English Vocab 2nd Quarter

Paradox

A seemingly contradictory situation which is actually true.

Parallelism

(also known as parallel structure or balance sentence) Sentence construction which places equal grammatical constructions near each other, or repeats identical grammatical patterns.

Antithesis

Two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses, or even ideas, with parallel structure.

Parenthetical Idea

Parentheses are used to set off an idea from the rest of the sentence. It almost considered an aside ... a whisper, and should be used sparingly for effect rather then repeatedly

Parody

An exaggerated imitation of a serious work for humorous purposes. it borrows words or phrases from an original and pokes fun at it. this is also a form of allusion since it is referencing a previous text, event, etc. do not confuse with satire

Persona

The fictional mask or narrator that tells a story. Do not confuse with Alter-Ego

Pun

When a word that has two or more meanings is used in a humorous way.

Rhetoric

The art of effective communication.

Aristotle's Rhetorical Triangle

The relationship , in any piece of writing, between the writer, the audience and the subject. All analysis of writing is essentially and analysis of the relationships between the points on the triangle

Rhetorical Question

Question not asked for information but for effect. " The angry parent asked the child 'Are you finished interrupting me?'"

Sarcasm

A generally bitter comment that is ironically or satirically worded. It is the bitter, mocking tone that separates this from mere verbal irony or satire

Satire

A work that reveals a critical attitude toward some element of life to a humorous effect. It targets human vices and follies, or social institutions and conventions, It usually has 3 layers: serious on the surface; humorous when you discover that it is comedic instead of reality; and serious when you discern the underlying point of the author

Sentence

A group of words (including subject and verb) that expresses a complete thought.

Appositive

A word or group of words placed beside a noun or noun substitute to supplement its meaning. "Bob, the lumber yard worker, spoke with Judy, an accountant from the city."

Clause

A grammatical unit that contains both a subject and a verb.

Independent Clause

A clause that expresses a complete thought and can stand alone as a sentence.

Dependent Clause

A clause that cannot stand alone as a sentence and must be accompanied by an independent clause.

Balanced Sentence

A sentence in which two parallel elements are set off against each other like equal weights on a scale. Both parts are parallel grammatical " If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich" Also called parallelism

Compound Sentence

Contains at least two independent clauses but no dependent clauses.

Complex Sentence

Contains only one independent clause and at least one dependent clause.

Cumulative Sentence

When the writer begins with an independent clause, then adds subordinate elements. " He doubts whether he could ever again appear before an audience, his confidence broken, his limbs shaking, his collar wet with perspiration" The opposite construction is called a periodic sentence

Periodic Sentence

When the main idea is not completed until the end of the sentence. The writer begins with subordinate elements and postpones the main clause "His confidence broken, his limbs shaking, his collar wet with perspiration, he doubted whether he could ever again appear before an audience"

Simple Sentence

Contains only one independent clause.

Declarative Sentence

States an idea. It does not give a command or request, nor does it ask a question. "The ball is round"

Imperative Sentence

Issues a command. "Kick the ball"

Interrogative Sentence

Sentences incorporating interrogative pronouns (what, which, who, whom, and whose). "To whom did you kick the ball?"

Style

The choices in diction, tone, and syntax that a writer makes.

Symbol

Anything that represents or stands for something else. Usually it’s something concrete such as an object, actions, character that represents something more abstract. Eg.: Whale in Moby Dick, the river/jungle in heart of darkness and the raven in the raven

Syntax

Grammatical arrangement of words. It's the grouping of words.

Theme

The central idea or message of a work.

Thesis

The sentence or groups of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or proposition.

Tone

A writer's attitude toward his subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language and organization.

Understatement

The ironic minimizing of fact, presenting something as less significant than it is.