Rhetorical and Literary Terms

A complete set of vocabulary flashcards covering key rhetorical terms, figurative language, points of view, and essay types from the lecture notes.

Rhetoric

The art of using language effectively to persuade or communicate

Exigence

The problem or situation that causes someone to write or speak

Anaphora

Repeating a word or phrase at the beginning of sentences or clauses

Absolutes

Words that make a statement sound completely true or certain

Diction

The specific words a writer or speaker chooses

Denotation

The literal or dictionary meaning of a word

Connotation

The feeling or ideas associated with a word

Colloquial

Casual language used in everyday conversation

Formal language

Proper and serious language used in professional or academic situations

Informal language

Language used when talking with friends or family

Jargon

Specialized words used by a particular group or profession

Situational Irony

When the result of a situation is different from what is expected

Verbal Irony

When someone says something but means the opposite

Mood

The feeling or atmosphere created by something

Imagery

Descriptive language that appeals to the five senses

Figurative language

Language that is not meant to be understood literally

Metaphor

A comparison between two unlike things without using like or as

Simile

A comparison using like or as

Personification

Giving human qualities to something non-human

Understatement

Making something seem less important than it really is

Hyperbole

An extreme exaggeration that is not meant to be taken literally

Paradox

A statement that seems contradictory but can still be true

Rhetorical Question

A question asked to make a point rather than get an answer

Allusion

A reference to a famous person, event, place, or story

Syntax

The way words are arranged in a sentence

Parallelism

Using the same grammatical structure for related ideas

Juxtaposition

Placing two different or opposite things close together

Antithesis

Putting opposite ideas together in a balanced statement

Anecdote

A short story about a real experience

Allegory

A story in which characters or events represent bigger ideas

Analogy

A comparison used to explain something

Point of view

The perspective from which something is told

First Person

A point of view that uses "I", "me", and "we"

Second Person

A point of view that uses "you" and "your"

Third Person

A point of view that uses he, she, they, or names

Subjective

Based on personal opinions or feelings

Objective

Based on facts rather than opinions or feelings

Tone

The attitude a writer or speaker has toward a subject

Expository essay

An essay that explains or gives info about a topic

Description essay

An essay that describes a person, place, thing, or experience

Persuasion essay

An essay that tries to convince the reader to agree with an opinion

Narrative essay

An essay that tells a story or describes an experience

Cause / effect essay

An essay that explains the causes or effects of something