Literary & Rhetorical Devices

Active Voice

The subject of the sentence performs the action.

ex: “Anthony drove while Toni search for the house”

Allusion

An indirect reference to something (usually a literary text, although it can be other things commonly known, such as plays, songs, historical events) with which the reader is supposed to be familiar.

Alter-ego

A character that is used by the author to speak the author’s own thoughts; when an author speaks directly to the audience through a character

(Don’t confuse with persona)

Anecdote

A brief recounting of a relevant episode. This is often inserted into fictional or non frictional texts as a way of developing a point or injecting humor

Antecedent

The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.

Classicism

Art or literature characterized by a realistic view of people and the world; sticks to traditional themes & structures (see romanticism)

Comic relief

When a humorous scene is inserted into a serious story, in order to lighten the mood somewhat

Diction

Word choice, particularly as an element of style. Different types of words have significant effects on meaning. [make sure to describe what type of ___ the author uses]

Colloquial

(Type of Diction)

Ordinary or familiar type of conversation.

A “____” is a common or familiar type of saying, similar to adage or an aphorism

Connotation

(Type of Diction)

Rather than the dictionary definition (denotation), the associations suggested by a word. Implied meaning rather than literal meaning

Denotation

(Type of Diction)

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

Jargon

(Type of Diction)

The diction used by a group which practices a similar profession or activity. Lawyers speak using particular jargon, as do soccer players

Vernacular

(Type of Diction)

1. Language or dialect of a particular country

2. Language or dialect of a regional clan or group

3. Plain everyday speech

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

Adage

(Type of Didactic)

A folk saying with a lesson. [Similar to aphorism & colloquialism]

Allegory

(Type of Didactic)

A story, fictional or non fictional, in which characters, things, and events, represent qualities or concepts. The interaction of these characters, things, and events is meant to reveal an abstraction or a truth.

Aphorism

(Type of Didactic)

A terse statement which expresses a general truth or moral principle. An aphorism can be a memorable summation of the authors point.

Ellipsis

The deliberate omission of a word or phrase from prose done (finished writing) for effect by the authors

*Term is related to ellipse (…), three periods use to show omitted text in a quotation

Euphemism

A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for generally unpleasant words or concepts. Sometimes they are used for political correctness.

Figurative Language

Writing the is NOT meant to be taken literally

Analogy

(Type of Figurative Language)

Comparison of one pair of variables to a parallel set of variables. When a writer uses an analogy, he or she argues that the relationship between the first pair of variables is the same as the relationship between the second pair of variables

Hyperbole

(Type of Figurative Language)

Exaggeration

Idiom

(Type of Figurative Language)

A common/often used expression that DOESNT make sense if you take it literally

Metaphor

(Type of Figurative Language)

Making a IMPLIED comparison, not using “like” or “as” or other such words

Extended Metaphor

(Type of Figurative Language)

When the metaphor is continued later in the written work

(elaborate ___ is called using a conceit)

Metonymy

(Type of Figurative Language)

Replacing an actual word or idea, with a related word or concept. [Often used with body parts…”I couldn’t understand his tongue”]

Synecdoche

(Type of Metonymy)

A kind of metonymy when a whole is represented by naming one of its parts, or vise versa

(ex: “check out my new wheels”)

Simile

(Type of Figurative Language)

Using words such as “like” or “as” to make a DIRECT comparison between two very different things

Synesthesia

(Type of Figurative Language)

A description involving a “crossing of the senses”

Personification

(Type of Figurative Language)

Giving human-like qualities to something that is not human

Foreshadowing

When an author gives hints about what will occur later in a story

Genre

The major category into which a literary work fits.

AP TEST: Autobiography, biography, diaries, criticism, essays, and journalistic, political, scientific, and nature writing

Gothic

Writing characterized by gloom, mystery, fear, and/or death. Also refers to the architectural style of the middle ages, often seen in cathedrals of this period

Imagery

Word or words that create a picture in the readers mind. Usually this involves the five senses.

Authors use ___ in conjunction with metaphors, similes, or figures of speech.

Invective

A long, emotionally violent, attack using strong, abusive language

Irony

When the opposite of what you expect to happen does

Verbal Irony

When you say something and mean the opposite/something different

Dramatic Irony

When the audience of a drama, play, movie, etc. knows something that the character doesn’t and would be surprised to find out

Situational Irony

Found in the plot (or story line) of a book, story, or movie. Sometimes it makes you laugh because its funny how things turn out

Juxtaposition

Placing things side by side for the purpose of comparison. Authors often use ___ of ideas or examples in order to make a point

Mood

The atmosphere created by the literature and accomplished through the word choice (diction).Syntax, setting, tone, and events can all affect ___.

Motif

A recurring idea in a piece of literature

Oxymoron

When apparently contradictory terms are grouped together and suggest a paradox

Pacing

The speed or tempo of an authors writing. Writers can use a variety of devices (syntax, polysyndeton, anaphora, meter) to change the __ of their words.

TYPES: fast, sluggish, stabbing, vibrate, staccato, measured, etc.

Paradox

a seemingly contradictory situation which is actually TRUE

(ex: “you can’t get a job without experience, and you can’t get experience without a job”)

Parallelism

(AKA parallel structure or balanced sentences)

Sentence construction which places equal grammatical constructions near each other, or repeats identical grammatical patterns.

(used to add emphasis, organization, and sometimes pacing to writing)

Anaphora

Repetition of a word, phrase or clause @ the beginning of two or more sentences or clauses in a ROW. This is a deliberate form of repetition and helps make the writer’s point more coherent

Chiasmus

When the same words are used twice in sequence, but the second time, the order of the words is reversed

(ex: “fair is foul, and foul is fair”)

Antithesis

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

Zuegma (Syllepsis)

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

Parenthetical Idea

Parentheses are used to set off an idea from the rest of the sentence. It is almost considered an aside…a whisper, and should be used sparingly for effect, rather than repeatedly. () can also be used to set off dates and numbers.

Parody

An exaggerated imitation of a serious work for humorous purposes. It borrows words or phrases from an original, and pokes fun @ it. (form of an allusion BUT don’t confuse with satire)

Persona

The fictional mask or narrator that tells a story

(don’t confuse with alter-ego)

Poetic Device

A device used in poetry to manipulate the sound of words, sentences, or lines

Alliteration

The repetition of the same constant sound @ the beginning of words

Assonance

The repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds

Consonance

The repetition of the same consonant sound @ the end of words or within words

Onomatopoeia

The use of a word which imitate or suggests the sound that the thing makes

Internal Rhyme

When a line of poetry contains a rhyme within a single line

Slant Rhyme

When a poet creates a rhyme, but the two words do not rhyme exactly—they are merely similar

End Rhyme

When the last word of two different lines of poetry rhyme

Rhyme Scheme

The pattern of a poem’s end rhyme

Stressed and unstressed syllables

In every word of more than one syllable, one of the syllables is stressed, or said with more force than the other syllable(s).

(ex: in the word “unhappiness,” the second of the four syllables is stressed)

Meter

A regular pattern to the syllables in lines of poetry

Free verse

Poetry that doesn’t have much meter or rhyme

Iambic pentameter

Poetry that is written in lines of 10 syllables, alternating stressed and unstressed syllables

Sonnet

A 14 line poem written in iambic pentameter. Usually divided into 3 quatrains and a couplet

Polysyndeton

When a writer creates a list of items which are all separated by conjunctions. Normally it is used only before the last item in a list

Pun

When a word that has two meanings is used in a humorous way

Rhetoric

The art of effective communication

Rhetorical Question

Question not asked for information but for effect

Romanistisim

Art or literature characterized by an idealistic, perhaps unrealistic view of people and the world, and an emphasis on nature (doesn’t rely on traditional themes and structures)

Sarcasm

A generally bitter comment that is ironically or satirically worded. However not all satire and irony are ___. It is the bitter, mocking tone that separates ___ from meme verbal irony.

Satire

A work that reveals a critical attitude toward some element of life to a humorous effect

Style

The choices in diction, tone, and syntax that a writer makes…may be conscious or unconscious

Symbol

Anything that represents or stands for something else. Usually a symbol is something concrete such as an object, actions, character…that represents something more abstract

Syntax/sentence variety

Grammatical arrangement of words…how does the sentence length and structure relate to tone and meaning. ___ is the grouping of words.

Theme

The central idea or message of a work. The theme may be directly stated in nonfiction works, although not necessarily. It is rarely stated directly in fiction

Thesis

The sentence or groups of sentences that directly expresses the author’s opinion, purpose, meaning, or proposition. It should be short and clear

Tone

A writers attitude toward his subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language and organization. To identify___, consider how the piece would sound if read aloud.

TYPES: playful, serious, businesslike, sarcastic, humorous, formal, somber, etc.

Understatement

The ironic minimizing of fact, understatement presents something less significant than it is. The effect can frequently be humorous

Litotes

A particular form of understatement, generated by denying the opposite of the statement which otherwise would be used. Depending on the tone and context of the usage, ___ either retains the effect of understatement.