Rhetorical Devices' Flashcards
Allegory
a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.
anachronism
something out of place in time
analogy
A comparison of two different things that are similar in some way
anecdote
a short and amusing or interesting story about a real incident or person, normally with a purpose or point
antecedent
the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers
the word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers
the direct opposite, a sharp contrast
Aphorism
A brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.
Aposiopesis
suddenly stopping in the middle of a speech for emphasis
Apostrophe
address to an absent or imaginary person
Archetype
A detail, image, or character type that occurs frequently in literature and myth and is thought to appeal in a universal way to the unconscious and to evoke a response
Connotation
an idea or feeling that a word invokes in addition to its literal or primary meaning.
Denotation
The dictionary definition of a word
Diction
A writer’s or speaker’s choice of words
Dialect
A regional variety of a language distinguished by vocabulary, spelling, and pronunciation.
deus ex machina
In literature, the use of an artificial device or gimmick to solve a problem.
