Rhetorical Terms List 2

Question 1

Inference

Answer 1

to draw a reasonable conclusion from the information presented.

Question 2

Invective

Answer 2

an emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attach using strong, abusive language.

Question 3

Irony

Answer 3

The contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant. The difference between what
appears to be and what actually is true.

Question 4

Verbal Irony

Answer 4

the words literally state the opposite of the writer’s true meaning.

Question 5

Situational Irony

Answer 5

events turn out the opposite of what was expected.

Question 6

Dramatic irony

Answer 6

facts or events are unknown to a character in a play or piece
of fiction, but know to the reader, audience, or other characters in the work.

Question 7

Juxtaposition

Answer 7

When two words, phrases, images, ideas are placed close together or
side by side for comparison or contrast.

Question 8

Litotes

Answer 8

Litotes is a figure of thought in which a point is
affirmed by negating its opposite.

Question 9

Loose sentence

Answer 9

a type of sentence in which the main idea (independent clause) comes first, followed by the dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses.

Question 10

Metaphor

Answer 10

A figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the
other, suggesting some similarity.

Question 11

Metonymy

Answer 11

a figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.

Question 12

Mood

Answer 12

speakers attitude, tone, atmosphere

Question 13

Narrative

Answer 13

The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events.

Question 14

Onomatopoeia

Answer 14

figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words

Question 15

Oxymoron

Answer 15

a figure of speech wherein the author groups
apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox.

Question 16

Paradox

Answer 16

A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but upon closer inspection
contains some degree of truth or validity.

Question 17

Parallelism

Answer 17

refers to the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity.

Question 18

Parody

Answer 18

A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or
ridicule.

Question 19

Pedantic

Answer 19

An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.

Question 20

Periodic Sentence

Answer 20

A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end. This independent clause is preceded by a phrase or clause that cannot stand alone.

Question 21

Personification

Answer 21

A figure of speech in which the author presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions.

Question 22

Polysyndeton

Answer 22

Figure of addition and emphasis which intentionally employs a series of conjunctions not normally found in successive words, phrases or clauses; the deliberate and excessive use of conjunctions in successive words or clauses.

Question 23

Point of View

Answer 23

First person: I
Third Person: he, she, it
third person omniscient: knows all thoughts of main characters

Question 24

Predicate adjective

Answer 24

One type of subject complement is an adjective, group of adjectives, or adjective clause that follows a linking verb. It is an the predicate of the sentence, and modifies, or describes, the subject.

Question 25

Predicate nominative

Answer 25

A second type of subject complement - a noun, group of nouns, or noun clause that names the subject. It, like the predicate adjective, follows a linking verb and is located in the predicate of the
sentence.

Question 26

Prose

Answer 26

refers to fiction and non-fiction, including all its forms. In prose
the printer determines the length of the line; in poetry, the poet determines the length of the line

Question 27

Repitition

Answer 27

the duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern.

Question 28

rhetoric

Answer 28

describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively,
eloquently, and persuasively.

Question 29

rhetorical modes

Answer 29

exposition- to explain and analyze information
argumentation- prove validity of an idea by presenting an argument to convince the reader
description- recreate or visually present a person, place, etc so that the reader can imagine the picture being described
narration- tell a story

Question 30

rhetorical question

Answer 30

differs from hypophora in that it is not answered by the writer because its answer is obvious or obviously desired, and usually just a yes or no answer would suffice.

Question 31

Sarcasm

Answer 31

bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or
ridicule someone or something.