vocab English 10 honors

alliteration

Repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of words in close proximity.

allusion

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

anadiplosis

Repetition of the last word of a preceding clause at the beginning of the next one.

anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences.

anastrophe

Inversion of the usual word order for emphasis or effect.

antithesis

A contrast or opposition between two things, often expressed in parallel structure.

apostrophe

A figure of speech in which the speaker addresses an absent person, an abstract idea, or a thing.

asyndeton

Omission of conjunctions between parts of a sentence to create a concise, dramatic effect.

chiasmus

A rhetorical device where two or more clauses are balanced against each other by reversal of their structures.

epistrophe

The repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences.

imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the senses to create a mental picture.

litotes

A figure of speech that employs understatement by using double negatives or negating the opposite.

metaphor

A figure of speech that makes a direct comparison between two unlike things.

metonymy

A figure of speech where a thing or concept is referred to by the name of something closely associated with it.

personification

Attribution of human qualities or characteristics to non-human entities or objects.

polysyndeton

Use of multiple conjunctions in close succession for rhetorical effect.

synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa.

simile

A figure of speech comparing two unlike things using "like" or "as".

zeugma

A figure of speech in which a word (usually a verb or adjective) applies to more than one noun, blending together grammatically and logically different ideas.

Alliteration

Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.

Allusion

He was a real Romeo with the ladies. (Alludes to Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet.)

Anadiplosis

Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. — Yoda

Anaphora

Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better and better.

Anastrophe

Patience I lack. (Normal: I lack patience.)

Antithesis

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

Apostrophe

O Death, where is thy sting? (Addressing Death as if it were present.)

Asyndeton

I came, I saw, I conquered.

Chiasmus

Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.

Epistrophe

See no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil.

Imagery

The golden yellow leaves danced in the crisp autumn breeze.

Litotes

He's not unattractive. (meaning he is attractive)

Metaphor

Time is a thief.

Metonymy

The pen is mightier than the sword. ("Pen" refers to writing or peaceful negotiation, "sword" to military force.)

Personification

The wind whispered through the trees.

Polysyndeton

We have ships and men and money and stores.

Synecdoche

All hands on deck! ("Hands" refers to sailors.)

Simile

Her smile was as bright as the sun.

Zeugma

She broke his car and his heart.