Rhetorical terms Flashcards
abstract
existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical existence.
EX: love, anger
allegory
literatures that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning.
EX: animal farm pigs= Bolsheviks
allusion
A reference to another work of literature, person, or event
EX: Chocolate cake is my Achilles heel.
analogy
A comparison of two different things that are similar in some way
EX: adorable is to cute as scary is to creepy.
antithesis
the direct opposite, a sharp contrast
EX: Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice
aphorism
A brief, cleverly worded statement that makes a wise observation about life.
EX: Actions speak louder than words.
apostrophe
a punctuation mark used to indicate either possession or the omission of letters or numbers
EX: she’s
characterization
the process by which the writer reveals the personality of a character
EX: Bill was short and fat and he has a growing bald spot
cliché
an overused expression
EX: Think outside the box
coinage
the invention of new words
EX: frisbee, band-aid
colloquial expression
words and phrases used in everyday speech but avoided in formal writing
EX: y’all, gonna, wanna
conceit
a fanciful, particularly clever extended metaphor
EX: A broken heart is a damaged clock
concrete
existing in a material or physical form; real or solid; not abstract.
EX: silver spoon
denotation / connotation
denotation= literal meaning
connotation= emotional suggestions of a word; not literal
EX: den= color blue con= feeling sad
diction
the choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing.
EX: “I’m a bit upset,” Vs. “I’m so pissed off.”
doublespeak
language that distorts, or reverses the meaning of words
EX: ethnic cleansing instead of genocide
emotional appeal
sway audience’s emotions and use the manipulation of recipient’s emotions rather than logic to win an argument.
EX: pic of starving child=donate
euphemism
indirect word or expression substituted for harsh words when referring to something unpleasant
EX: passed away, not died
hyperbole
exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.
EX: my feet are killing me
idiom
phrase that typically presents a figurative, non-literal meaning attached to the phrase
EX: time flies
irony
a situation in which there is a contrast between expectation and reality.
EX: raining outside, say “wow weathers great outside”
jargon
special words that are used by a particular profession or group and are difficult for others to understand
EX: AP, GPA, APUSH
juxtapose
placing two things side by side so as to highlight their differences.
EX: short and round
logical fallacies
flawed, deceptive, or false arguments that can be proven wrong with reasoning.
EX: syrup belongs on pancakes
metaphor
a figure of speech comparing two unlike things without using like or as
EX: Sarah is a walking dictionary
mood
the atmosphere of the narrative
EX: this book is dark
motif
a repeated pattern
EX: Romeo and Juliet is “light and dark.”
oxymoron
words that, when placed together, create or contradictions
EX: seriously funny
paradox
an idea or theme that contradicts itself (contrary to belief)
EX: less is more
satire
the use of humor or exaggeration to criticize people’s stupidity, particularly in the context of contemporary politics.
EX: animal farm
spin
form of propaganda that relies on deceptive methods of persuasion.
EX: I want you for the US army- Uncle Sam
tone
how an author conveys his/her attitude(s) in a work of literature.
EX: funny, comic, playful
