AP Lang Rhetorical Styles Quiz

Parallelism

Scheme of Balance, Similarity in sentence structure in a series of related words, phrases, or clauses

Antithesis

Scheme of Balance, Juxtaposition of contrasting ideas, often in parallel structure. Emphasizes dissimilarities.

Parenthesis

Scheme of Order, the insertion of some "verbal unit" in a position that interrupts the normal flow of the sentence. Kind of "aside" or informal "4th wall break" that allows the author's voice to be heard commenting or editorializing, therefore changing the statement with some emotion, uses -- or ( ).

Apposition

Scheme of Order, a noun/pronoun after the first. Is less intrusive than parenthesis-- allows for the insertion additional information or emphasis.
- "The popular U.S. president John Kennedy was known for his inspirational works."

Ellipsis

Scheme of Omission, deliberate omission of a word or words, which are implied by the context. It's poetic means saying as much as you can in as little words, relatively uncommon, stylistically punchy.

Asyndeton

Scheme of Omission, removal of conjugations (FANBOYS) between related clauses, produces a hurried rhythm in the same sentence

Polysyndeton

deliberate use of many conjunctions, sometimes showing flow or continuity or special emphasis

Alliteration

when initial or median consonants are repated in two+ adjacent words. can sound nice to ear + sometimes humorous

Anaphora

same word/group of words repeated at the beginning of successive clauses. used deliberately and can help establish a rhythm and/or strong emotional effect

Antistrophe

same word/group of words repeated at end of successive clauses. establishes pronounced rhythm + special emphasis

Antimetabole

words in successive clauses repeated in reverse grammatical order.

Anadiplosis

last word of one clause repeated at beginning of following clause