Rhetorical Terms Quiz

Alusion

A reference to another text or to some particular body of knowledge.

Analogy

A comparison of two seemingly different things; similes and metaphors are two forms of this.

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or a group of words at the beginning of successive clauses or phrases; this is one way to create parallel sentence structure.

Anecdote

A brief narrative offered in a text to capture the audience's attention or to support a generalization or claim.

Antithesis

The juxtaposition of contrasting words or ideas, often in parallel structure — for example: “Place your virtues on a pedestal; put your vices under a rock.”

Ethos

The appeal of a text to the credibility and/or the character of the speaker, writer, or narrator.

Logos

The appeal of a text based on the logical structure of its argument or central ideas.

Pathos

The appeal of a text to the emotions or interests of the audience.

Chiasmus

A figure of speech by which the order of the terms in the first of parallel clauses is reversed in the second— for example: “Has the Church failed mankind, or has mankind failed the Church?” -T.S. Eliot

Claim

The point supported by an argument. (Synonymous with thesis)

Colloquialism

The use of informal language or slang within a piece of writing.

Concession

The acknowledgement of a point made by one's opponent; an inference with regard to what an opponent might argue.

Connotation

The implied meaning of a word, in contrast to its directly expressed “dictionary meaning.”

Denotation

The “dictionary” definition of a word, in contrast to its connotation, or implied meaning.

Diction

An author's word choice, especially when purposeful.

Euphemism

The use of polite or less direct expressions to replace harsh or impolite language; less offensive language.

Hyperbole

An exaggeration for effect.

Imagery

Language that evokes particular sensations or emotionally rich experiences in a reader.

Inference

A conclusion naturally made by the reader or listener without the explicit mention of the text.

Dramatic Irony

When the reader of a work or one or more characters in a work knows something that one or more characters does not know.

Situational Irony

When the outcome of a situation is the opposite of what is expected.

Verbal Irony

When the literal meaning of words contrast their intended or actual meaning; the contrast of denotation and connotation.

Juxtaposition

The placement of two things side-by-side for the purpose of emphasis.

Metaphor

An implied comparison that does not use the words “like” or “as” — for example: “His voice was a cascade of emotion.”

Metonymy

The use of a related term to speak of an entire entity — for example: the use of “the crown” when referencing the royal family or the quote “The pen is mightier than the sword.”

Onamatopoeia

A word capturing or approximating the sound of what it describes: “buzz” or “hiss.”

Paradox

A statement that seems untrue on the surface, but is true nevertheless.

Parallelism

A set of similarly structured words, phrases, or clauses that appears in a sentence or paragraph.

Persona

The voice or figure of the author who tells and structures the story, as opposed to the author themselves.

Principle of Charity

The practice of interpreting other people’s statements in their best, most reasonable form; this is necessary for legitimate analysis.

Rhetorical Choices

The particular choices a writer of speaker makes to achieve meaning, purpose, or effect.

Rhetorical Question

A question posed by the writer or speaker not to seek an answer but instead to affirm or deny a point simply by asking a question.

Rhetorical Triangle

A diagram showing the relationship between that of the author, audience, and the message in a rhetorical situation.

Satire

An ironic composition which ridicules some aspect of humanity or society.

Synecdoche

When the representative thing is actually a part of the larger thing it is representing; for example, referring to the American film industry (which has studios across the nation) as “Hollywood”; or the expression “lend a hand” --- note that synecdoche is a special kind of metonymy, similarly to how a square is a special kind of rectangle.

Syntax

The order of words in a sentence; the way words are put together to form phrases, clauses, and sentences. It is sentence structure and how it influences the way a reader perceives a piece of writing.

Tone

The writer or speaker's attitude toward the subject matter.

Understatement

A figure of speech employed by writers or speakers to intentionally make a situation seem less important than it really is; often reflects an ironic, humorous, or sarcastic tone.

Zeugma

A figure of speech in which a word, usually a verb or an adjective, applies to more than one noun, blending together grammatically and logically different ideas “I lost my coat and my temper.” “He killed time and a bottle of wine.”