Unit 8: Writing Style Flashcards
What is anaphora?
Anaphora is a literary device that involves repeating a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences. It can create a rhetorical effect, emphasize an idea or theme, or create a sense of rhythm and pattern in a work of literature.
What is an example of anaphora?
“I have a dream that one day this nation will rise and live out the true meaning of its creed… I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood. I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice.”
In this famous excerpt from Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech, the phrase “I have a dream” is repeated at the beginning of each successive sentence. This repetition creates a sense of momentum and builds up the speaker’s argument for racial equality and justice.
What is a simile?
A simile is a figure of speech that compares two things using “like” or “as.” It creates a vivid and imaginative image in the reader’s or listener’s mind.
What is an example of a simile?
“Her hair was as dark as a moonless night.”
This simile compares the darkness of the woman’s hair to the darkness of a moonless night, using the word “as” to make the comparison. The simile helps to create a vivid image of the woman’s hair, emphasizing its darkness and possibly its mysterious or alluring quality.
What is a metaphor?
A metaphor is a figure of speech used to compare two things but does not use “like” or “as.” Instead, it describes one thing as if it were another thing.
What is an example of a metaphor?
“Her voice was music to his ears.”
Though cliché, the metaphor compares the woman’s voice to music but doesn’t explicitly state that it is like music. Instead, it suggests that the woman’s voice is equivalent to music’s beauty, pleasure, and emotional impact.
What is an extended metaphor?
An extended metaphor prolongs throughout an entire passage or work of literature. Unlike a simple metaphor, which usually only compares two things briefly, an extended metaphor develops and expands the comparison over multiple lines or even entire paragraphs.
What is an example of an extended metaphor?
In William Shakespeare’s play “As You Like It,” Jacques describes the world as a stage and compares people to actors. He uses this metaphor throughout his speech, expanding on it to explore various aspects of human existence.
“All the world’s a stage,
And all the men and women merely players:
They have their exits and their entrances;
And one man in his time plays many parts…”
Here, Jacques develops the metaphor, suggesting that people have specific roles to play and will eventually exit the stage of life. The extended metaphor explores themes of mortality and the transience of human existence.
What is an anecdote?
An anecdote is a short, amusing, or interesting story about an incident or person. It often illustrates a point, provides an example, or adds a personal touch.
What is an example of an anecdote?
“In middle school, I always forgot my locker combination. One day, I was running late for class and realized I had forgotten my combination again. In a panic, I tried every possible combination I could think of. Suddenly, the lock clicked open, and the door swung open. I was so relieved and overjoyed that I jumped up and down and cheered, only to turn around and see the entire hallway staring at me in confusion.”
This anecdote is a short, personal story that illustrates the author’s forgetfulness and the embarrassing situation that resulted from it.
What is an analogy?
An analogy is a comparison between two things that are similar in some way but otherwise quite different. Analogies can explain complex or abstract ideas by likening them to something more familiar or easier to understand.
What is an example of an analogy?
“Writing a novel is like building a house. You start with a blueprint, lay the foundation, build the structure, and decorate the rooms. It takes time and patience, but in the end, you have created something that will stand the test of time.”
In this analogy, writing a novel is compared to building a house. Both require careful planning, attention to detail, and a step-by-step completion approach. Just as a house provides shelter and a sense of permanence, a well-written novel can transport readers to another world and stay with them long after they finish the book.
What is symbolism?
Symbolism is a literary device that uses an object, person, situation, or action to represent an abstract idea, emotion, or concept. Symbolism creates a deeper level of meaning and conveys complex ideas in a way that is more accessible to readers. It differs from a metaphor because metaphors are comparative, but a symbol need not be.
What is an example of symbolism?
In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, the green light across the bay from the narrator’s house represents the idea of hope and the pursuit of the American Dream. The light is first mentioned early in the novel when the narrator, Nick, sees Gatsby standing outside his mansion, gazing out at the light:
“Gatsby believed in the green light, the orgastic future that year by year recedes before us. It eluded us then, but that’s no matter—tomorrow we will run faster, stretch out our arms farther…”
Throughout the novel, the green light reappears at critical moments, symbolizing the unattainable goal that Gatsby is chasing and the more prominent theme of the elusive and illusory nature of the American Dream. The symbol of the green light allows Fitzgerald to explore these ideas more nuanced and evocatively than he would be able to with literal language alone.
What is juxtaposition?
Juxtaposition is a literary or rhetorical device that places two contrasting ideas, characters, or settings side by side in a text to create a contrast or comparison that emphasizes their differences or similarities.
Juxtaposition can serve various purposes in literature, including emphasizing the differences or similarities between characters or ideas, creating tension or conflict, or highlighting the absurdity or contradictions of a situation.
What is an example of juxtaposition?
In F. Scott Fitzgerald’s novel The Great Gatsby, the contrast between the luxury of the wealthy characters’ lives and the poverty of the Valley of Ashes is an example of juxtaposition. The author placed the two settings next to each other to emphasize the stark contrast between the two worlds.
What is hyperbole?
Hyperbole is a figure of speech in which one exaggerates or overstates something to make a point. Typical applications are emphasis, humor, or to create a vivid image in the listener or reader’s mind.
One can find hyperboles in everyday conversations, literature, and poetry. They can add drama to a situation or memorably convey an idea.
What is an example of hyperbole?
“I’m so hungry I could eat a horse!” is a hyperbole that expresses extreme hunger. One person cannot eat an entire horse, but the exaggeration makes the point that the speaker is very hungry.
Similarly, “she has a million pairs of shoes” is a hyperbole describing someone owning many shoes. While it is unlikely that someone would have one million pairs of shoes, the exaggeration emphasizes that the person in question owns many shoes.
What is an understatement?
Understatement is a figure of speech in which one intentionally represents a situation, feeling, or object as less significant, meaningful, or extreme than it is. It is often used for humorous effects or to create irony.
One can find understatements in literature and comedy. It is often used to create irony or humor but can also be used to downplay a negative situation or emotion in a more polite or reserved way.
What is an example of understatement?
“It’s just a flesh wound” is an understatement from the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The character says this line after his arm has been cut off in battle, downplaying the seriousness of the injury humorously.
What is personification?
Personification is a literary device in which non-human things, such as animals, objects, or ideas, possess human qualities, characteristics, or emotions.
What is an example of personification?
“The flowers danced in the breeze” is an example of personification, as dancing is a human quality attributed to the flowers.
Another example is “The sun smiled down on us.” Smiling is a human quality attributed to the sun.
What is circumlocution?
Circumlocution is a rhetorical device in which a writer or speaker uses many words to express an idea or concept they could convey more directly and succinctly.
One can use circumlocution for various reasons, from politeness to obfuscation. However, others may also see it as a sign of poor communication skills or an attempt to hide the true meaning of a message.
What is an example of circumlocution?
Political or legal professionals often use circumlocution to avoid giving a direct answer or to obscure the truth. For example, a politician might say, “I misspoke” instead of “I lied,” or a lawyer might say, “I cannot confirm nor deny the allegations,” instead of simply saying, “no comment.”
What is an antithesis?
Antithesis is a literary device that uses contrasting concepts, words, or phrases within a parallel grammatical structure to contrast two ideas. It can create a sense of balance and tension in a work of literature to highlight the differences between two thoughts or emphasize one view’s importance over another.
What is an example of an antithesis?
“That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
In this famous quote by Neil Armstrong, the contrasting ideas of “small step” and “giant leap” are placed within a parallel grammatical structure, creating a sense of balance and contrast. This antithesis emphasizes the historical significance of the moon landing, as well as the personal achievement of the astronaut.
What is metonymy?
Metonymy is a figure of speech that involves using a word or phrase to refer to something else that is closely associated with it rather than by its actual name. It is a conceptual substitution that uses a word instead of another related word.
What is an example of metonymy?
“The White House issued a statement.”
In this sentence, “The White House” refers to the US government’s President or executive branch. The White House is closely associated with the President, who resides and works from there, so people use it as a metonymy.
“The pen is mightier than the sword.”
In this sentence, “the pen” refers to writing, while “the sword” refers to warfare or military force. The two words relate in that writing can be a powerful tool for persuasion, while military force can coerce or conquer, so people use them as a metonymy to refer to these concepts.
What is a synecdoche?
Synecdoche is a figure of speech that uses part of something to refer to the whole or the whole of something to refer to a part. It’s a conceptual substitution that uses a part of something for the whole or vice versa.
What is an example of a synecdoche?
“All hands on deck.”
In this phrase, “hands” refers to the sailors aboard a ship. The word “hands” is a synecdoche because it is a part of the sailors that refers to the whole.
“She’s got a new set of wheels.”
In this sentence, “wheels” refers to a car. The word “wheels” is a synecdoche because it is a part of the car that refers to the whole.
What is asyndeton?
Asyndeton is a figure of speech where a writer intentionally omits conjunctions (such as “and” or “but”) between a series of related clauses or phrases. It can create a sense of urgency, speed, or excitement and emphasize the items in the list.
What is an example of asyndeton?
The famous quote from Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare: “I came, I saw, I conquered,” is an example of asyndeton. Instead of saying, “I came, I saw, and I conquered,” the conjunctions are removed, creating a more powerful and concise effect.
