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English > Rhetorical Devices > Flashcards

Rhetorical Devices Flashcards

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Proverbs and Idioms flashcards
1
Q

allegory

A

using character/story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning

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2
Q

allusion

A

a reference to something commonly known

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3
Q

ambiguity

A

the multiple meanings of a word/phrase/passage

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4
Q

analogy

A

a comparison of two different things or the relationship between them, explaining something unfamiliar by associating it with something else

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5
Q

antecedent

A

the word referred to by a pronound

ex. “all truth” = “it”

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6
Q

antithesis

A

the opposition of ideas

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7
Q

aphorism

A

a memorable summation of an unknown author’s point

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8
Q

apostrophe

A

address to a personified abstraction that cannot answer

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9
Q

atmosphere

A

mood created by the entirety of a literary work

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10
Q

caricature

A

exaggeration for comic effect

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11
Q

colloquial/colloquialism

A

the use of slang in speech or writing

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12
Q

conceit

A

fanciful expression in the form of an analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects

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13
Q

connotation

A

the implied or suggested meaning of a word

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14
Q

denotation

A

the literal dictionary definition of a word

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15
Q

diction

A

part of the author’s style; refers to word choice

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16
Q

generic conventions

A

traditions of a genre

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17
Q

homily

A

speech involving moral advice

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18
Q

hyperbole

A

speech using deliberate exaggeration; overstatement

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19
Q

imagery

A

sensory details used to describe something

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20
Q

inference/infer

A

to draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented

21
Q

litotes

A

making an affirmative point by denying the opposite

ex. “not many”

22
Q

loose sentence/ non-periodic sentence

A

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.

23
Q

metonymy

A

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…”

24
Q

paradox

A

statement that appears contradictory but is actually true

ex. The beginning of the end

25
Q

parallelism

A

framing of words to give structural similarity via repetition of verbal phrase

26
Q

anaphora

A

the exact repetition of words or phrases

ex. I Have a Dream speech

27
Q

pedantic

A

show-offy language

28
Q

periodic sentence

A

sentence where grammatical units are first, followed by main idea
ex. After a long, bumpy flight/ I arrived at San Diego airport

29
Q

point of view

A

the perspective from which a story is told; first second and third person

30
Q

prose

A

fiction and nonfiction; where the printer determines the length of the line

31
Q

rhetorical modes

A

describes the variety, conventions, and purposes of the major kinds of writing

32
Q

exposition (rhetorical mode)

A

explains and analyzes information

33
Q

argumentation (rhetorical mode)

A

proves the validity of an idea through reasoning

34
Q

description (rhetorical mode)

A

presents a person/place/event/action

35
Q

narration (rhetorical mode)

A

to narrate a series of events

36
Q

satire

A

work that targets human follies to ridicule

37
Q

semantics

A

branch of linguistics that studies the meanings, connotations, and relations of words

38
Q

style

A
  1. evaluation of the sum of choices an author makes

2. classifying authors to a group or comparing authors to other authors

39
Q

syllogism

A

two ideas that lead to a sound conclusion

ex. Men are mortal. Bill is a man. Therefore, Bill is mortal.

40
Q

symbol/symbolism

A

anything that represents itself and stands for something else

41
Q

natural symbol

A

things from nature that symbolize ideas associated with them

ex. rose=love

42
Q

conventional symbol

A

have been invested with meanings by a group

ex. a flag

43
Q

literary symbol

A

found in a variety of works and are generally recognized

44
Q

synecdoche

A

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”

45
Q

synesthesia

A

when one sensory stimulus evokes the experience of another

ex. when you see red ants you get itchy

46
Q

syntax

A

the way the author chooses to join words into sentences; syntax=groups of words, diction=the words

47
Q

understatement

A

the ironic minimalizing of fact

48
Q

wit

A

intellectually amusing language that surprises the audience

English (12 decks)

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