Rhetorical Devices Glossary Flashcards
Abstract, Abstraction definiton
taking away characteristics from something in order to reduce it to a set of essential characteristics.(focusing on the general part)
Abstract, Abstraction examples
driving a car without knowing how the engine works
Alliteration defintion
Repetition of words with the same sounding first letter
Alliteration examples
“The majestic, the magnificent Mississippi.“
When should alliteration be used?
should be used only when the writer makes a strong emotional response to his subject; The effect of successful alliteration is beauty of sound and emphasis
Allusion definition
reference to a known familiar person, place, or thing, whether real or legendary
Allusion examples
Queen Elizabeth, Cleopatra, Apollo, Adam, Gabriel Dumont, Tom Sawyer, Montreal, the garden of Eden, the CN Tower, the great pyramid, the shield of Achilles.
Antithesis, antithetical definition
two very different terms are introduced by being compared to each other using contrast
Antithesis, antithetical examples
“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” “God is love, I dare say. But what a mischievous devil Love is”
Balance, balanced construction, balanced sentence
a sentence made up of two parts that are roughly equal in length, importance, and grammatical structure.
Balance, balanced construction, balanced sentence example
“There’s never time to do it right, but there’s always time to do it over.” , “Buy a bucket of chicken and have a barrel of fun.”
Clause definition
A group of words that includes a subject(noun) and a verb, and forms a sentence or part of a sentence
Clause example
“They went to the park” , “She laughs at shy people”
Colloquialism, colloquial definition
everyday language
2 types of clauses
adjective clause & verb clause
Complex sentence definition
independent + independent clause
Connotation definition
the use of a word to suggest a different meaning than its literal meaning
Connotation examples
“She has a heart of gold.”; “You’re an angel!”
Complex sentence examples
He studied hard because he wanted to go to medical school as he suffered from arthritis
Colloquialism, colloquial examples
gimme, wanna, y’all
Consonance definition
rhyming but not really
Consonance examples
“a pale gold cloud.”
Cumulative sentence definiton
a sentence with a statement then explaining the statement
Figure of speech, figurative, figuratively definition
non-literal meaning, over-exaggerates
Image, imagery definiton
uses words to describe something which gives u a image in your head
Image, imagery examples
The warden’s keys clanked as he walked past the cells.
Interrupted movement definition
interupts flow of sentence, to emphasize and make you think
Interrupted movement examples
So how can the less obsessive - er, organized - among us better manage our money?
Irony, ironic, ironically definition
sarcasm to show the contrast or to pursade
Irony, ironic, ironically examples
if it were a cold, rainy gray day, you might say, “What a beautiful day!
Loose sentence definition
main thought at the beginning of the sentence which is then followed by a bunch of bs
Loose sentence examples
I went to the movies yesterday, bought candy, and shopped at the mall.
Metaphor definition
exaggeration of imagery
Metaphor examples
“Hes a potato couch
Parallel, parallelism, parallel construction definition
words or phrases that are written in the same form. But have flow/rhyme(unlike balance)
Parallel, parallelism, parallel construction examples
Her children like to swim, hike and ride dirt bikes
Periodic sentence definiton
Main idea at the end of the sentence
Periodic sentence examples
Unable to join the others at the dance because of my sprained ankle, I went to a movie.
Personification definition
take an object or animal and give it human qualities, such as emotions or thoughts.
Personification examples
The plant looks sad
Rhetorical question definition
Sarcastic question asked to create a dramatic effect
Rhetorical question examples
“How could i be so stupid?”
Difference between metaphor and simile
Smilie(like or as) , Metaphors are direct comparison
Simile definition
Comparison using exaggeration
Simile examples
You were as brave as a lion
Symbolism definition
the idea that things represent other things
Symbolism examples
red symbolizes love
Tone definition
How the writer feels/presents in the writing
Tone examples
calm, direct, anxious
Understatement definition
draws attention to a situation, emotion, characteristic, or character by purposefully downplaying the magnitude or intensity of what is being described.
Understatement examples
“Deserts are sometimes hot, dry, and sandy.”
