Summer Terms Flashcards
To study the rhetorical terms included with the summer assignment.
abstract
a summary of a text, speech, or document
active voice
a verb voice where the subject is acting, rather than being acted upon
adage
a traditional saying or proverb
ad hominem
rhetoric device that attacks character; appeals to prejudice rather than reason
agnomination
alliteration
allegory
a symbol of an abstract or spiritual concept expressed through a concrete or material form
alliteration
when multiple words in sequence start with the same consonant sound
allusion
a reference to another well known work or element of pop culture
ambiguity
lack of concrete stated meaning
anachronism
an error in chronology
analogy
comparing the features of two things, used to emphasize similarity or difference
analysis
the separating of any material or abstract entity into its constituent elements; this process as a method of studying the nature of something or of determining its essential features and their relations
anaphora
intentional repeptition
anecdote
a short narrative
annotate
to make notes on a piece of media
antagonist
the “villain” or source of conflict to the protagonist
antanaclasis
a play on words that repeats key words in contrary ways
antiprosopoeia
the representation of people of inanimate objects; the opposite of personification.
antihero
a protagonist who lacks the attributes that make a heroic figure
antithesis
opposition or direct contrast; in rhetoric, placing identical parts of a sentence together to form a balanced contrast of ideas.
apophasis
denial of intention to speak of a subject that is implied through the denial.
aphorism
a blunt statement of general truth or observation
apostrophe
indicates omission of one or more letters in a word. ‘ looks like that.
appeal to tradition
a reference to established or practiced ideals in order to discourage from a newer course of action
archaism
a word or expression that is outdated (archaic) and most likely offensive
archetype
a pattern or model for an object or theme
argument
presentation of one’s own supported views against an opposing side
assonance
resemblance and repetition of vowel patterns and sounds
asyndeton
omission of conjunctions
audience
intended receivers of media; target demographic
bandwagon
a party, cause, movement, etc., that by its mass appeal or strength readily attracts many followers
canon
an event established to have happened within the scope of the media it relates to
caricature
portrayal of a person or idea in a way that negatively emphasises certain parts and simplifies or omits others
cataloguing
a way of organising information in which notes are taken and then put into a sequence
characterisation
description of character traits, actions, etc
chiasmus
a rhetoric device in which there is a reversal or wording in two otherwise parallel phrases
climax
the point of highest tension in a narrative
closure
complete solution to conflicts; tying up loose ends etc
colloquialism
language or expression that has adopted a different meaning when used informally due to semantic change
concrete
completely unambiguous or stated outright
conflict
problem; source of tension or motivation in the narrative.
connotation
additional meaning associated with something outside of its definitive nature or definition
context
additional details that clarify or explain broader ideas or events
contradiction
inconsistency or opposition
contrast
startling difference between two things
conventional
conforming or adhering to accepted standards, as of conduct or taste
deduction
assumption based on facts or clues
denotation
set meaning of things (especially words)
denouement
final resolution
diatribe
extended criticisms or anecdotes
diction
one’s way of thinking or speaking
digression
foray into something unrelated from the current topic; see also anecdote and diatribe
either/or fallacy
a rhetoric device that connects two unrelated things and presents only two related options
elegy
“lamentations”, sorrowful poems
ellipsis
“…”; symbolises a pause or omission
epic
a long poetic composition, usually centered upon a hero, in which a series of great achievements or events is narrated in elevated style
epigraph
an apposite quotation at the beginning of a book, chapter, etc.
ephiphany
sudden realisation or paradigm shift
epistrophe
repetition of words at the end or verses or clauses
ethos
ethical appeal
euphemism
an innuendo or substitution for something thought to be offensive
evidence
concrete facts or proof that go towards the truth of the matter asserted
exposition
the first part of a narrative that introduces the characters, setting, and conflict.
fallacy
a deceptive or false belief or statement; in rhetoric, erroneous argument that draws question to the rest of the reasoning
faulty causality
drawing connection to two events that are unrelated outside of chronology
flashback
a device in the narrative of a motion picture, novel, etc., by which an event or scene taking place before the present time in the narrative is inserted into the chronological structure of the work.
foil
a character or event provided as a contrast for a different character or event (such as protagonist/antagonist)
foreshadow
suggestion of an event or symbol before it occurs
genre
category of media with common qualities or motifs
hero
character of distinguished quality or ability, usually the protagonist
hubris
fatal, excessive pride
hyperbole
extreme exxageration
iambic pentametre
a metre with ten syllables per line, five stressed and five unstressed, commonly used by Shakespeare.
imagery
descriptive writing that is meant to form a mental image
induction
bringing about or causing
inductive error
drawing similarities based on one circumstance; making assumptions about a whole
inversion
turning something in on itself to reveal its true or opposite nature
dramatic irony
irony understood by the audience but not the characters; when the audience is aware of key details the characters are not
situational irony
actions have the opposite effect of what was intended
verbal irony
saying one thing and meaning another; sarcasm
jargon
unintelligible words or vocabulary usually related to a particular technical trade or profession
juxtaposition
placing two things together to draw a stark contrast
logos
logical appeal
loose sentence
a sentence that does not end with the completion of its main clause, but continues with one or more subordinate clauses or other modifiers.
metaphor
comparison of two unrelated things; symbolism
metre
rhythm of poetry based on syllables and stresses
metonymy
figure of speech in which the name of one concept is exchanged for a similar one
monologue
dramatic or lengthy speech from a single character
mood
overall feeling of a piece
motif
recurring idea or symbol
narrative
a story or account; can be told through a variety of media
narrator vs speaker
whoever is telling or narrating. Often used interchangeably.
neologism
new word, meaning, usage, or phrase
non-sequitur
an illogical conclusion; latin for “does not follow”
onomatopoeia
words that sound like what they mean or do
oversimplification
reduction of a complex issue to error, distortion, or misinterpretation
oxymoron
contradiction, usually seen in colloquial phrases
panegyric
lofty praise or oration on someone (usually a dead guy)
paradox
any person, thing, or situation exhibiting an apparently contradictory nature.
paralellism
relation or similarity between two things
parody
mocking imitation
passive voice
subject is acted on by the verb
pathos
emotional appeal
periodic sentence
produces suspense by leaving completion of clause until the end
periphrasis
round-about expression
persona
perceived or evident personality
personification
granting living characteristics to non-living things
perspective
view; way of regarding facts, things, and ideas as presented by the narrator or judged by the audience
persuasion
attempt to change one’s point of view; to get one to believe or do something
plaigarism
claiming ownership of work or ideas that are not one’s own
plot
the events of a narrative
polemic
controversial argument
polysyndeton
using excessive conjunctions for stylistic emphasis
premise
general idea or situation of a narrative
prose
the ordinary form of spoken or written language
protagonist
the main character of a narrative. Frequently a white male.
pun
play on words
quatrain
poem comprised of two couplets
repetition
repeating things for effect
rhetoric
effective use of language
rhetorical question
used to draw attention to something, not to be answered
rhyme
repetition of sounds
satire
subtle farce meant to expose flaws of a prevalent system, such as the bourgeois.
scheme
rhyme pattern
sermon
any serious speech or discourse, but usually religious
setting
the time, location, and climate where a narrative takes place
simile
comparison of two unrelated things
slippery slope
fallacy that warns of disastrous consequences should one not take the desired course of action
soliloquy
in theatre, a monologue that conveys the character’s thoughts
sonnet
a poem with fourteen lines and a strict rhyme scheme
stanza
grouping of lines in a poem
stream of conciousness
writing that conveys an interior monologue; thoughts, events, and sensory details as they happen
style
the unique way something is written or conveyed
subplot
events that take place but have less precedence than the primary plot of a narrative
syllogism
deductive reasoning
symbol
something representing a theme, concept, or abstract idea
synecdoche
a part is used as replacement for a whole, and vice versa
syntax
grammar and usage
theme
recurring idea or message of a piece
thesis statement
a statement that summarises the main point or claim of a work
tone
how word choice conveys mood
transition
movement, passage, or change from one position to another
tricolon
sentence with three clearly defined parts
tropes
rhetorical devices that use words outside the literal sense. Also, campy recurring events or ideas throughout popular media (i.e. ‘the chosen one’ trope or the horror movie trope)
understatement
a statement that doesn’t convey the full effect or essence of an event or issue
utopia
a ‘perfect’ society
dystopia
a defunct utopia, meant to draw parallels to current events
blank/free verse
verse with no definite metre or scheme
voice
distinct style of the narrator
1st person point of view
told by a narrator who experienced the events, using personal pronouns
2nd person point of view
told as if the reader is experiencing the events, using the pronoun ‘you’
3rd person limited
told by a narrator who is not part of the events, and limited to only one character’s experience.
3rd person omniscient
told by a narrator outside of the story who is all-knowing
