AP English Rhetorical Devices

Abstract

Refers to language that describes concepts rather than concrete images

Ad Hominem

In an argument, an attack on the person rather than on the opponent's ideas. It comes from the Latin meaning "against the man"

Allegory

A work that functions on a symbolic level

Alliteration

The repetition of initial consonant sounds, such as "Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers"

Allusion

A reference contained in a work

Analogy

A literary device employed to serve as a basis for comparison. A comparison of two things based on their being alike in some way

Anecdote

A story or brief episode told by the writer or a character to illustrate a point

Antecedent

The word, phrase, or clause to which a pronoun refers

Antithesis

The presentation of two contrasting ideas. The ideas are balanced by word, phrase, clause, or paragraph. "To be or not to be"

Argument

A single assertion or a series of assertions presented and defended by the writer

Attitude

The relationship an author has toward his or her subject, and/or his or her audience

Balance

A situation in which all parts of the presentation are equal, whether in sentences or paragraphs or sections of a longer work

Cacophony

Harsh and discordant sounds in a line or passage in a literary work

Character

Those who carry out the action of the plot in literature. Major, minor, static, and dynamic are types of characters

Colloquial

The use of slang in writing, often to create local color and to provide an informal tone. (Huckleberry Finn)

Comic relief

The inclusion of a humorous character or scene to contrast with the tragic elements of a work, thereby intensifying the next tragic event

Conflict

A clash between opposing forces in a literary work, such as man vs man, man vs nature, man vs god, man vs self

Connective tissue

Those elements that help create coherence in a written piece

Connotation

The interpretive level of a word based on its associated images rather than its literal meaning

Deduction

The process of moving from a general rule to a specific example

Denotation

The literal or dictionary meaning of a word

Dialect

The re-creation of regional spoken language, such as a Southern dialect. (Zoe's Neale Hurston in Their Eyes...God)

Diction

The author's choice of words that creates tone, attitude, style, and meaning

Didactic

Writing whose purpose is to instruct or to teach. Usually formal and focuses on moral or ethical concerns.

Discourse

A discussion on a specific topic

Ellipsis

An indication by a series of three periods that some material has been omitted from a given text. It could be a word, phrase, sentence, paragraph or whole section. Be wary

Epigraph

The use of a quote at the beginning of a work that hits at its theme. (Hemingway in The Sun Also Rises)

Euphemism

A more acceptable and usually more pleasant way of saying something that might be inappropriate or uncomfortable. Used to obscure the reality of a situation

Euphony

The pleasant, mellifluous presentation of sounds in a literary work

Exposition

Background information presented in a literary work

Extended Metaphor

A sustained comparison, often referred to as a conceit. Developed throughout a piece of writing

Figurative language

The body of devices that enables the writer to operate on levels other than the literal one. It includes metaphor, simile, symbol, motif, hyperbole, etc

Flashback

A device that enables a writer to refer to past thoughts, events or episodes

Form

The shape or structure of a literary work

Hyperbole

Extreme exaggeration, often humorous, it can also be ironic; the opposite of understatement

Image

A verbal approximation of a sensory impression, concept, or emotion

Imagery

The total effect of related sensory images in a work of literature

Induction

The process that moves from a given series of specifics to a generalization

Inference

A conclusion one can draw from the presented details

Invective

A verbally abusive attack

Irony

An unexpected twist or contrast between what happens and what was intended or expected to happen. It involves dialogue and situation and can be intentional or unplanned. Dramatic irony centers around the ignorance of those involved; audience is aware

Logic

The process of reasoning

Logical fallacy

A mistake in reasoning

Metaphor

A direct comparison between dissimilar things

Metonymy

A figure of speech in which a representative term is used for a larger idea (pen larger than sword)

Monologue

A speech given by one character

Motif

The repetition or variations of an image or idea in a work used to develop theme or characters

Narrator

The speaker of a literary work

Onomatopoeia

Words that sound like the sound they represent

Oxymoron

An image of a contradictory term

Pacing

The movement of a literary piece from one point or one section to another

Parable

A story that operates on more than one level and usually teaches a moral lesson (The Pearl)

Parody

A comic imitation of a work that ridicules the original. It can be utterly mocking or gently humorous. It depends on allusion and exaggerates and distorts the original style and content.

Pathos

The aspects of a literary work that elicit pity from the audience. An appeal to emotion that can be used as a means to persuade.

Pedantic

A term see to describe writing that borders on lecturing. It is scholarly and academic and often overly difficult and distant.

Periodic Sentence

Presents its main clause at the end of the sentence for emphasis and sentence variety. Phrases and/or dependent clauses precede the main clause.

Personification

The assigning of human qualities to inanimate objects or concepts. (Wordsworth in poem "London 1812.")

Persuasion

A type of argument that has as its goal an action on the part of the audience.

Plot

A sequence of events in a literary work.

Point of View

The method of narration in a literary work.

Pun

A play on words that often has a comic effect. Associated with wit and cleverness. A writer who speaks of the "grave topic of American funerals" may be employing intentional or unintentional pun.

Reductio ad Absurdum

The Latin for "to reduce to the absurd." This is a technique useful in creating a comic effect (Twain's "At the Funeral") and is also an argumentative technique. It is considered a rhetorical fallacy, because it reduces and argument to an either/or choice.

Rhetoric

Refers to the entire process of written communication. Rhetorical strategies and devices are those tools that enable a writer to present ideas to an audience effectively.

Rhetorical Question

One that does not expect an explicit answer. It is used to pose an idea to be considered by the speaker or audience. (Francois Villon "Where are the snows of yesteryear?")

Sarcasm

A comic technique that ridicules through caustic language. Tone and attitude may both be described as sarcastic in a given text if the writer employs language, irony, and wit to mock or scorn.

Satire

A mode of writing based on ridicule, that criticizes the foibles and follies without necessarily offering a solution. (Jonathan Swift's Gulliver's Travels)

Setting

The time and place of a literary work

Simile

An indirect comparison that uses the word like or as to link the differing items in the comparison.

Stage Directions

The specific instructions a playwright includes concerning sets, characterization, delivery, etc.

Stanza

A unit of a poem, similar in rhyme, meter, and length to other units in the poem.

Structure

The organization and form of a work.

Style

The unique way an author presents his ideas. Diction, syntax, imagery, structure, and content all contribute to a particular style.

Summary

Reducing the original text to its essential parts.

Syllogism

The format of a formal argument that consists of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.

Symbol

Something in a literary work that stands for something else. (Plato light of sun truth in "The Allegory of the Cave.")

Synecdoche

A figure of speech that utilizes a part as representative of the whole. ("All hands on deck")

Syntax

The grammatical structure of prose and poetry.

Synthesis

Locating a number of sources and integrating them into the development and support of a writer's thesis/claim.

Theme

The underlying ideas the author illustrates through characterization, motifs, language, plot, etc.

Thesis

Simply, the main idea of a piece of writing. It presents the author's assertion or claim. The effectiveness of a presentation is often based on how well the writer presents, develops, and supports the thesis.

Tone

The author's attitude toward his subject.

Transition

A word or phrase that links one idea to the next and carries the reader from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph.

Understatement

The opposite of exaggeration. It is a technique for developing irony and/or humor where one writes or says less than intended.

Voice

Can refer to two different areas of writing. The first refers to the relationship between a sentence's subject and verb (active voice and passive voice). The second refers to the total "sound" of a writer's style.