literary devices r-z

repetition

the duplication, either exact or approximate, or any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical program

rhetor

the speaker who uses elements of rhetoric effectively in oral or written test

rhetoric

from the Greek for orator, this term describes the principles of governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively

rhetorical modes

describes the variety, the conventions, and the purposes of the major kinds of writing. four most common and purposes: exposition - explain and analyze, argumentation: prove validity of idea convincing reader, persuasive: type of argumentation additional aim or urging form of action, description: re-create, invent, or visually present something so reader can picture, narration: tell story or narrate event

sarcasm

Greek; to tear flesh. involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something. it may use irony as a device, but not all ironic statements are sarcastic

satire

a work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and conventions for reform or ridicule. best seen as style of writing than purpose for writing.

semantics

branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words, their historical and psychological development, their connotations, and their relation to one another

style

consideration of __ has two purposes: one is the evaluation of sum of choices an other makes in blending literary devices. analyze and describe authors personal style and make judgement on appropriateness to the author's purpose. second is classification of authors to a group and comparison of an author to similar authors; see how reflects historical period or movement

subject complement

the word (with an accompanying phrases) or clauses that follow and linking verb and complements or complete the subject of the sentence by either renaming it or describing it. technically predicate nominative

subordinate clause

contains subject and verb. unlike independent clause, it cannot stand alone; doesn’t express complete thought. also clauses a dependent clause, it depends on a main clause to complete the meanings

syllogism

from Greek for reckoning together. its a deductive system of formal logic presenting two premises (major and minor) that lead to sound conclusion

symbol/symbolism

anything that represents itself and stands for something else. usually something concrete representing something abstract. includes natural; from nature, conventional; by group such as religious, pirates, etc, and literary; found in variety of works.

syntax

the way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences. similar to diction; __ group of words, diction individual words.

theme

the central idea or message of a work, the insights it offers into life. usually unstated in fiction and stated in nonfiction

thesis

in expository writing, the ___ statement is the sentence or group of sentences directly expressing the authors opinion, purpose, meaning, or position. expository writing usually judged by success of proving it

tone

similar to mood, describes the authors attitude toward the material, audience, or both. easier to determine in spoken language than written

transition

word or phrasing that links different ideas. used especially in expository and augmentative writing, signal a shift from one idea to another

trope

an artful variation from expected modes of expression of thoughts and ideas. a figure of speech involving a turn or change of sense—a use of the word in a sense other than its proper or literal one. common types include metaphor, synecdoche, metonymy, etc

understatement

ironic minimizing of fact, presents something as less significant as it is

undertone

an attitude that may lay under the ostensible tone of the piece

unreleaible narrator

an untrustworthy or naive commentator on events and characters in a story

wit

intellectually amusing language that surprises and delights. humorous, suggesting speakers verbal power, usually uses terse language making pointed statement

zeugme

a trope, one word governs two other words not related in meaning. (he maintained a business and his innocence)