Rhetoric vocab

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.