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Rhetorical Terms Flashcards

1
Q

Figurative language

A

An umbrella term that encompasses literary terms that are not really true but call to mind sensations.

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2
Q

Metaphor

A

A comparison between two things that does not use like or as. Her stomach was a butterfly’s nest.

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3
Q

Implied Metaphor

A

A metaphor that does not explicitly state what something is being compared to. Her stomach fluttered with nerves.

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4
Q

Simile

A

A comparison between two things that uses like or as. Her stomach was fluttering like a butterfly’s nest.

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5
Q

Personification

A

Giving animated characteristics to inanimate objects. The grass tickled my toes as I walked through the garden.

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6
Q

Hyperbole

A

Over exaggerating something for effect. I have about a million bug bites.

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7
Q

Metonymy

A

Referring to something by one of its associations. The school sent out an email to all of the parents regarding prom etiquette.

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8
Q

Synecdoche

A

Referring to a whole by one of its parts. She lent a helping hand to the foundation.

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9
Q

Alliteration

A

Repeating the same sound at the beginning of each word. The hungry hippo hopped to the hairy hamster.

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10
Q

Understatement

A

Under exaggerating something for effect. Newton had a few good ideas about math.

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11
Q

Diction

A

Language and word choice.

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12
Q

Concrete Language

A

Language describing something sensory and observable. The cat is white and meows quite loudly.

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13
Q

Abstract Language

A

Language describing feelings, emotions, qualities, or other intangible effects. Her love was strong.

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14
Q

Denotation

A

The dictionary definition of a word. Childish: acting like a child.

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15
Q

Connotation

A

The impressions depicted by the associations with a word. Childish: being immature and a pain.

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16
Q

Vernacular

A

Dialect pertaining to a certain region or time period.

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17
Q

Jargon

A

The specialized vocabulary used by a certain group of people. An actor may say “stage left.”

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18
Q

Anglo-Saxon Diction

A

Words that do not have Latin or Greek roots and are often one or two syllables nouns, adjectives and adverbs. Dog, cat.

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19
Q

Latinate Diction

A

Words that have Latin or Greek roots or suffixes. Canine, feline.
Tone: The attitude of a writer toward a subject or audience.

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20
Q

Repetition

A

Reinforcing a point by repeating a word or sequence of words. They are gone, gone, gone.

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21
Q

Parallelism

A

A set of similarly structured words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence or paragraph. She has a good personality, beautiful smile, and outstanding grades.

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22
Q

Anadiplosis

A

The repetition of the last word or set of words in a clause at the beginning of a new clause. It was dark, dark like the woman’s soul.

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23
Q

Anaphora

A

Repeating the same word or set of words at the beginning of each sentence. It was dark. It was cold. It was scary.

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24
Q

Epistrophe

A

Repeating the same word or set of words at the end of each sentence. She had a smile. He had a smile. I had a smile.

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25
Antimetabole
Repeating a clause in the opposite order in a new clause. Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.
26
Simple Sentence
A sentence containing one independent clause. I went shopping.
27
Compound Sentence
A sentence containing two or more independent clauses. I went shopping and I bought a nice dress.
28
Complex Sentence
A sentence containing an independent clause and a dependent clause. Because I went shopping, I didn’t have any money in my bank account.
29
Compound/Complex Sentence
A sentence containing two or more independent clauses and one or more dependent clauses. Because I went shopping, I didn’t have any money in my bank account and I had to borrow some from my friend.
30
Coordination
Combining more than one sentence or clause into one sentence. I went shopping. I bought a dress. I went shopping and I bought a dress.
31
Subordination
Making less important ideas into dependent clauses that are combined with an important idea to make a complex sentence. He was crying. His mom bought him ice cream. Because he was crying, his mom bought him ice cream.
32
Cliche
A trite expression that has become overused. Make lemonade out of lemons.
33
Idiom
A familiar grouping of words. High as a kite.
34
Double Entendre
A group of words that has a second, often derogatory, meaning. She works under him.
35
Innuendo
An indirect or subtle implication in an expression.
36
Parenthetical Idea
Parentheses, commas, or dashes used to set off an idea from the rest of the sentence. I was going to the park, that was five minutes away from my house, but I got lost.
37
Gerund
The -ing ending to any verb. Running, jumping.
38
Infinitive
A verb that functions as a noun. It is fun to run.
39
Split Infinitive
Interrupting an infinitive with another word, usually an adverb. To swiftly run.
40
Agreement
The correspondence of a verb with its subject or a pronoun with its subject. I buy ice cream. NOT I buys ice cream.
41
Active Voice
The subject does the action. Mark turned in the paper.
42
Passive Voice
The subject has the action done to it. The paper was turned in by Mark.
43
Ambiguity
A conscious lack of clarity.
44
Rhetorical Question
A question asked for effect. Where do you think you’re going?
45
Imagery
Language that depicts an image and describes sensory details.
46
Allegory
An extended metaphor. Animal Farm
47
Allusion
A reference to something.
48
Parody
An exaggerated imitation meant for humor. SNL
49
Soliloquy
When a character, usually in a play, speaks aloud to himself and not to another supporting character.
50
Apostrophe
When an inanimate thing or an idea is referenced as if it were human. Twinkle, twinkle little star.
51
Appositive
A description of something offset by commas. Gigi, my cat, meows constantly.
52
Epithet
A name given to somebody that follows their true name and describes the person. Catherine the Great.
53
Antonomasia
Substitution of a title for an epithet. The King for Elvis Presley.
54
Apology
A statement justifying a wrongdoing. I’m sorry but...
55
Auxesis
A series of phrases in which the ideas become more and more exciting or intense. It’s a well-hit ball, it’s a line drive, it’s a home run!
56
Accumulation
A list involving more than three ideas.
57
Inversion
When a passage takes a sudden turn, contradicting what was earlier stated. The animal crept up to meet me, stalking me and circling me. As it approached, it licked its lips furiously. It was my dog.
58
Hyperbaton
Rearranging a sentence so that the verb falls in an uncommon place. Glistens the dew.
59
Ellipsis
The omission of words. …
60
Epigraph
A quotation that goes before chapters in books indicating the tone and purpose of the coming section.
61
Adage
A commonly known wise saying. Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth.
62
Homily
A sermon
63
Eulogy
A speech performed about somebody after they die.
64
Epistle
A story told in a series of letters.
65
Antithesis
The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas, often in a parallel structure. Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice.
66
Juxtaposition
Placing things side by side for purpose of comparison.
67
Oxymoron
Two contrasting ideas placed together. Good grief.
68
Paradox
Something that seems like it should be untrue but is actually true.
69
Undertone
A tone that lies under another more overt tone of a piece of writing.
70
Anachronism
Placing something from a different time period into work. Oranges are in the painting of the Last Supper when oranges did not reach Europe until after the Last Supper occurred.
71
Symbol
Anything that represents something else.
72
Analogy
A comparison to a directly related source. Blake was to Kian as Michael is to Josh.
73
Synesthesia
When one sense appeals to a different sense. The silence is blinding.
74
Irony
Writing or speaking something that implies contradictory ideas.
75
Accismus
A form of irony when a person pretends that they don’t want something when they really do.
76
Sarcasm
A form of irony when a person says the opposite of what they mean.
77
Satire
A work that reveals a critical attitude towards something else.
78
Asyndeton
The removal of FANBOYS from a list. The day is calm, warm, beautiful.
79
Polysyndeton
Adding FANBOYS between every article in a list. She is tired and hungry and sad and bored.
80
Anthimeria
The substitution of one part of speech with another that has never been used before.
81
Anecdote
A narrative offered in text to capture the audience’s attention.
82
Dialect
The language of a certain region.
83
Invective
An emotionally violent denunciation using strong, harsh language.
84
Dysphemism
Making something seem less appealing. Dropping a log.
85
Pun
A play on words.
86
Antistasis
A word that sounds exactly the same but with a different meaning. Why do so many people who can’t write plays write plays?
87
Paranomasia
A substitution of a word that sounds similar to the original and has a different meaning. Contraceptives should be used on every conceivable occasion.
88
Syllepsis
Two things that are unrelated but are directly related to another thing. Bright lights attract flies and celebrity watchers.
89
Subject Complement
The word (with any accompanying phrases) or clauses that follows a linking verb and complements, or completes, the subject of the sentence by either (1) renaming it or (2) describing it.
90
Predicate Adjective
One type of subject complement is an adjective, group of adjectives, or adjective clause that follows a linking verb.
91
Predicate Nominative
A second type of subject complement - a noun, group of nouns, or noun clause that names the subject.
92
Loose Sentence
When the main idea goes before dependent clauses. I jumped for joy because I got 100% on my vocabulary final.
93
Periodic Sentence
When the main idea follows the dependent clauses. Because I got 100% on my vocabulary final, I jumped for joy.
94
Cacophemism
A word or expression that makes something sound harsh. Poop.
95
Euphemism
A word or expression that makes something sound more desirable. Powder my nose.

Vocab (2 decks)

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