Rhetorical Terms Page 1 Flashcards
Abstract
Refers to language that describes concepts rather than concrete images (ideas and qualities rather than observable or specific nouns.) The observable or “physical” is usually described in concrete language.
Ad Hominem
In an argument, this is an attack on the person rather than on the opponents ideas. It comes form the Latin meaning “against the man.”
My trick- Ad is similar to at and Hominem is similar to human, so it’s AT MAN
Allegory
An extended narrative in prose or verse in which characters, events, and settings represent abstract qualities and in which the writer intends a second meaning to be read beneath the surface of the story; the underlying meaning may be moral, religious, political, social, or satiric.
My trick- All in allegory shows that it is talking about all of the meaning, including the underlying meaning.
Alliteration
Repetition of constant sounds at the beginning of word that are close to one another: Mickey Mouse; Donald Duck.
My trick- littera means letter of the alphabet, and you are repeating letters of the alphabet in the words.
Allusion
A reference to a well-known person, place, or thing from literature, history, etc. Example: Eden
Analogy
Comparison of two similar but different things, usually to clarify an action or a relationship, such as comparing the work of a heart to that of a pump. An analogy is a comparison to a directly parallel case.
Anaphora
Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause st the beginning of two or mor sentences in a row. This is a deliberate form of repetition and helps make the writers point more coherent. (Example: “There was then delight I caught in seeing long straight rows. There was the faint, cool kiss of sensuality. There was the vague sense of the infinite…”)
My trick- Let’s pretend the euPHORiA, the show, repeats stuff like this.
Anecdote
A short simple narrative of an incident; often used for humorous effect or to make a point
Annotation
Explanatory notes added to a text to explain, cite sources, or give bibliographical data.
Antithesis
The presentation of two contrasting images.The ideas are balanced by word, phrase, clause, or paragraphs. “To be or not to be…” “Ask not what your country can do for you, also what you can do for your country…”
My trick- ANTIthesis so they are contrasting, and antiTHESIS because a thesis uses fancy phrases like this.
Aphorism
A short, often witty statement of a principle or a truth about life. “Early bird gets the worm”
My trick- aPHORism means only 4 words, which is short.
Apostrophe
Usually in poetry but sometimes in prose; the device of calling out to an imaginary, dead, or absent person to a place, thing, or personified abstraction.
My trick- in writing an apostrophe takes the place of MISSING letters just like you are calling apon MISSING people.
Argumentation
Writing that attempts to prove the validity of a point of view or an idea by presenting reasoned arguments; persuasive writing is a form of argumentation.
Assonance
Repetition of vowel sounds between different consonants, such as in neigh/fade.
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Asyndeton
Commas used (with no conjunction) to separate a series of words. The parts are emphasized equally when the conjunction is omitted; in addition, the use of commas with no intervening conjunction speeds up the flow of the sentence. Asyndeton takes the form of X, Y, Z as opposed to X, Y and Z
