Rhetorical Devices Flashcards
Allegory
The rhetorical strategy of extending a metaphor through an entire narrative so that objects, persons, and actions in the text are equated with meanings that lie outside the text
Alliteration
the sequential repetition of a similar initial sound, usually applied to consonants, usually in closely proximate stressed syllables
example:
Sally sells sea shells down by the sea shore
Allusion
a brief reference to a person, event, place, or phrase. The writer assumes the reader will recognize the reference
Anaphora
the regular repetition of the same words or phrases at the beginning of successive phrases of dauses
example:
‘The following is an example: ‘To raise a happy, healthful, and. hopeful child, it takes a family, it takes teachers; it takes clergy; it takes business people; it takes community leaders; it takes those who protect our health and safety; it takes all of us.
Antithesis
the juxtaposition of sharply contrasting ideas in balanced or parallel words, phrases grammatical structure, or ideas
example:
To err is human, to forgive divine.
Aphorism
a tersely phrased statement of a truth or opinion
example:
Lost time is never found again.
Apostrophe
a direct address to a person, thing, or abstraction
example:
“Ah, Sorrow, you consume us.”
Assonance
the repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds
example:
please niece the ski tree
Asyndeton
a syntactical structure in which conjunctions are omitted in a series, usually producing more rapid prose
example:
Veni, vidi, vici
Attitude
the sense expressed by the tone of voice or the mood of a piece of writing; the author’ toward his or her subject, characters, events, or theme. It might even be his ‘or her feelings for the reader
Begging the question
an argumentative ploy where the arguer sidesteps the question or the conflict, evades or ignores the real question
Canon
that which has been accepted as authentic
Chiasmus
a figure of speech and generally a syntactical structure wherein the order of the terms in the first half of a parallel clause is reversed in the second
example:
He thinks I am but a fool. A fool, perhaps I am
Claim
in argumentation, an assertion of something as fact
Colloquial
term identifying the diction of the common, ordinary folks, especially in a specific region or area
Comparison and contrast
a mode of discourse in which two or more things are compared, contrasted, or both
Conceit
a comparison of two unlikely things that is drawn out within a piece of literature, in particular an extended metaphor within a poem
Connotation
the implied, suggested, or underlying meaning of a word or phrase
Consonance
the repetition of two or more consonants with a change in the intervening vowels,
example:
pitter-patter, splish-splash, and click-clack
Convention
an accepted manner, model, or tradition
Critique
an assessment or analysis of something, such as a passage of writing, for the purpose of determining what it is, what its limitations are, and how it conforms to the standard of the genre
Deductive reasoning
also known as deduction
the method of argument in which specific statements and conclusions are drawn from general principals
Dialect
the language and speech idiosyncrasies of a specific area, region, or group
Diction
the specific word choice an author uses to persuade or convey tone, purpose, or effect. There are four types of diction:
- *Formal Diction** - consists of a dignified, impersonal, and elevated use of language; it follows the rules of syntax exactly and is often characterized by complex words and lofty tone
- *Middle Diction** - maintains correct language usage, but is less elevated than formal diction; it reflects the way most educated people speak.
- *Informal Diction** - epresents the plain language of everyday use, and often includes idiomatic expressions, slang, contractions, and many simple, common words.
- *Poetic Diction** - efers to the way poets sometimes employ an elevated diction that deviates significantly from the common speech and writing of their time, choosing words for their supposedly inherent poetic qualities.
Didactic
(from the Greek, meaning “good teaching”) writing or speech is didactic when it has an instructive purpose or a lesson. It is often associated with a dry, pompous presentation, regardless of its innate value to the reader/listener
Elegy
a poem or prose work that laments, or meditates upon the death of, a person or persons. Sometimes an elegy will end with words of consolation
Epistrophe
in rhetoric, the repetition of a phrase at the end of successive sentences
example:
“If women are healthy and educated, their families will flourish. If women are free from violence, their families will flourish. If women have a chance to work . their families will flourish.”
Epitaph
writing in praise of a-dead person, most often inscribed upon a headstone
Ethos
in rhetoric, the appeal of a text to the credibility and character of the speaker, writer, or narrator. (Who is this person saying what, and what makes him able to say so?)
Eulogy
a speech or written passage in praise of a person; an oration in honor of a deceased person
Elegy laments; eulogy praises.
Euphemism
an indirect, kinder, or less harsh or hurtful way of expressing unpleasant information
Exposition
the interpretation or analysis of a text
Extended metaphor
a series of comparisons within a piece of writing. If they are consistently one concept this is also known as a conceit
Figurative language
Figure of speech
figurative language has levels of meaning expressed through figures of speech such as personification, metaphor, hyperbole, irony, oxymoron, litote, and others.
Flashback
(also known as retrospection)
an earlier event is inserted into the normal chronology the narration.
Genre
a type or class of literature, such as epic, narrative, poetry, biography, history
Homily
a sermon, but more contemporary uses include any serious talk, speech, or lecture on moral or spiritual Iife
Hyperbole
overstatement characterized by exaggerated language, usually to make a point or draw attention
Imagery
broadly defined, any sensory detail or evocation in a work; more narrowly, the use of figurative language to evoke a feeling to call to mind an idea, or to describe an object. Basically, imagery involves any or all of the five senses. A writer generally uses imagery in conjunction with other figures of speech, such as simile and metaphor.
example:
“Her cheeks were rosy and so was my love—bursting with fragrance and softness’
Inductive reasoning
also known as induction
the method of, reasoning or argument in which general statements and conclusions are drawn from specific principals; movement from the specific to the general.
Inference
a conclusion or proposition arrived at by considering facts, observations, or some other specific data
Irony
the contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant. The intended meaning Is often the opposite of what is stated, often suggesting light sarcasm
Three main types:
Verbal irony
what the author/narrator says is actually the opposite of what is meant
Situational irony
when events end up the opposite of what is expected.
Dramatic irony
in drama and fiction, facts or situations are known to the reader or audience but not to the characters.
Isocolon
parallel structure in which the parallel elements are similar not only in grammatical structure, but also in length.
example:
“Many are called, but few are chosen”
Jargon
specialized or technical language of a trade, profession, or similar group.
Juxtaposition
the location of one thing adjacent to or juxtaposed with another to create an effect, reveal an attitude, or accomplish some other purpose
Litote
a figure of speech that emphasizes its subject by conscious understatement, for instance, the understated “not bad” as a comment about something especially well done
example:
“Last week Isaw a woman flayed and you would hardly believe how much it altered her person for the worse”
Loose sentence
(a term from syntax)
a long sentence that starts with its main clause, which is followed by several dependent clauses and modifying phrases
example:
“The child ran, frenzied and ignoring all hazards, as if being chased by demons”
Metaphor
one thing pictured as if it were something else, suggesting a likeness or analogy. A metaphor is an implicit comparison or identification of one thing with another, without the use of a verbal signal such as like- or as
Metonymy
a figure of speech in which an attribute or commonly associated feature is used to name or designate something
example:
We must wait to hear from the crown until we make any further decision.
Mode of discourse
the way in which information is presented in written or spoken form.
The Greeks believed there were only four modes of discourse:
narration, (cause and effect)
description (comparison/contrast)
exposition (process analysis)
argumentation
Contemporary thought often includes other modes, such as personal observation and narrative reflection.
Mood
a feeling or ambience resulting from the tone of a piece as well as the writer narrator’s attitude and point of view. It is a “feeling” that establishes the atmosphere in a work of literature or other discourse
Narrative
a mode of discourse that tells a story of some sort and it is based on sequences of connected events, usually presented in a straightforward, chronological framework
Onomatopoeia
a word capturing or approximating the sound of what it describes. The purpose of these words is to make a passage more effective for the reader or listener
example:
“The bees buzzed pleasently in the orchid.”
Oxymoron
a figure of speech that combines two apparently contradictory elements
example:
“wise fool,” “baggy tights,” “deafening silence’
Paradox
a statement that seems contradictory but may probably be true
example:
“fight for peace!”
Parallel structure
the use of similar forms in writing for nouns, verbs, phrases, or thoughts. In prose, parallel, recurrent syntactical similarity where several parts of a sentence or several sentences are expressed alike to show that their ideas are equal in importance
example:
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness”
Pathos
that element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow. In argument or persuasion it tends to the evocation of pity from the reader/listener.
Periodic sentence
a long sentence in which the main clause is not completed until the end
example:
“Looking as if she were being chased by demons, ignoring all hazards, the child ran”
Personification
treating an abstraction or nonhuman object as if it were a person by endowing it with human features or qualities
example:
“The jovial sun smiled at me as I opened the door.”
Point of View
the relation in which a narrator/author stands to a subject of discourse. Point of view in nonfiction requires the reader to establish the historical perspective of what is being said.
Prose
the ordinary form of written language without metrical structure. In contrast to verse and poetry
Realism
attempting to describe nature and life without idealization and with attention to detail
Rebuttal
Refutation
an argument technique wherein opposing arguments are anticipated and countered
Rhetoric
the art of
“using words to persuade in writing or speaking.”
All types of writing may seek to persuade and rhetoricians study these genres for their persuasive qualities.
Rhetorical question
a question that is asked simply for the sake of stylistic effect and is not expected to be answered
Sarcasm
a form of verbal irony in which apparent praise is actually critical. Sarcasm can be light, and gently poke fun at something, or it can be harsh, caustic, and mean
Satire
a literary work that holds up human failings to ridicule and censure
Simile
a direct, explicit comparison .of one thing to another, usually using the words like or as to draw the connection
example:
“There was a steamy mist in all the hollows, and it had roared in its forlornness up the hill like an evil spirit!”
Style
the manner in which a writer combines and arranges words, shapes ideas, and utilizes syntax and structure. It is the distinctive manner of expression that represents that author’s typical writing style
Symbolism
use of a person, place, thing event, or pattern that figuratively represents or “stands for” something else. Often the thing or idea represented is more abstract or general than the symbol, which is concrete
Synecdoche
a figure of speech in which a -part signifies the whole
example:
“50 masts” representing 50 ships or
“100 heed of steer had to be moved to their grazing land’
Syntax
the way words are put together to form phrases, clauses, and sentences. Syntax is sentence structure and how it influences the way the reader receives a particular piece of writing. It is important in establishing the tone of a piece and the attitude of the author/narrator
Theme
the central or dominant idea or focus of a work; the statement a passage makes about its subject.
Tone
the attitude the narrator/writer takes toward a subject and theme; the tenor of a piece of writing based on particular stylistic devices employed by the writer
Tone reflects the narrator/author’s attitude
Voice
the acknowledged or unacknowledged source of the words of the story;
the speaker’s or narrator’s particular “take” on an idea based on a particular passage and how all the elements of the style of the piece come together to express his or her feelings
Zeugma
a grammatically correct construction in which a word, usually a verb or adjective, is applied to two or more nouns without being repeated. Often used to comic effect
example:
“The thief took my wallet and the Fifth Avenue bus.”
Ambiguity
Depending on the circumstances, ambiguity can be negative, leading to confusion or even disaster. On the other hand, writers often use it to achieve special effects, for instance, to reflect the complexity of an issue or to indicate the difficulty, perhaps the impossibility, of determining truth.
Analogy
is a likeness or a comparison between two things that have some features that are the same and others which are different
example:
“I am as graceful as a refrigerator falling down a flight of stairs.”
Anecdote
short tale narrating an interesting or amusing biographical incident
Anthropomorphism
the act of attributing human qualities to animals, gods, or goddesses. Unlike personification which simply adds attributes “the dancing trees,” anthropomorphism goes more than that
example:
“Father Time”
“Mother Nature”
Buggs Bunny
Antihero
a protagonist who has the opposite of most of the traditional attributes of a hero. He or she may be bewildered, ineffectual, deluded, or merely pathetic
Archetype
a term used to describe universal symbols that evoke deep and sometimes unconscious responses in a reader. In literature, characters, images, and themes that symbolically embody universal meanings and basic human experiences, regardless of when or where they live, are considered archetypes.
Cadence
a major component of individual writers’ styles. A cadence group is a coherent group of words spoken as a single rhythmical unit
example:
“of parting day”
“our inalienable rights.”
Catharsis
the release of the emotions of pity and fear by the audience at the end of a tragedy
Cliché
an idea or expression that has become tired and trite from overuse, its freshness and clarity having worn off. Clichés often anesthetize readers, and are usually a sign of weak writing
Deism
an intellectual religious movement en vogue through the late seventeenth century up to the late eighteenth century concerned with rational rather than faith-based approaches to religion and understanding God. They tended to see God as an impersonal but intelligent force, a first cause that created the universe and set it in motion, who then allowed life and matter to proceed on its own without further need for divine intervention. The logic is that, if God is infallible, omniscient and omnipotent, logically he would pre-establish his design in the world in such a way that he would not need to tinker constantly with it or adjust it through supernatural intervention. Deistic writings often refer to the Deity using metaphors of the architect, the watchmaker, the mason, or some other skilled worker who measures out the universe with geometric and mechanical precision.
Denotation
the literal meaning of a word; there are no emotions, values, or images associated with denotative meaning. Scientific and mathematical language carries few, if any emotional or connotative meanings
Enjambment
a line having no pause or end punctuation but having uninterrupted grammatical meaning continuing into the next line usually applied to poetic formats
Farce
a form of low comedy designed to provoke laughter through highly exaggerated caricatures of people in improbable or silly situations.
Some traits are:
(1) physical bustle such as slapstick,
(2) sexual misunderstandings and mix-ups, and
(3) broad verbal humor such as puns
Foil
a secondary character who contrasts with a major character
Foreshadowing
where the author drops subtle hints about the plot development to come later in the story
Idiom
a construction or expression in one language that cannot be matched or directly translated word-for-word in another language
example:
“Koritsi Prama” in greek means “you smart/fashionable/sly/clever person you”
while literally translating gives “girl thing”
Motif
a recurrent thematic element in an artistic or literary work
Narrator
the person telling the story, not to be confused with the author’s voice. There are four types of narration:
First-person narrator -** **the I in the story presents the point of view of only one character. The reader is restricted to the perceptions, thoughts, and feelings of that single character
**Omniscient narrator - **is an all-knowing narrator who is not a character in the story and who can move from place to place and pass back and forth through time, slipping into and out of characters as no human being possibly could in real life
Editorial omniscience - an intrusion by the narrator in order to evaluate a character for a reader
Neutral omniscience - narration that allows the characters’ actions and thoughts to speak for themselves
**Limited omniscience - **a narrator limited by the author to the single perspective of either a major or minor character. The way people, places, and events appear to that character is the way they appear to the reader. Sometimes a limited omniscient narrator can see into more than one character, particularly in a work that focuses on two characters alternately from one chapter to the next
Parody
a parody imitates the serious manner and characteristic features of a particular literary work in order to make fun of those same features. The humorist achieves parody by exaggerating certain traits common to the work
Parable
a story or short narrative designed to reveal allegorically some religious principle, moral lesson, psychological reality, or general truth
Persona
a mask for the author to speak through. In literature, a persona is a speaker created by a writer to tell a story or to speak in a poem. A persona is not a character in a story or narrative, nor does a persona necessarily directly reflect the author’s personal voice
Pun
a figure of speech that twists the meaning of words, often to create a humorous effect.
- *Homonymy** - the use of words with multiple similar words with the same equivalency.
- *Polysemy** - the use when one word has multiple meanings.
Repetition
the return of a word, phrase, stanza form, or effect in any form of literature, an effective literary device that may bring comfort, suggest order, or add special meaning to a piece of literature.
Stereotype
a simplified and/or standardized conception or image with specific meaning, often held in common by members of a group. Stereotypes are typically generalizations based on minimal or limited knowledge about a group to which the person doing the stereotyping does not belong.
Suspense
the feeling of uncertainty and interest about the outcome of certain actions, most often referring to an audience’s perceptions in a dramatic work
Tragedy
a story that presents courageous individuals who confront powerful forces within or outside themselves with a dignity that reveals the breadth and depth of the human spirit in the face of failure, defeat, and even death. Tragedies recount an individual’s downfall; they usually begin high and end low
Tragic flaw
an error or defect in the tragic hero that leads to his downfall, such as greed, pride, or ambition. This flaw may be a result of bad character, bad judgment, an inherited weakness, or any other defect of character
Tragicomedy
a type of drama that combines certain elements of both tragedy and comedy. The play’s plot tends to be serious, leading to a terrible catastrophe, until an unexpected turn in events leads to a reversal of circumstance, and the story ends happily
Understatement
a form of speech which contains an expression of less strength than what would be expected
example:
“Oh its just a light scratch.” when referring to an open wound.
Overstatement
the act of describing or explaining something in a way that makes it seem more important or more serious than it really is
Vernacular
the everyday or common language of a geographic area or the native language of commoners in a country as opposed to a prestigious dead language maintained artificially in schools or in literary texts
Verisimilitude
the appearance of truth; the quality of seeming to be true. Something that has the appearance of being true or real.
