Unit 1/ Vocab 4: More Rhetorical Terms

Question 1

Tricolon

Answer 1

Sentence consisting of three parts of equal importance and length, usually three independent clauses.

Question 2

Ellipsis

Answer 2

Indicated by a series of three periods; the . . . Indicates that some material has been omitted from the text

Question 3

Loose sentence

Answer 3

A sentence that follows the customary word order of English sentences, main idea followed by one or more subordinate clauses

Question 4

Isocolon

Answer 4

Parallel structure in which the parallel elements are similar not only in grammatical structure, but also in length (“An envious heart makes a treacherous ear.”)

Question 5

Understatement

Answer 5

A technique for developing irony and/or humor where one writer says less than intended

Question 6

Parenthesis

Answer 6

A statement placed beside or within the main sentence

Question 7

Assonance

Answer 7

Repetition of vowel sounds in words

Question 8

Dependent clause

Answer 8

Does not express a complete thought and cannot stand alone as a sentence, even though it has a subject and a verb

Question 9

Analogy

Answer 9

Drawing a comparison to show a similarity in some respect; it is assumed that what applies to a parallel situation also applies to the original circumstance

Question 10

Euphony

Answer 10

Any agreeable (pleading and harmonious) sounds; alliteration, assonance, consonance, and rhyme all create the effect

Question 11

Style

Answer 11

An author’s characteristic manner of expression - his/her diction, syntax, imagery, structure, and content - the way an author writes

Question 12

Repetition

Answer 12

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

Question 13

Cacophony

Answer 13

Harsh, jarring discordant sound (also dissonance)

Question 14

Tone

Answer 14

Attitudes and presuppositions of the author that are revealed by his/her linguistic choices

Question 15

Onomatopoeia

Answer 15

The use of words that sound like what they mean (hiss, buzz, boom)

Question 16

Voice

Answer 16

The relationship between a subject and verb (active or passive)

Question 17

Theme

Answer 17

The central idea or message of a work; often directly stated in non-fiction works

Question 18

Hyperbole

Answer 18

Deliberate exaggeration or overstatement

Question 19

Dissonance

Answer 19

Harsh or grating sounds that do not go together

Question 20

Mood

Answer 20

The primary emotional attitude of a work; the atmosphere

Question 21

Consonance

Answer 21

Repetition of identical consonant sounds within two or more words or in compound words

Question 22

Passive voice

Answer 22

A verb form in which the subject receives the verb’s action

Question 23

Active voice

Answer 23

The verb form in which the subject of the sentence performs or causes the action expressed by the verb

Question 24

Independent Clause

Answer 24

Expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence; has a subject and verb