AP lit rhetoric vocab

logos

N. the appeal to reason, to the forcefulness of a well-thought-out and well-structured position. Refers to the internal consistency and clarity of the message and to the logic of its reasons and support

pathos

N. the use of emotion in debate or argument. An appeal to an audience’s imaginative sympathies.

ethos

N. the appeal to credibility that a speaker or writer brings to the subject (can be function of the writer’s reputation for honesty and expertise). Is often conveyed through tone and style, through the care with which the writer considers alternative views, and through the writer’s investment in his or her claim

anadiplosis

N. repetition of a prominent last word of one phrase or sentence at the beginning of the next

anaphora

N. repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect,

chiasmus

N. a figure of speech in which words, grammatical constructions, or concepts are repeated in reverse order, in the same or a modified form, e.g. “

diacope

N. a word or phrase is repeated after a brief interruption,

double epithet

N. two words of identical or almost identical meaning joined by a conjunction. The chief effect is richness or plentitude of style:

epistrophe

N. repetition of a word or expression at the end of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect

epizeuxis

N. repeating a word immediately in the same context,

isocolon

N. a figure of speech focusing on similarity and difference, in which at least two clauses or sentences are grammatically parallel or structurally the same,

metonymy

N. the use of something closely related for the thing actually meant, i.e.,

parallelism

N. the repetition of a chosen grammatical form in successive phrases, clauses or sentences. Repeated syntactical similarities introduced for rhetorical effect, e.g.,

periodic sentence

N. a sentence that, by leaving the completion of its main clause to the end, produces an effect of suspense, e.g., Unable to join the others at the dance because of my sprained ankle, I went to a movie.

polyptoton

N. repeated use of one word as different parts of speech or in different grammatical forms, e.g.,

preterition

N. a figure of speech by which in pretending to pass over something, a summary mention of it is made, or attention is called to it.

prolepsis

N. “anticipation” in Greek. Using a pronoun before you use the noun it refers to.

rhetorical question

N. a question not intended to require an answer. Note there are a number of different kinds of rhetorical questions.

synecdoche

N. a figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole,

tricolon crescens

N. a figure of speech comprised of three clearly defined parts, listed in ascending order of importance or size .