Studied by 5 people
Ambiguity
a phrase that can be interpreted in many different ways
ambiguity ex.
We saw her duck
analogy
comparing 2 unrelated things to find similarties and make a point
analogy ex.
Life is like a mountain. It is hard to climb, but the view at the top is worth the journey
Antecedent
a pronoun or noun that refers to an earlier phrase or word
Antecedent ex.
The dog that could not find his bone.
Antithesis
comparison of 2 opposite ideas using parallelism
Antithesis ex.
Hope for the best; prepare for the worst
Aphorism
A memorable expression about a general truth
Aphorism ex.
the grass is always greener on the other side
Apostrophe
a figure of speech where someone addresses a person who is not present or abstract
Apostrophe ex.
Oh nature, thou art my goddess
Asyndeton
Removing the conjunctions that join clauses
Asyndeton ex.
I come, I saw, I conquered.
Chiasmus
a sentence in which two words in the first half are criss crosed in the second half
Chiasmus ex.
All for one, one for all
Anecdote
A short story the narrator tells about their experience
Independent clause
a subject and verb which stand alone to make a sentence
Independent clause ex.
She cried
Dependent clause
A subject and verb that can’t stand alone to make a sentence because it contains a subordinate conjunction
Dependent clause ex.
Because she cried
Colloquialism
an informal phrase
Colloquialism ex.
y’all, ain’t, over yonder
coherence
Essay with sentences and ideas that are connected and flow smoothly
conceit
2 different objects which are compared with each other but is very imaginative
conceit ex.
There is no frigate like a book.
connotation
how words are seen positive and negative because they are associated beyond there literal meaning
connotation ex.
soggy 👎 moist 👍
Denotation
literal definition of a word
Denotation ex.
moist -- wet / soggy -- wet
Diction
choice of words that change style of writing
didactic
a work made to teach people something
didactic ex.
school textbooks, manuals, etc.
enumeration
rhetorical device which recites a list
enumeration ex.
I need paper, scissors, glue, crayons, and markers, for my project.
expletive
words that don’t add meaning to a sentence
expletive ex.
It’s a fact, she is my best friend.
euphemism
phrase used to soften and uncomfortable topic
euphemism ex.
He is no longer with us.
Exposition
the background info explained at the start of story (characters + setting)
Exposition ex.
Romeo and Juliet are 2 lovers but their family won’t let them be together
extended metaphor
metaphor used multiple times in a story
extended metaphor ex.
You’re a snake. Everything you hiss is a lie.
Genre
a category which characterizes different topics in writing based on style, form and topic
Genre ex.
horror, comedy, romance, fiction, nonfiction
Homily
a speech whose purpose is to change your moral direction
Homily ex.
a penny saved is a penny earned
hyperbole
figure of speech that exaggerates the sentence
hyperbole ex.
The line was a mile long. I was stuck there for years.
Hypophora
the speaker asks a question and answers it to get your attention
Hypophora ex.
What makes life wonderful? I believe talking to you makes it special.
Imagery
Using vivid descriptions to engage the reader
Imagery ex.
The red roses floral scent blew gently in the wind.
Alliteration
A phrase which sentences contain words that start with the same first letter
Alliteration ex.
Rats roll in Rome.
Allusion
a phrase that references another text, movie, etc.
Allusion ex.
Chocolate is my kryptonite.
Note 
Flashcard (237)