English Rhetorical Terms, Tones, and Vocabulary

End of Year Exam Review

Linguistic Paradox

A statement or statements set that cannot be resolved as either true or false based on the contradictory nature of the sentence ex. The poor are spiritually rich

Rhetorical Function

The intended effect on the reader by the author

Double Entendre

A word or phrase open to two interpretations

alliteration

for poetic effect, a repition of the initial sound of several words in a group ex. I have stood still and stopped the sound of feet

allegory

where every aspect of is story is representitive,symbolic, of something else, having a bigger picture, or important historical event.

allusion

a reference to one literary work to a character or theme found in another literary work

ambiguity

a statement which can contain two or more meanings

asyndeton

the exclusion of conjunctions ex. I came, I saw, I conqured

analogy

a comparison of two different things that are alike in some way

anaphora

a sub-type of parellelism, when the exact repitition of words are phrases at the beginning of lines and sentences ex. I Have a Dream speech

anthropomorphism

where animals or inanimate objects are portrayed in a story as people and human characteristics (not a personification) ex. the chracters in Alice in Wonderland

aphorism

a brief statement which expresses an observation on life, usually intended as a wise observation

apostrophe

a figure of speech where the speaker speaks to something directly nonhuman

antithesis

opposition, or contrast of ideas in a balanced construction ex. Not that I loves Caesar less, but I loved Rome more.

anecdote

a very short tale told by a character in a literary work

cliche

a sentence or phrase usually expressing a popular or common thought.

conceit

an elaborate metaphor (extended metaphor). when a speaker compares two highly dissimiliar things

colloquial

characteristic of appropriate to oridnary or familiar conversation rather than formal speech/writing.

dramatic monologue

the occurence of a single speaker saying something to a silent audience

dominant impression

principle effect the author wishes to create for the audience

ellipsis

the exclusion of one or more items from construction of a sentence in order to prevent repitition

epiphora

repetition of a word or words at the end of two or more successive verses or sentences

epiphany

a literary work presenting, ususally symbolically, a moment of revelation

euphimism

the use of randabout language to replace terms that are too blunt or unpleasent ex. “died”, “passed away”

imagery

a word or group of words in a literary work ehich appeal to one or more of the five senses

invective

denunciatory or abusive language

oxymoron

a combination of contradictory terms

juxtaposition

a act or instance of placing close together or side by side, esp for comparison or constrast

anadiplosis

repeating the last word of one sentence at the start of the nex sentence

aporia

expressinf doubt or questioning something in a speech

epanalepsis

repeating the first word of a sentence at the end of a sentence

sententia

using a wise saying or proverb to sum up a point

eponym

a name of a person after whom something is named

synecdoche

using a part to represent a whole, or vice versa

metonymy

using a related term to stand in for an object or concept

chiasmus

a reversal in the order of words in two otherwise parallel phrases

parallelism

using similiar structures in two or more parts of a sentence

denotative and connotative

the literal meaning of a word (denotative) and the associated feelings and or idea is suggests (connotative)

epistrophe

repeating the same word at the end of a successive sentence

consonance

repetition of consonant sounds, typically at the end of words

irony

using words to convey a meaning that is opposite to its literal meaning

benighted

ignorant or unelightened

frenetic

wildly excited or frantic

ominous

signaling something bad is going to happen

portentous

signifying something momentous

tempest

a violent storm

penultimate

secomd to last

inimitable

so good or unique, it cannot be copied

anarchy

absence of government or order

sardonic

mocking or cynical

desultory

lacking a plan or enthusiasm

episodic

occurring in a seperate parts or segments

cyclic

happenng in cycles

linear

moving in a straight line or sequence

circular

moving in a roundabout way or cycle

conciliatory

intended to pacify or reconcile