AP Lang Rhetorical Terms

metaphor

comparison of two unlike things that does not use “like” or “as”

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functions to compare, illustrate a comparison, relate, liken, equate, draw a parallel

simile

a comparison of two unlike things that uses “like”, “as”, or “than”

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functions to compare, illustrate a comparison, relate, liken, equate, draw a parallel

personification

endowing non-human objects or creatures with human qualities or characteristics

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functions to humanize, bring to life, animate, liven

apostrophe

figure of speech in which one directly addresses an absent or imaginary person, or some abstraction

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functions to provide insight, addresses ______, reveals inner thoughts, etc

allusion

reference to something literary, mythological, biblical, or historical that the author assumes the reader will recognize

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functions to refer, reference, allude, enhance/strengthen ethos/credibility, remind

hyperbole

intentional exaggeration to create an effect

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functions to exaggerate, heighten, emphasize, magnify

irony

the use of words to convey the opposite of their literal meaning; or incongruity between what is expected and what actually occurs

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functions to expose incongruity, reveal appearance vs. reality (contrast, contradict)

understatement

the deliberate representation of something as lesser in magnitude than it actually is; a deliberate under-emphasis

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functions to lessen, downplay, devalue, under-emphasize, dilute

paradox

an apparently contradictory statement that actually contains some truth

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functions to contradict, expose a contradiction, juxtapose

oxymoron

an expression in which two words that contradict each other are joined

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functions to contradict

epithet

a term used to point out a characteristic of a person. homeric epithets are often compound adjectives that become an almost formulaic part of a name. epithets can be abusive or offensive but are not so by definition

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functions to characterize, highlight, emphasize (a characteristic)

\*negative - degrades, exposes

bathos

insincere or overly sentimental quality of writing/speech intended to evoke pity

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functions to evoke pity, sentiment, emotion, empathy, sympathy

euphemism

an indirect, less offensive way of saying something that is considered unpleasant

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functions to soften, ease, lessen

synecdoche

using one part of an object to represent an entire object (ex. “wheels” for car)

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functions to emphasize an important aspect

metonymy

substituting the name of one object for another closely associated with it (ex. the pen \[writing\] is mightier than the sword \[fighting\])

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functions to create an association between two things

litotes

a type of understatement in which an idea is expressed by negating its opposite (ex. it wasn’t a pretty picture)

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functions to emphasize the negation

parallelism

the use of corresponding grammatical or syntactical forms

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functions to mirror, relate, connect, emphasize, accentuate, reinforce, balance

periodic sentence

sentence whose main clause is withheld until the end

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functions to build suspense, delay, withhold

cumulative sentence

sentence that completes the main idea at the beginning of the sentence, and then builds and adds on

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functions to build, add, describe, highlight

balanced sentence

sentence that employs parallel structure of approximately the same length and importance

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functions to qualify, equate, balance, weigh

rhetorical question

figure of speech in the form of a question posed for rhetorical effect rather than for the purpose of getting an answer

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functions to provoke/prompt thought, emphasize an obvious point (with satire - mock, insult, ridicule)

antithesis

opposition, or contrast, of ideas or words in a balanced or parallel construction

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functions to contrast, demonstrate an opposition

inversion

inverted order of words in a sentence (variation of the subject-verb order)

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emphasizes _____; (ex. divided there is little we can do)

anaphora

repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive phases, clauses, or lines

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functions to emphasize, reinforce

anathema

something that is loathed or despised

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functions to curse, anathematize, indicate/reveal hatred, loathing

aphorism

a concise statement of a scientific principle, typically by an ancient classical author

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functions to appeal to logos/ethos, enhance credibility

epigram

a pithy saying or remark expressing an idea in a clever and amusing way

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functions to contradict, contrast

parenthetical comment

a comment in parenthesis

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functions to interrupt, qualify, appeal to ethos

hortative sentence

sentence that exhorts, advises, calls to action

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functions to advise, exhort, call to action, inspire