Rhetorical Terms List #5 From "Satire" to "Wit"

Satire

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

Semantics

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

Style

The consideration of this has two purposes: (1) An evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, figurative language, and other literary devices. (2) Classification of authors to a group and comparison of an author to similar authors.

Subject complement

The word (with any accompanying phrases) or a clause that follows a linking verb and complements, or completes, the subject of the sentence by either (1) renaming it or (2) describing it.

Subordinate clause

A word group that contains a subject and a verb but cannot stand alone; it does not express a complete thought. Also called a dependent clause

Syllogism

A deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion. A frequently cited example proceeds as follows; Major premise: All men are mortal Minor premise: Socrates is a man. Conclusion: Therefore, Socrates is mortal.

Symbol/symbolism

Anything that represents itself and stands for something else, usually something concrete that represents something more abstract.

Synecdoche

A type of metaphor in which a part stands for the whole, the whole for a part, the genus for the species, the species for the genus, or any portion, section, or main quality for the whole or the thing itself.

Ex. Farmer Joes has two hundred head of cattle [whole cattle], and three hired hands [whole people]. If we had some wheels [whole vehicle], I'd put on my best threads [clothes] and ask for Jane's hand [hopefully her whole person] in marriage.

Syntax

The way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences, which can produce various effects.

Theme

The central idea or message of a work, often unstated in fictional works but may be directly stated in nonfiction.

Thesis

In expository writing, this is the sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or position.

Tone

Describes the author's attitude toward his material, the audience, or both, and is easier to determine in spoken language than in written language.

Transition

A word or phrase that links different ideas, commonly used in expository and argumentative writing to signal a shift from one idea to another.

Understatement

The ironic minimizing of fact, presenting something as less significant than it is, often with a humorous or emphatic effect.

Undertone

An attitude that may lie under the ostensible tone of the piece, such as threatening undertones beneath a cheery surface.

Wit

Intellectually amazing language that surprises and delights, often humorous and suggesting the speaker's verbal power.