Rhetorical Terms Flashcards
a statement which contains seemingly contradictory elements or appears contrary to common sense, yet can be seen as perhaps true when viewed from another angle
Ex. Water, water, everywhere, but not a drop to drink; my job ages me and keeps me young at the same time.
Paradox
understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negative of the contrary
Ex. After I won the lottery and stated, “It was not a bad day.”
Litotes
the use of words to convey a meaning that is the opposite of its literal meaning
Ex. The name of Britain’s biggest dog was “Tiny.”
Irony
the use of a word to represent or imitate natural sounds
Ex. Sizzle, buzz, pop, hiss
Onomatopoeia
repetition of initial consonant sounds
Ex. Sally sells sea shells by the sea shore
Alliteration
the language used for a particular activity or by a particular group of people. Ex. Literary jargon, scientific jargon, tech jargon, etc.
Jargon
speech particular to a region; exhibits distinctions between two groups or even two persons
Dialect (syn. of vernacular)
the positioning of ideas or images side by side for emphasis or to show contrast
Juxtaposition
the comparison of two things, which are alike in several respects, for the purpose of explaining or clarifying some unfamiliar or difficult idea or object by showing how the idea or object is similar to some familiar one Ex. Sunbathing is like smoking cigarettes. (implied: either way, you are asking for cancer).
Analogy
short narrative about a real incident or person used in a longer work or speech to make a point
Anecdote
A device in which the author poses a question which is, in turn, answered, unlike the rhetorical question that is not answered.
Hypophora
Language that allows for no exceptions. i.e. all, every, never, always
Absolute language
Language that puts limitations on a claim. i.e.most, sometimes, often, usually,
Qualified language
expresses the author’s attitude toward his or her subject. Consider the sound of the “voice.”
Tone
a feeling or emotion toward a fact or state; a mental position with regard to a fact or state. The author’s feeling/opinion toward a subject or topic.
Attitude
the specific, exact meaning of a word; a dictionary definition
Denotation
the emotional implications that a word may carry; implied or associated meaning for a particular word
Connotation
figure of speech which makes brief reference to a historical or literary figure, event, or object; a reference in one literary work to a character or theme found in another literary work.
Allusion
informal, not always grammatically correct expressions that find acceptance in certain geographical areas and within certain groups of people. i.e. pop = soda; jimmies = sprinkles; etc. Ex. Saying “That is sus” for suspect.
Colloquial
language characterized by great knowledge; learned or scholarly in tone.
Erudite
a figure of speech which takes the form of a comparison between two unlike quantities for which a basis for comparison can be found, and which uses “like” or “as” in the comparison
Ex. clear as frost on the grass-blade
Simile
a figure of speech wherein a comparison is made between two unlike quantities without the use of the words “like” or “as”
Ex. all the world’s a stage
Metaphor
a metaphor introduced and then further developed throughout all or part of a literary work
Ex. “But soft! What light through yonder window breaks? It is the East, and Juliet is the sun! Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, who is already sick and pale with grief.” (Romeo and Juliet)
Extended Metaphor
exaggeration for effect and emphasis, overstatement
Ex. I’ve told you a million times.
Hyperbole
figure of speech in which inanimate objects are given qualities of speech and/or movement
Ex. Carl Sandburg’s Chicago: “Stormy, husky, brawling, / City of the big shoulders”
Personification
technique used to produce an effect by seeming self-contradicting
Ex. Cruel kindness; pretty ugly.
Oxymoron
devices which appeal to the senses: visual, tactile, auditory, gustatory, olfactory, and kinetic
Ex. The girl ran her hands on a soft satin fabric
Imagery
a worn out idea or overused expression
Ex. The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence
Cliché
an expression that is common and familiar but can not be taken at its literal meaning. It is figurative in nature.
Ex. It’s raining cats and dogs; break a leg; easy as pie.
Idiom
a play on words wherein a word is used to convey two meanings at the same time
Ex. In Romeo and Juliet, after Mercutio is stabbed he says, “Ask for me tomorrow and you shall find me a grave man.
Pun
A figure of speech wherein the speaker speaks directly to something non-human or someone that is not present
Ex. “Sweet cousin ram why lag behind the rest in the night cave?” (Homer 611)
Apostrophe
substitute word that sounds better than another; the use of inoffensive or neutral words to describe a harsher, more serious concept.
Ex. Lingerie instead of underwear, or passing away instead of dying
Euphemism
statement in which the literal sense of what is said falls short of the magnitude of what is being talked about
Ex. It rained a bit more than usual while describing an area being flooded after heavy rainfall.
Understatement
a language or dialect native to a region or country rather than a literary, cultured, or foreign language
Vernacular
