Rhetorical Terms List 1 Flashcards
Allusion
A reference to some famous literary work, historical figure, or event. For example, to say that a friend “has the patience of Job” means that he is as enduring as the Biblical figure of that name. Allusions must be used with care lest the audience miss their meaning.
Argumentation
The writer’s attempt to convince his reader to agree with him. It is based upon appeals to reason, evidence proving the argument, and sometimes emotion to persuade. Some arguments attempt to merely prove a point, but others go beyond proving to inciting the reader to action. At the heart of all argumentation lies a debatable issue.
Diction
Word choice. Refers to the choice of words a writer uses in an essay or other writing. Implicit in the idea of diction is a vast vocabulary of synonyms- different words that have more or less equivalent meanings. If only one word existed for every idea or condition, a writer can and does choose among words to express ideas. The _____ of skilled writers is determined by the audience and occasion of their writing.
Exposition
Writing whose chief aim is to explain. Rather than showing, as in narration, exposition tells. A majority of essays contain some _______ because they need to convey information, give background, or tell how events occurred or processes work.
Hyperbole
A figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. __________ often have a comic effect; however, a serious effect is also possible. Often, __________ produces irony at the same time.
Irony
The use of language in such a way that apparent meaning contrasts sharply with the real meaning of one famous example (in Shakespeare’s Julius Ceaser) is Antony’s description of Brutus as “an honorable man.” Since Brutus was one of Caesar’s assassins, Antony meant just the opposite. _______ is a softer form of sarcasm and shades it with the same contrast between apparent and real meaning. In general, there are three major types of _______ used in language. _______ is used for many reasons, but frequently, it’s used to create poignancy or humor.
Verbal irony
The words literally state the opposite of the writer’s (or speaker’s) true meaning.
Dramatic irony
Facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or piece of fiction but known the reader, audience, or other characters in the work.
Situational irony
Events turn out the opposite of what was expected. What the characters and readers think ought to happen is what does happen.
Mood
The pervading impression made on the feelings of the reader. For instance, Edgar Allan Poe often created a _______ of horror in his short stories. A ________ can be gloomy, sad, joyful, bitter, frightening, and so forth. A writer can create as many _______ as his emotional range suggests.
Metaphor
A figurative image that implies the similarity between things otherwise dissimilar, as when the poet Robert Frost states “I have been acquainted with the night”, meaning that he has survived despair.
Oxymoron
From the Greek word for “pointedly foolish”, an _________ is a figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox. Simple examples include “jumbo shrimp” and “cruel kindness”.
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. The first scene of Macbeth, for example. closes with the witches’ cryptic remark “Fair is foul, and foul is fair”.
Parody
A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule. As comedy, parody distorts or exaggerates distinctive features of the original. As ridicule, it mimics the work by repeating and borrowing words, phrases, or characteristic in order to illuminate weaknesses in the original. Well-written ________ offers enlightenment about the original, but poorly written parody offers only ineffectual imitation. Usually an audience must grasp literary allusion and understand the work being parodied in order to fully appreciate the nuances of the newer work. Occasionally, however, parodies take on a life of their own and don’t require knowledge of the original.
