Literary and Rhetorical Terms

A set of flashcards covering essential literary and rhetorical terms with their definitions to aid in studying.

Adage

A condensed but memorable saying embodying some important fact of experience that is taken as true by many people.

Aphorism

A concise statement of a principle (ex: a penny saved is a penny earned).

Paradox

A statement or situation that seems contradictory or illogical on the surface, but may contain a deeper truth.

Proverb

A short sentence that people often quote, giving advice or telling something about life.

Assonance

The repetition of vowel sounds in words that are close together in a sentence or verse (ex: chips and dips).

Alliteration

The occurrence of the same letter or sound at the beginning of adjacent or closely connected words (ex: tasty tacos).

Anaphora

A rhetorical device where a word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or lines to create a rhythmic effect.

Characterization

The creation or construction of a fictional character.

Tone

The author's attitude or emotional stance towards the subject matter, conveyed through their word choice and style.

Rhetoric

The art of using language effectively to persuade or influence others.

Irony

Whenever a person says or does something that departs from what is expected.

Dramatic Irony

When the audience knows something characters don’t.

Verbal Irony

When a speaker tells us something that differs from what they mean.

Situational Irony

Occurs when an event unfolds in a way that contrasts with what is expected.

Pun

The humorous use of a word or phrase that emphasizes or suggests its different meanings.

Metaphor

A figure of speech that describes something by saying it is something else without using 'like' or 'as'.

Hyperbole

Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.

Imagery

The way things or ideas seem in your mind or in art or literature.

Metonymy

A figure of speech where you refer to something using a related word or phrase instead of its actual name (ex: ‘I gave you my heart’).

Parallelism

Using similar grammatical structures for related words, phrases, or clauses to create balance and clarity.

Mood

The general feeling or atmosphere that a piece of writing creates within the reader.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech that combines contradictory words with opposing meanings.

Denotation

The literal or dictionary meaning of a word, devoid of emotional or associative connotations.

Farce

A literary work that contains ridiculous plots and exaggerated characters for comedic effect.

Personification

A figure of speech where inanimate objects or abstract ideas are given human qualities.

Suspense

A technique that creates anticipation and tension in a story.

Illusion

An indirect reference to a person, place, event, or work of literature that enriches the text.

Simile

A figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things using 'like' or 'as'.

Extended Metaphor

A metaphor developed and elaborated upon throughout multiple lines or an entire piece.

Iambic Pentameter

Poetic meter characterized by lines containing five metrical feet of alternating unstressed and stressed syllables.

Assonance vs Consonance

Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds; consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds.

Affect vs Effect

'Affect' is generally a verb meaning 'to influence,' while 'effect' is a noun meaning 'the result.'

Onomatopoeia

The use of words that imitate or resemble the sounds they describe.

Enjambment

The continuation of a sentence or phrase from one line of poetry to the next without pause.