Rhetorical Terms Flashcards
Diction
Word choice
Rhetoric
Study of all the tools of language used in speaking and in writing
Trope
Artful deviations from the ordinary or expected use of a word (connotation). This leads to an in depth look at a word in text context
Scheme
Artful deviation from the normal/ ordinary arrangement of words for creative effect and for enhanced interest/ voice
Mode
A type of writing- autobiographical/ cause and effect/ observation/ reflection/ evaluation/ persuasion/ argument
Parallelism
Similarity structure in a pair or series of related words, phrases or clauses
Isocolon
A series of similarly structured elements having the same length
Antithesis
Contrasting ideas placed side by side, often using parallel structure
Climatic
The arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in an order of increasing importance
Anticlimactic
An expectation is established, then something comes along which deflates the expectation
Juxtaposition
Placement of two items next to each other. ( ideas words phrases style items)
Anastrophe
Inversion of natural or expected word order
Parenthesis
Insertion of a verbal unit that interrupts normal syntactical flow
Apposition
Addition of an adjacent, coordinate, explanatory element
Polyptoton
Repeating the same root in different forms
Ellipsis
Omission of a word or words readily implied by context
Asyndeton
Omission of conjunction between a series of clauses
Polysyndeton
Opposite of asyndeton, a superabundance of conjunctions
Assonance
Repetition of similar vowel sounds in the stressed syllables of adjacent
Anaphora
Repetition of the same word or group of words at the beginning of successive clauses
Epistrophe
Repetition of the same word or group of words at the ends of successive clauses
Anadiplosis
Repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause
Chiasmus
Repetition of grammatical structures in reverse order in successive phrases or clauses
Rhetorical question
Asking a question for the purpose of asserting or denying something, not for an answer
Hypophora
Asking a question and immediately answering it in order to demonstrate authority
Epiplexis
Asking a question in order to reproach or upbraid, rather than to elicit information
Rhetorical or logical fallacies
A category of arguments with errors in reasoning; often presented as true; misleading arguments
Ad hominem
Attacks the person not the issue
Circular reasoning
Argument that restates or rewords rather than proves
Slippery slope
Assumes that because one thing is allowed, other, more grievous things will follow
Bandwagon
Everybody’s doing it, so therefore you should do it too
Oversimplification
A statement or argument that leaves out relevant considerations/evidence
Non sequitur
“Does not follow” part of a statement may be true but what follows is not true and may not even be related
Appeal to tradition
We should continue to do it this way because we’ve always done it this way
Inductive error
A conclusion based on too little or to selective evidence
Begging the question
Assumes a statement conclusion is true without sufficient evidence
Concede
To acknowledge and accept as true or valid
Refute
To prove wrong by argument or evidence
Colloquialism
Phrases used in casual conversation often associated with particular regions of the country
Jargon
Specialized language of a profession or other group
Neologism
A recently invented word or phrase
Archaism
An old fashioned word or phrase no longer used
Synecdoche
A whole is represented by naming one of its parts
Meiosis
Understatement used deliberately
Paradox
A seemingly contradictory statement that contains a measure of truth
Euphemism
Non threatening language that is substituted for more explicit language
Caricature
An exaggeration that is often unrealistic and sometimes comical
Apostrophe
Addressing an inanimate object or abstract thing as if it were human
Rhetorical question
A question directly posed but to which no answer is expected
Anecdote
A personal story or example used to make a point in a larger work
Satire
Using irony derision sarcasm ridicule invective innuendo affectation exaggeration or wit to expose or attack human vice foolishness or stupidity
Unclear pronoun references
When it is unclear to which subject a pronoun refers to
Referent
The subject or idea to which a word or phrase refers
Antecedent
The noun a pro noun refers to
Loose sentence
Main idea comes first followed by sub coordinate clause
Periodic sentence
Sub coordinate clause come first then main idea concludes the sentence
Logos
Logic
Ethos
Credibility
Pathos
Emotion
Connotation
Implied or understood meaning, how the word is used
Denotation
Dictionary definition
Metaphor
Comparing not using like or as
Simile
Comparison using like or as
Shift
Changes in the text
Hyperbole
Use of exaggerated terms for emphasis or effect
Oxymoron
Placing two ordinary opposing terms directly adjacent to one another
Onomatopoeia
Use of words whose sound corresponds with their semantic
Irony
A contrast between expectation and reality
Archetype
A universally understood symbol
Allegory
Objects persons and actions in a narrative are equated with meanings that lie outside the narrative itself
Point of view
1st 3rd person objective omniscient limited omniscient
Subject
Who or what performs the verb
Object
A noun pronoun or noun phrase that receives or is affected by the action of a verb
Preposition
Shows relationships among words in a sentence (location direction)
Pronoun
Takes place of a noun
