Rhetoric Midterm Flashcards
Aposiopesis
breaking off a statement midway in order to create a rhetorical effect.
Epanalepsis
The use of the same word or phrase at the beginning and end of a sentence. X_____X
Irony
a statement whose hidden meaning is different from its surface meaning; a conclusion opposite from expectation
Antithesis
contrasting ideas expressed in parallel form.
Epizeuxis
The consecutive repetition of a word, often in a pattern of three. X, X, X_______
Epistrophe
repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the end. ________X _________X
Anadiplosis
repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the end of one phrase or clause and the beginning of the next. ______X, X________
Simile
compares two different things that resemble each other in at least one way. A simile comparing a noun to a noun uses “like”; a simile comparing a verb or phrase to a verb or phrase uses “as.”
Understatement
the deliberate expression of an idea as less important than it actually is, either for ironic emphasis (with a touch of humor) or for politeness.
Climax
a list that increases by degrees in importance, weight, or magnitude.
Hyperbole
deliberate exaggeration of conditions for emphasis or effect; a potential option for an attention-getter at the beginning of an essay or speech.
Synecdoche
a form of metonymy in which a part acts as a substitute for a whole. (“All hands on deck.”)
Parallelism
the repetition of grammatical structures.
Anthimeria
using one part of speech as another (i.e. using a noun as a verb)
Anaphora
repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning. X_____ X______
Syllepsis
word (most often one is literal; the other, figurative)
Metanoia
the act of correcting one’s self to create a rhetorical effect.
Procatalepsis
anticipates an objection that might be raised by an audience and responds to it.
Praeteritio
calling attention to a point by seeming to dismiss or ignore it
Hypophora
asks one or more questions and then proceeds to answer those questions; typically the question is asked at the beginning of the paragraph and then answered throughout the rest of it.
Ellipsis
the omission of a word easily supplied (from the Greek “to leave out” or “to fall short”)
Personification
metaphorically represents an animal or inanimate object as having human attributes—attributes of form, character, feelings, behavior, etc. Ideas can also be personified.
Asyndeton
the strategy of omitting conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses in a list in order to create a spontaneous or unpremeditated tone.
Polysyndeton
the use of conjunction between each word, phrase, or clause for the purpose of sounding deliberate or heavily labored; structurally the opposite of asyndeton.
Tricolon
a sentence with three clearly defined parts of equal length
Apostrophe
rhetorical direct address to a person or personified thing
Metonymy
a type of metaphor that uses something closely associated with (but not part of) a subject in order to represent that subject. (“The pen is mightier than the sword.”)
Metabasis
a brief statement of what has been said and what will follow; a transitional summary that links sections of writing together.
Allusion
a short, informal reference to something the reader will presumably recognize: a historical or fictional character, event, place; a religious or mythological story, or a literary work.
Erotema
A rhetorical question: a question that does not call for an answer and actually makes a statement
Metaphor
compares two different things by speaking of one in terms of the other, asserting that one thing is the other thing
Anastrophe
when words appear in unexpected order.
Chiasmus
an inversion of grammatical structure, idea, or sound
