Rhetorical Terms

Question 1

Parallelism

Answer 1

to give two or more parts of the sentences a similar form so as to give the whole a definite pattern

Question 2

Anaphora

Answer 2

the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of

successive clauses

Question 3

Epistrophe

Answer 3

the repetition of a word or phrase at the end

of successive clauses or sentences

Question 4

Antithesis

Answer 4

the opposition or contrast of ideas; the direct opposite

Question 5

Chiasmus

Answer 5

a rhetorical device in which two or more clauses are
balanced against each other by the reversal of their
structures in order to produce an artistic effect

Question 6

Antimetabole

Answer 6

a specific type of chiasmus rhetorical device that uses the same
words in two independent clauses but in reverse or changed order
(The second clause shifts emphasis or the meaning of the first
clause, by reversing the words)

Question 7

Anadiplosis

Answer 7

the repetition of a word or words in successive clauses
in such a way that the second clause starts with the
same word which marks the end of the previous clause

Question 8

Triad (Parallel Triad)

Answer 8

a group or set of three connected people or

things

Question 9

Asyndeton

Answer 9

a stylistic device used in literature and poetry to intentionally
eliminate conjunctions between the phrases and in the sentence,
yet maintain the grammatical accuracy

Question 10

Polysyndeton

Answer 10

includes addition of multiple conjunctions

Question 11

Ambiguity

Answer 11

uncertainty or inexactness of meaning in

language

Question 12

Aphorism

Answer 12

a concise, pithy statement of opinion or a

general truth

Question 13

Archetype

Answer 13

a recurrent symbol or motif in literature, art,

or mythology

Question 14

Binary Oppositions

Answer 14

states that all elements of human culture can
only be understood in relation to one another
and how they function within a larger system
or the overall environment

Question 15

Dichotomy

Answer 15

a strong pause within a line, often found

alongside enjambment

Question 16

Caesura

Answer 16

a strong pause within a line, often found

alongside enjambment

Question 17

Colloquialism

Answer 17

The use of slang or informalities in speech or

writing

Question 18

Epigram

Answer 18

cause the reader or listener to think a bit more about the statement being made

Question 19

Inversion

Answer 19

the normal order of
words is reversed in order to achieve a particular
effect of emphasis or meter

Question 20

Anastrophe

Answer 20

the inversion of conventional word order

Question 21

Metonym

Answer 21

one term is substituted for another term with

which it is closely associated

Question 22

Synecdoche

Answer 22

a form of metonymy that is restricted to cases

where a part is used to signify the whole

Question 23

Syllogism

Answer 23

major premise, minor premise, conclusion

Question 24

Verisimilitude

Answer 24

the appearance of being true or real

Question 25

Zeugma

Answer 25

● a figure of speech in which a word applies to
two others in different senses
○ John and his license expired last week
● or to two others of which it semantically suits
only one
○ with weeping eyes and hearts

Question 26

Tautology

Answer 26

the saying of the same thing twice in

different words

Question 27

Litote

Answer 27

using a word in a new grammatical form, most often the

usage of a noun as a verb

Question 28

Anthimeria

Answer 28

using a word in a new grammatical form, most often the

usage of a noun as a verb

Question 29

Paradox

Answer 29

a seemingly absurd or self-contradictory statement or
proposition that when investigated or explained may
prove to be well founded or true