Rhetoric and Style Review

Alliteration

Assonance

Aphorism

a pithy observation that contains a general truth, such as, “if it ain't broke, don't fix it.”

Diction ---

Colloquialism ---.

a word or phrase that is not formal or literary, typically one used in ordinary or familiar conversation

Connotation ---

Denotation ---

Figurative ---

Euphemism ---

a mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh or blunt when referring to something unpleasant or embarrassing.

Literal ---

Irony (ironical) ---

Metaphor (metaphorical) ---

Hyperbole ---

Pedantry ---

excessive concern with minor details and rules.

Verbose ---

using or expressed in more words than are needed.

Allegory (allegorical) ---

a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

Paradox (paradoxical) ---

Oxymoron ---

Onomatopoeia ---

the formation of a word from a sound associated with what is named (e.g. cuckoo, sizzle ).

Didactic ---

intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive.

Idiom ---

a group of words established by usage as having a meaning not deducible from those of the individual words (e.g., rain cats and dogs, see the light ).

Semantics ---

the meaning of a word, phrase, sentence, or text.

Euphony ---

the quality of being pleasing to the ear, especially through a harmonious combination of words.

Cacophony ---

a harsh discordant mixture of sounds.

Vernacular ---

the language or dialect spoken by the ordinary people in a particular country or region.

Prose (prosaic) ---

ordinary or dull; ordinary writing intended to communicate ideas and information.

Parallel construction ---

words or phrases are written in the same form

Clause ---

a unit of grammatical organization next below the sentence in rank and in traditional grammar said to consist of a subject and predicate.

Phrase ---

Periodic ---

appearing or occurring at intervals

Loose ---

not close or compact in structure.

Antecedent ---

a thing or event that existed before or logically precedes another.

Subordinate clause ---

a clause, typically introduced by a conjunction, that forms part of and is dependent on a main clause

Independent Clause ---

a group of words that contains a subject and verb and expresses a complete thought.

Rhetorical Question

A question asked in order to create a dramatic effect or to make a point rather than to get an answer

Staccato

detached or separated from the others.

Simple

easily understood or done; presenting no difficulty.

Compound

a thing that is composed of two or more separate elements; a mixture.

Complex

consisting of many different and connected parts.

Compound-complex

a sentence containing one or more dependent clauses and two or more independent clauses joined by a conjunction or semicolon

Purple prose

flowery and ornate writing that makes a piece of text impenetrable.

Stream of consciousness

narrative technique in nondramatic fiction intended to render the flow of myriad impressions

Bombast

high-sounding language with little meaning, used to impress people.

Incisive

(of a person or mental process) intelligently analytical and clear-thinking.

Laconic

(of a person, speech, or style of writing) using very few words.

Satiric

the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues.

Plot

the plan, scheme, or main story of a literary or dramatic work, as a play, novel, or short story

Subplot

a subordinate plot in a play, novel, or similar work.

Exposition

a comprehensive description and explanation of an idea or theory.

Conflict

a serious disagreement or argument, typically a protracted one.

Rising climax

he bulk of the story in which the main character faces challenges, makes choices, develops, meets other characters, and works toward their ultimate goal

Crisis

a time of intense difficulty, trouble, or danger.

Climax

the most intense, exciting, or important point of something; a culmination or apex.

Falling action

the action that occurs immediately after the big climax has taken place and the action shifts towards resolution instead of escalation.

Denouement

the final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved.

Chronological

(of a record of events) starting with the earliest and following the order in which they occurred. "the entries are in chronological order"

Flashback

a scene in a movie, novel, etc., set in a time earlier than the main story.

Deus (Dea) Ex Machina

an unexpected power or event saving a seemingly hopeless situation, especially as a contrived plot device in a play or novel.

Interior monologue

narrative technique that exhibits the thoughts passing through the minds of the protagonists

Juxtaposition

the fact of two things being seen or placed close together with contrasting effect.

Allegorical

a story, poem, or picture that can be interpreted to reveal a hidden meaning, typically a moral or political one.

Homily

a religious discourse that is intended primarily for spiritual edification rather than doctrinal instruction; a sermon.

Parody

an imitation of the style of a particular writer, artist, or genre with deliberate exaggeration for comic effect.

Foreshadow

be a warning or indication of (a future event).

Epigram

a pithy saying or remark expressing an idea in a clever and amusing way.

Conceit

excessive pride in oneself

Apostrophe

a punctuation mark ( ’ ) used to indicate either possession

Allusion

an expression designed to call something to mind without mentioning it explicitly; an indirect or passing reference.

Metonymy

the substitution of the name of an attribute or adjunct for that of the thing meant, for example suit for business executive, or the track for horse racing.

Synecdoche

a figure of speech in which a part is made to represent the whole or vice versa, as in Cleveland won by six runs

Assertion

a confident and forceful statement of fact or belief.

Syllogism

an instance of a form of reasoning in which a conclusion is drawn (whether validly or not) from two given or assumed propositions (premises), each of which shares a term with the conclusion, and shares a common or middle term not present in the conclusion (e.g., all dogs are animals; all animals have four legs; therefore all dogs have four legs ).

Deductive

characterized by or based on the inference of particular instances from a general law.

Inductive

characterized by the inference of general laws from particular instances.

Begging the Question

(of a fact or action) raise a question or point that has not been dealt with; invite an obvious question.

Argument Ad Hominem

appealing to feelings or prejudices rather than intellect

Red herring

a clue or piece of information that is, or is intended to be, misleading or distracting.

Non sequitur

a conclusion or statement that does not logically follow from the previous argument or statement.

Enthymeme

an argument in which one premise is not explicitly stated.

Post hoc

occurring or done after the event, especially with reference to the fallacious assumption that the occurrence in question has a logical relationship with the event it follows.

Water archetype- the sea

its even, steady insight directs the way you interact with your environment.

Rising sun

Color archetype- green

fresh, organic, loyal, gentle, aware, earthy, secure, restful. Green can span a variety of moods – it stands first for nature, but also renewal and rebirth, youth, jealousy, decay and money.

Number archetype- three

Three – the Trinity (Father, Son, Holy Ghost); Mind, Body, Spirit, Birth, Life, Death B.

Archetype woman-the soul mate

Creation motif

Common motifs include the fractionation of the things of the world from a primordial chaos; the separation of the mother and father gods; land emerging from an infinite and timeless ocean; or creation out of nothing.

The quest hero archetype

The hero's journey

Initiation

begins with the hero then traversing the threshold to an unknown or "special world", where he faces tasks or trials, either alone or with the assistance of helpers.

Sacrificial scapegoat

the manifestation of the individual or object that is blamed and sacrificed for whatever is wrong with the society.

Water Archetype - River

Almost any source of water will focus on the importance of life. Without water there is no life. A journey on or down a river is often a metaphor for life's journey or a character's journey, especially if the river is shown as a road or means of travel – pulling or pushing a character through changes.

Color archetype-blue

the life purpose of those who like the color blue is linked with their ability to contribute to other people's well-being. People who favor this color are known to be confident, loyal, and calm

Number archetype-four

he circle of life, mankind; 4 seasons, 4 elements ; Water might represent a hope for new life or a new beginnning

Number archetype-seven

often considered lucky, and it has a definite mystique,

Mythos of spring

comedy

Mythos of fall

tragedy

Mythos of summer

romance

Mythos of winter

irony/satire

Archetypal good

Archetypal terrible mother

a force of death and destruction