Rhetorical Terms 1 and 2

alliteration

the repetition of initial consonant sounds

allusion

an implied or indirect reference to a person, event, or thing or to a part of another text

anaphora

repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive sentences, phrases, or clauses

antimetabole

repeating a phrase in reverse order

assonance

the repetition of the same or similar vowel sounds within words, phrases, or sentences

asyndeton

to intentionally eliminate conjunctions between the phrases, and in the sentence, yet maintain grammatical accuracy

consonance

repetitive sounds produced by consonants within a sentence or phrase

diction

style of speaking or writing, determined by the choice of words

epistrophe

the repetition of phrases or words at the ends of the clauses or sentences

epithet

adjective or phrase that is used to express a characteristic of a person or thing

imagery

language used by writers to create images in the mind of the reader

metaphor

makes a comparison by relating one thing to another

mood

its general atmosphere or emotional complexion

paradox

a statement that appears to be contradictory but makes sense upon reflection

parallelism

when phrases in a sentence have similar or the same grammatical structure

polysyndeton

the repeated use of coordinating conjunctions to connect different items in a sentence

rhetorical question

a question that is not asked in order to receive an answer from the audience or reader

simile

a figure of speech that directly refers to the use of symbols in a literary work

tone

the attitude or approach that the author takes toward the work’s central theme or subject

ambiguity

a word, phrase, or statement which contains more than one meaning

anadiplosis

repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause

anthimeria

substitution of one part of speech for another

aphorism

a brief statement that makes a wise observation about life

cliche

a word or phrase that has become lifeless because of overuse

conceit

two vastly different objects are likened together with the help of similies or metaphors

connotation

refers to a meaning that is implied by a word apart from the thing it describes explicitly

denotation

literal or dictionary meanings of a word

euphemism

a polite or mild word or expression used to refer to something unpleasant

hyperbole

the use of obvious and deliberate exaggeration

invective

insulting or abusive language used to express blame or severe disapproval

juxtaposition

to place two concepts, characters, ideas, or places near or next to each other so that the reader will compare and contrast them

litotes

a negative statement is used to affirm a positive sentiment

malapropism

an incorrect word used accidentally in place of another word with a similar sound

metonymy

something is called by a new name that is related in meaning to the original thing or concept

periphrasis

the use of excessive and longer words to convey a meaning which could have been conveyed with a shorter expression or in a few words

polypton

a rhetorical repetition of the same root word, each time the word is repeated in a different way

synechdoche

a figure of speech in which a part represents the whole

synesthesia

a subjective sensation or image of a sense other than the one being stimulated

understatement

to intentionally make a situation seem less important than it really is