Rhetoric Devices (1) Flashcards
Anecdote
brief story told by a character (ex.)
Perspective
character’s view of situation or events in story (ex.)
Contradiction
a direct opposition between things being compared; inconsistency
Apostrophe
a figure of speech where something not present is addressed as if it is (ex. Hamlet talking to a skull while addressing dead character)
Oxymoron
A figure of speech that combines contradictory elements (ex. minor crisis)
Allusion
A figure of speech making a casual reference to a historical or literary event, person, or object to indicate a symbolic connection (usually religious)
Satire
A literary style used to make fun of an idea, usually a human weakness/vice (often political, like a cartoon)
Foil
A person/thing that makes another thing seem better by contrast
Epitaph
A piece of writing praising someone dead (ex. on gravestone)
Parody
A satirical imitation of a work of art ridiculing its style or subject
Sarcasm
A sharp, bitter remark of verbal irony where praise is critical (ex. saying “good catch” to someone who dropped a ball)
Irony
A situation/statement in which there is an obvious difference between the understood/expected and what actually happens/is meant; frequently humorous
Eulogy
Writing in praise of a (dead) person or thing (ex. what a preacher might say at a funeral)
Paradox
A statement that seems contradictory, but is actually true (ex. But the end was just the beginning)
Onomatopoeia
Words that are spelled like the sounds they describe (ex. buzz)
Diction
The author’s choice of words to convey a certain tone or effect
Utopia
An imaginary perfect world, opposite of a dystopia/dystopian world
Hyperbole
An overstatement characterized by exaggerated language
Antagonist
Characters/Forces that oppose the protagonist in literature
Analogy
Comparison of 2 things that are alike in some way (umbrella term for metaphor, simile, etc.)
Nostalgia
Desire to return in thought/fact to a time in the past
