truth about life
apostrophe
usually in poetry but sometime in prose; the device of calling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person or to a place, thing, or personified abstraction
Argumentation
Writing that attempts to prove the validity of a point of view or an idea by representing reasoned arguments
Assonance
Reposition of vowel sounds between different consonants, such as in neigh/fade
Asyndeton
Commas used to deprecate a series if word
Ex: x, y, z as opposed to x, y, and z
Cacophony
Harsh, awkward, or dissonant sounds used deliberately in poetry or prose; the opposite of euphony
Caricature
Descriptive writing that greatly exaggerates a specific feature of a person’s appearance or a facet of personality
Colloquialism
A word or phrase (including slangs) used in everyday conversation and informal writing but that I often inappropriate in formal writing (y’all, ain’t)
Coherence
Quality of writing that contributes to the development of central idea, theme
Concrete language
Describes specific, observable things, people,or places rather than ideas
Connotation
Implied or suggested meaning of a word in the reader mind
Consonance
Repetition of identical consonant sounds in two or not words close to each other in text
Conundrum
A riddle whose answer is or involves a pun
Deduction
The process of moving from a general rule to a specific rule
Denotation
Literal meaning of a word
Description
A description using sensory details such as color, motion, sound, etc.
Diction
Word choice , an element of style
Didactic
writing who’s purpose is to teach
Discourse
Spoken or written language such as exposition,narration, and persuasion
Dissonance
Harsh sound that don’t go together
Dramatic irony
When reader is aware of the characters perception and the truth
Dynamic character
A character who changes through out the story
Emotional appeal
When the writer appeals to the readers emotion
Epigraph
Quotation used in the begging of work to hint the theme
Ethical appeal
When the writer tries to persuade the audience to believe him
Euphemism
A more appropriate way of saying something inappropriate
Euphony
A succession of harmonious sounds used in poetry
Example
An individual instant taken to be representative of a general pattern
Explication
The art of interpreting the meaning of a text
Exposition
Other background info necessary for understanding the plot
Extended metaphor
A sustained comparison often referred to as a conceit
False analogy
When two cases are not sufficiently parallel nor convection between them
Figurative language
Figure of speech such as simile, metaphor, to create association imaginative rather than literal
Figure of speech
Expressions such as simile metaphor personification
Foil
Character who points out qualities of other characters
Foreshadowing
Hints given to suggest larger events later in the work
Freight train
Sentence consisting of three or more independent clauses joined by conjunctions
Generalization
When writer bases a claim upon an isolated example
