Rhetorical Terms

Bildungsroman

Type of prose: a type of novel that depicts an individual's coming-of-age through self-discovery and personal knowledge.

Juxtaposition

Placing contrasting elements side by side.

Metonymy

A figure of speech in which something is referred to by using the name of something that is associated with it

Simile

a figure of speech that compares two people, objects, elements, or concepts using "like" or "as."

Anaphora

Repeating a word/phrase at the beginning of clauses (I have a dream...)

Fallacy

An error in reasoning that renders an argument invalid.

Paradox

A statement that appears to contradict itself.

Genre

A kind of literature (comedy, mystery, tragedy, satire, romance, etc.)

Imagery

A term used to describe an author's vivid descriptions.

Point of View

The perspective a text takes when presenting its plot and narrative.

Style

Based on an author's diction, syntax, tone, characters, and other narrative techniques, "style" is used to describe the way an author uses language to convey his or her ideas and purpose in writing.

Symbol(ism)

An object or element incorporated into a narrative to represent another concept or concern. Broadly, representing one thing with another.

Theme

The central idea or message of a work, the insight it offers into life

Tone

A way of communicating information (in writing, images, or sound) that conveys an attitude

First person

A story told from the perspective of one or several characters, each using the word "I." This means that readers "see" or experience events in the story through the narrator's eyes.

Second person

Told from the reader's point of view, using "you." This mode can help authors address readers and invest them in the story.

Third person

Point of view in which the narrator is outside of the story - an observer. Uses "he," "she," and "it" to describe events and characters.

Epistolary

Type of prose: a novel written in the form of correspondence between characters. Popular in the 18th century.

Essay

Type of prose: a short written composition in prose that discusses a subject or proposes an argument

Novella

Type of prose: An intermediate-length (between a novel and a short story) fictional narrative.

Apology

Often at the beginning or conclusion of a text, the term "apology" refers to an instance in which the author or narrator justifies his or her goals in producing the text

Irony

Typically refers to saying one thing and meaning the opposite, often to shock audiences and emphasize the importance of the truth.

Satire

A style of writing that mocks, ridicules, or pokes fun at a person, belief, or group of people in order to challenge them. Often, texts employing satire use sarcasm, irony, or exaggeration to assert their perspective.

Stream of conciousness

a style of writing in which the thoughts and feelings of the writer are recorded as they occur

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds

Diction

Word choice, or the specific language an author, narrator, or speaker uses to describe events and interact with other characters

Allegory

A literary work in which characters, objects, or actions represent abstractions

Allusion

A reference to another work of literature, person, or event

Hyperbole

exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

Metaphor

a figure of speech that refers to one thing by another in order to identify similarities between the two

Prose

Ordinary writing (both fiction and non-fiction) as distinguished from verse (poetry).

Rhetoric

The art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing. (This definition can be expanded upon).

Oxymoron

A figure of speech in which incongruous or contradictory terms appear side-by-side.

Connotation

The emotional implications and associations that a word may carry.

Ad Hominem

In an argument, this is an attack on the person rather than on the opponent's ideas. It comes from the Latin meaning "against the man."

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