Rhetorical Terms Flashcards
Clause
A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb
Aphorism
A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or moral principle
Connotation
Nonliteral, associative meaning of a word; the implied suggestive meaning
Atmosphere
The emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work, established by the setting and partly by the author’s choice of objects that are described
Colloquial
Use of slang or in formalities in speech and writing in a conversational familiar tone
Apostrophe
A figure of speech that directly address an absent or imaginary person or personified abstraction
Allegory
The device of character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to literal meaning
Anaphora
A device of repetition, in which the same expression (word or words) is repeated at the beginning of two or more lines, clauses or sentences
Anecdote
A short narrative detailing particulars of an interesting episode or event which is usually an incident in the life of a person
Antecedent
The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun
Antithesis
A figure of balance in which two contrasting ideas are intentionally juxtaposed l, usually through parallel structure
Ambiguity
The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence or passage
Chiasmus
A figure of speech in which two successive phrases or clauses are parallel in syntax, but reverse the order of the analogous words
Allusion
A direct or indirect reference to something which is presumably commonly known, such as an event, myth, place or work of art
Alliteration
The repetition of sounds, especially initial consonants in two or more neighboring words
Analogy
A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them
Asyndeton
Consists of omitting conjunctions between words, phrases or clauses
Conceit
A fanciful expression, usually in the forms of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects
Coherence
A principle demanding that parts of any completion be arranged so that the meaning of the whole may be immediately clear and intelligible
Genre
The major category into which a literary work fits
Denotation
The literal, dictionary meaning of a word
Expletive
Figure of emphasis on which a single word or short phrase, usually interrupting normal speech, is used to lend emphasis
Didactic
Literary teaching
Exposition
A type of essay that explains something
Homily
Literally means “sermon” but can be used for any serious talk or speech
Imagery
The sensory details or figurative language used to describe or represent abstractions
Hyperbole
An exaggeration
Hypophora
A figure of speech in which one or more questions are raised and then answered, often at length
Generic Conventions
Describes traditions for each genre
Figure of speech
A device used to produce figurative language and may compare similar things and uses apostrophe, hyperbole, and irony
Diacope
“You can do this, I know you can, you can do this” is an example
Diction
Related to word choices in regard to clarity or correctness
Enumeratio
A figure of amplification in which a subject is divided into constituent parts or details
Extended metaphor
Developed at great length and occurs frequently or throughout the work as in “The Wasteland” or “The Pilgrims Progress”
Figurative Language
Writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning
Inference/infer
To draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented
Invective
An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attach using strong, abusive language
Irony/Ironic
The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant. 3 major types of irony used in language: verbal, situational, and dramatic
Juxtaposition
When two words, phrases, images, ideas are placed close together or side by side for comparison or contrast
Litotes
(From the Greek word “simple” or “plain”) A figure of thought in which a point is affirmed by negating it’s opposite. It is a special form of understatement, where the surface denial serves, through ironic contrast, to reinforce the underlying assertion
Loose sentence
A type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) come first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses. A work containing many loose sentences Oren seems informal, relaxed, and conversational. Lose sentences create loose style
Metaphor
Figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity.
Metonymy
(From the Greek meaning “changed label” or “substitute name”)
Figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it
Mood
Has two distinct technical meanings in English writing. First meaning is grammatical and walls with verbal units and a speaker’s attitude. The second meaning of mood is literary, meaning the prevailing atmosphere or emotional aura of a work.
(I hope this is good)
Narrative
The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events
Onomatopoeia
Figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Ex. Buzz, hiss, hum, crack
Oxymoron
(Greek for “pointedly foolish”) figure of speech where the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox. Ex. “Jumbo shrimp”
Paradox
A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity
Parallelism
(Comes from Greek roots meaning “beside one another”) refers to the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity
