Rhetorical Devices Flashcards
allegory
using character/story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning
allusion
a reference to something commonly known
ambiguity
the multiple meanings of a word/phrase/passage
analogy
a comparison of two different things or the relationship between them, explaining something unfamiliar by associating it with something else
antecedent
the word referred to by a pronound
ex. “all truth” = “it”
antithesis
the opposition of ideas
aphorism
a memorable summation of an unknown author’s point
apostrophe
address to a personified abstraction that cannot answer
atmosphere
mood created by the entirety of a literary work
caricature
exaggeration for comic effect
colloquial/colloquialism
the use of slang in speech or writing
conceit
fanciful expression in the form of an analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects
connotation
the implied or suggested meaning of a word
denotation
the literal dictionary definition of a word
diction
part of the author’s style; refers to word choice
generic conventions
traditions of a genre
homily
speech involving moral advice
hyperbole
speech using deliberate exaggeration; overstatement
imagery
sensory details used to describe something
inference/infer
to draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented
litotes
making an affirmative point by denying the opposite
ex. “not many”
loose sentence/ non-periodic sentence
sentence where the main idea is first, followed by grammatical units
ex. I arrived at San Diego airport/ after a long, bumpy ride and multiple delays.
metonymy
where the name of one object is substituted for one of close relation
ex. “the White House passed a law…” vs. “the US government passed a law…”
paradox
statement that appears contradictory but is actually true
ex. The beginning of the end
parallelism
framing of words to give structural similarity via repetition of verbal phrase
anaphora
the exact repetition of words or phrases
ex. I Have a Dream speech
pedantic
show-offy language
periodic sentence
sentence where grammatical units are first, followed by main idea
ex. After a long, bumpy flight/ I arrived at San Diego airport
point of view
the perspective from which a story is told; first second and third person
prose
fiction and nonfiction; where the printer determines the length of the line
rhetorical modes
describes the variety, conventions, and purposes of the major kinds of writing
exposition (rhetorical mode)
explains and analyzes information
argumentation (rhetorical mode)
proves the validity of an idea through reasoning
description (rhetorical mode)
presents a person/place/event/action
narration (rhetorical mode)
to narrate a series of events
satire
work that targets human follies to ridicule
semantics
branch of linguistics that studies the meanings, connotations, and relations of words
style
- evaluation of the sum of choices an author makes
2. classifying authors to a group or comparing authors to other authors
syllogism
two ideas that lead to a sound conclusion
ex. Men are mortal. Bill is a man. Therefore, Bill is mortal.
symbol/symbolism
anything that represents itself and stands for something else
natural symbol
things from nature that symbolize ideas associated with them
ex. rose=love
conventional symbol
have been invested with meanings by a group
ex. a flag
literary symbol
found in a variety of works and are generally recognized
synecdoche
when part of something is used to represent the whole, or where the whole is used to represent the part
ex. to refer to the car as “wheels”
synesthesia
when one sensory stimulus evokes the experience of another
ex. when you see red ants you get itchy
syntax
the way the author chooses to join words into sentences; syntax=groups of words, diction=the words
understatement
the ironic minimalizing of fact
wit
intellectually amusing language that surprises the audience
