dagen - literary and rhetorical devices test #2

parenthetical idea

parentheses are used to set off an idea from the rest of the sentence. it is almost considered to obe an aside, and it should be used sparingly for an effect

parody

a work that closely imitates the style or content of a serious work with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.

comedy: distorts or exaggerates distinctive features of the original

ridicule: mimics the work by repeating and borrowing words, phrases, or characteristics in order to illuminate weaknesses in the original

pedantic

an adjective that describes words, phrases, or a general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish

point of view

in literature, the perspective from which a story is told (first-person, etc)

rhetorical mode/mode of discourse (exposition)

used to explain and analyze information by presenting an idea, relevant evidence, and appropriate discussion

rhetorical mode/mode of discourse (argumentation)

used to prove the validity of an idea or point of view by presenting sound reasoning, discussion, and argument

ex. persuasive writing

rhetorical mode/mode of discourse (description)

used to recreate, invent, or visually represent a person, place, event, or action so the reader can picture what is being described

rhetorical mode/mode of discourse (narration)

used to tell a story or narrate an event or series of events (typically utilizes description)

rhetorical question (erotesis)

a question asked for effect, emphasis, or provocation

satire

a work that reveals critical attitude toward some element of life for a humorous effect. it targets human vices and follies, or social institutions and conventions.

three layers of good satire: serious on the surface, humorous when you discover that it’s satire instead of reality, and serious when you discern the underlying point of the writer

a good satirist uses: irony, wit, parody, caricature, hyperbole, understatement, and/or sarcasm

cumulative sentence/loose sentence

a type of sentence in which the main idea (the independent clause) comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses. a work containing many loose sentences often seems informal, relaxed, and conversational

ex. he doubted whether he could ever again appear before an audience, his confidence broken, his limbs shaking, his collar wet with perspiration.

periodic sentence

a type of sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end. this independent clause is preceded by phrases or clauses that cannot stand alone. the writer begins with subordinate elements and postpones the main clause

ex. his confidence broken, his limbs shaking, his collar wet with perspiration, he doubted whether he could ever again appear before an audience.

style

the choices in diction, tone, syntax, and other literary devices that a writer makes. style may be conscious or unconscious. some writers’ choices are so indiosyncratic (unique, peculiar) that we can quickly recognize works by the same author

symbol

a thing—usually concrete—that represents or stands for something generally more abstract

syntax

sentence structure; the way an author chooses to join words into phrases clauses, and sentences

a reader should always consider: how might sentence length or structure create an effect?

parallelism/parallel structure/balanced sentences

sentence construction which places equal grammatical constructions near each other, or repeats identical grammatical patterns. parallelism is used to add emphasis, organizataion, or sometimes pacing to writing

ex. i love to run, to bike, to walk, and to hike.

anaphora

the repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences or clauses in a row. this is a deliberate form of repetition

ex. i came, i saw, i conquered.

chiasmus/antimetabole

the same words are used twice in succession, but the second time theorder of the words is reversed

ex. when the going gets tough, the tough get going.

antithesis

two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses with parallel structure

ex. it was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

zeugma (syllepsis)

a single word governs or modifies two or more other words, but the meaning of the word changes for each of the words it governs or modifies

ex.

1. the butler killed the lights, and then the mistress.

2. i quickly dressed myself and then the salad.

anadiplosis

the repetition of a word or words in successive clauses in such a way that the second clause starts with the same word which marks the end of the previous clause

ex. 

1. the general who became a slave. the slave who became a gladiator. the gladiator who defied an emperor.

2. i am sam; sam i am.

epiphora/epistrophe

a stylistic device in which a word or phrase is repeated at the ends of succcessive clauses

ex. sweet portia, if you did know to whom i gave the ring, / if you did know for whom i gave the ring, / and would conceive for what i gave the ring, / and how unwillingly i left the ring, / when nought would be accepted but the ring, / you would abate the strength of your displeasure.

tone

the stylistic means by which an author conveys his/her attitude(s) in a work of fiction or nonfiction. tone is more intellectual than mood. it is created by the author through deliberate use of language. an author will manipulate all devices of language to create tone: figurative language, imagery, diction, details, syntax, etc. discussing and analyzing tone means determining how the author uses language to show this

understatement

the ironic minimizing of a fact; understatement presents something as less significant than it is. the effect is frequently humorous

ex. our defense played valiantly, and held the other team to a mere eight touchdowns in the first quarter

litotes

a particular form of understatement, where the surface denial serves—through ironic contrast—to reinforce the underlying position. depending on the context litotes either …

1. retains the effect of understatement (ex. hitting that telephone pole certainly didn’t do your car any good.)

2. becomes an intensifying expression (ex. the flavors of the mushrooms, herbs, and spices combine to make the dish not at all disagreeable.)

undertone

an attitude that may exist under the apparent tone of the piece

ex. under a cheery surface, a work might have threatening undertones

exigence

an issue, problem, or situation that causes or prompts someone to write or speak