Rhetorical Terms Flashcards
analogy
to make a pointed comparison often a very powerful comparison
hyperbole
to provoke a response, to cost something in a strong light
understatement
to spark the readers imagination, or make a pointed observation
juxtaposition
to call attention to extremes
imagery
to illustrate an idea, a feeling or the particular qualities of something to produce a feeling, idea or tone
alliteration
to create a memorable phrase
allusion
to lend authority to an idea, to make an association with something the reader knows to create a memorable phrase
anaphora
to create a memorable, powerful effect, to reinforce an idea
tone
to communicate an attitude towards the subject
undertone
to communicate an attitude towards the subject that cuts the attitude that appears on the surface
irony
to convey complexity (problem)
paradox
to point out an apparent contradiction
anecdote
to provide a concrete example or humanize an abstract concept
humor
to disarm the audience, diffuse hostility, warm the reader to the writer’s ideas
satire
to ridicule (mockery) and inspire reform
sarcasm, irony
to ridicule or crtiticize
invective
to ridicule, chastise (reprove) or convey contempt
narrative pace
to convey energy or intense feelings
rhetorical question
to provoke the readers to respond or to think, or to lad them to the next idea to call attention to an idea
short, staccato sentences
to call attention to an idea
paralipsis
to draw attention something while pretending not to dos o
litotes
to draw attention to something while pretending to be subtle
parallelism
similarity of structure in a pairs or series related words, phrases or clauses
isocolon
is a scheme of parallel structure that occurs when the parallel elements are similar not only in grammatical structure but also in length
antithesis
the juxtaposition of contacting idea often in parallel structure
anastrophe
the inversion of natural word order
parenthesis
insertion some verbal unit in position that interrupts the norma syntactical flow of the sentence
- often involves ( )
ellipsis
deliberate omission of a words or of words
asyndeton
deliberate omission of conjunctions between a series of words, phrases or clauses
polysyndeton
deliberate use of many conjunctions (does not involve omission but is grouped with its opposite asyndeton)
alliteration
repetition of initial or medial consonants in two or more adjacent words
assonance
the repetition of similar vowel sounds, precede and followed by different consonants, in the stressed syllables of adjacent words
anaphora
repetition of the same word or groups of words at the beginning of successive phrases
epistrophe
repetition of the same word or groups of words at the end of successive phrase
epanalepsis
repetition of the same word or words at both beginning and ending of a phrase, clause or sentence.
anadiplosis
repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning f the following clause
climax
arrangement of words, phrases, or clauses in an order of increasing importance
antimetabole
repetition of words, in successive clauses, in reverse grammatical order
chiasmus
reversal of grammatical structure in successive
polyptoton
repetition of words derived from the same root.
