Vocab 30-58 Flashcards
Litotes
Understatement in which the affirmative is stated in a negative way “his victory was no small accomplishment”
Loose sentence
A type of sentence in which the main idea comes first followed by phrases and clauses
Malapropism
The “mistaken” substitution of one word for another word that sounds similar
Maxim
A concise statement often offering advice
Metaphor
A direct comparison between two different things, not using like or as
Metonymy
A term that is substituted for another with which it is closely related “by the sweat of ones brow-hard labor”
Narrative
Writing concerned with relating an event or series of events
Non sequitor
An inference that does not follow logically from the premises
Oxymoron
Conjoining contradictory terms “deafening silence”
Parable
A simple story that illustrates a moral or religious lesson
Paradox
An apparently contradictory statement that actually contains some truth
Parallelism
Using the same pattern of words, phrases, or clauses in a sentence
Parody
A work of art that imitates either the style or subject of an artist to ridicule, criticism, or tribute
Pathos
The quality of work that makes the author feel pity
Pedantic
Excessive display of learning or scholarship
Periodic sentence
A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end. The independent clause is preceded by a phrase or clause that cannot stand alone.
Polemic
A passionate speech or essay that argues against someone or something in order to create controversy.
Polysyndeton
The use of more conjunctions than necessary or normal
Rhetorical question
A question asked for rhetorical affect, not requiring an answer
Rhetorical shift
A significant alteration of diction, syntax, or point of view in a work
Satire
A work that targets human vices or follies or social institutions and conventions in hopes of reforming, or at least ridiculing. Satire is more finely nuanced and comprehensive then parody.
Simple sentence
A sentence consisting of one independent clause
Syllogism/syllogistic reasoning
A deductive reasoning system that presents 2 premises (major and minor) that lead to a valid conclusion
Synecdoche
Related to metonymy–an actual part is substituted for a whole
Synesthesia
Describing ones sensory experience in terms of another
Syntax
The structure or word order of a sentence or series of sentences
Tautology
Needless repetition which adds no meaning or understanding
Understatement
The deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is
Vernacular
Yeh everyday speech of a particular country or region, often involving nonstandard usage
