summer assignment vocabulary Flashcards
analogy
A similarity or comparison between two different things or the relationship between them.
“Life is like a box of chocolates—you never know what you’re gonna get.”
anaphora
Repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences or clauses in a row.
“I came, I saw, I conquered.”
antecedent
a grammatical device in which a pronoun, noun, or other word refers to an earlier noun or phrase.
“Sally walked her dog,”
aposiopesis
a figure of speech wherein a sentence is deliberately broken off and left unfinished
“Get out, or else—!”
aristotles appeals
logos, ethos, and pathos.
assonance
The repetition of an identical or similar vowel sound in two or more words.
“lake” and “fade”
chiasmus
you say one thing, and then you say something very similar, but flipped around.
Don’t sweat the petty things, and don’t pet the sweaty.
conceit
A comparison of two unlikely things that is drawn out within a piece of literature, in particular an extended metaphor within a poem.
“A broken heart is like a damaged clock.”
double entendre
a word or expression capable of two interpretations with one usually risqué
equivocation
When the writer subtly shifts the meaning of a word during the argument, so as to shift the argument
I have the right to watch “The Real World.” Therefore it’s right for me to watch the show.
euphemism
a word or expression used in lieu of a harsher alternative
For example, someone might say they’re “taking an early retirement” instead of admitting they got fired.
imperative
gives a command or shares a request, such as, “Stop beating the dog!”
juxtaposition
Placing things side by side for the purposes of comparison.
For example, an author my juxtapose the average day of a typical American with that of someone in the third world in order to make a point of social commentary
litotes
a figure of speech and a form of understatement in which a sentiment is expressed ironically by negating its contrary
“It’s not the best weather today” during a hurricane would be an example of litotes, implying through ironic understatement that the weather is, in fact, horrible.
polysyndeton
uses conjunctions after every word or term
He drank a soda and orange juice and water and wine.
