Rhetorical Terms and Devices Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key rhetorical terms, literary devices, and diction classifications from the lecture material.

Antithesis

Two opposite or contrasting words, phrases, or clauses, or even ideas, with parallel structure.

Zeugma (Syllepsis)

When a single word governs or modifies two or more other words, and the meaning of the first word must change for each of the other words it governs or modifies.

Diction

Word choice, particularly as an element of style, where different types of words have significant effects on meaning.

Colloquial

An ordinary or familiar type of conversation, with a colloquialism being a common or familiar type of saying similar to an adage or aphorism.

Jargon

The specific diction used by a group that practices a similar profession or activity.

Vernacular

The language or dialect of a particular country, regional clan, or group, as well as plain everyday speech.

Denotation

The literal, explicit meaning of a word, without its connotations.

Connotation

The associations suggested or implied by a word rather than its literal dictionary definition.

Rhetoric

The art of effective communication, utilizing rhetorical devices as tools and mechanisms to persuade an audience.

Figures of Speech

Expressions that use language in a nonliteral way.

Allusion

A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance.

Imagery

Descriptive language that functions as a way for the reader to better imagine the world of the text by drawing on the five senses, movement, or personal emotions and sensations.

Kinesthetic Imagery

Imagery pertaining to details about movement or a sense of a body in motion.

Rhetorical Question

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

Alliteration

A rhetorical and literary device that repeats the same initial consonant sound in a series of neighboring words.

Analogy

A comparison of two unrelated things point-by-point to explain an unfamiliar concept or support a logical argument.

Didactic

A term used to describe fiction, nonfiction, or poetry that teaches a specific lesson or moral or provides a model of correct behavior or thinking.

Anecdote

A short, meaningful story told to make a point.

Aphorism

A brief statement that expresses a general truth about life.

Adage

A folk saying with a lesson.

Hypophora

A figure of speech in which the speaker poses a question and then answers the question.

Epistrophe

When a word or phrase is repeated at the end of successive clauses, sentences, or lines; also known as epiphora.

Anadiplosis

A rhetorical and literary device where the last word or phrase of one clause, sentence, or line is repeated at the beginning of the next.

Polysyndeton

When a writer creates a list of items that are all separated by conjunctions, often used to slow down the pace of writing and add an authoritative tone.

Asyndeton

When a writer deliberately leaves out conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses, often used to speed up rhythm, add emphasis, and create openness.

Hyperbole

Exaggeration used for effect.

Understatement

The ironic minimizing of fact that presents something as less significant than it is.

Litotes

A particular form of understatement generated by denying the opposite of the statement which otherwise would be used.

Parallelism

Sentence construction that places equal grammatical constructions near each other or repeats identical grammatical patterns; also known as parallel structure or balanced sentences.

Anaphora

Deliberate repetition of a word, phrase, or clause at the beginning of two or more sentences or clauses in a row.

Chiasmus

When the same words are used twice in succession, but the second time the order of the words is reversed; also called antimetabole.