Rhetorical Terms

Logos

appeal to facts and evidence

Pathos

Appealing to how you feel

Ethos

Appeal to credibility ( being able to to trust someone)

Occasion/Context

The time place and “climate” in which the text occurs

Exigence

The event that pushes the speaker to create the text

Speaker

could be the author or perhaps the author created a persona that is the “speaker”

Audience

The intended receiver of the text

Purpose

Goal or outcome/reaction of the text

What does the speak want the audience to believe?

Subject/Message

What does the author want the you to do?

DIDLS

Diction,Imagery,Details,Language and Syntax

Diction

word choice

Explaining diction

include adj+diction

Citing diction

quote specific words not phrases or sen

Academic

literary

Sophisticated

to impress

Colloquial

informal, everyday use (ex: what’s up,hella)

Slang

informal terms, short lived (ex: larping, chopped)

Abstract

general,conceptional

Concreate

Specific

Connotation

implied, suggested

Denotation

dictionary definition

Jargon

dictions used in specific groups (ex: smash-badminton)

Venacular

dictions used in a different country/region

Old-fastioned

ex: going steady vs going out

Imagery

language to create sensory details: sense,taste.touch,sound

Alliteration

Repetition of consonant sounds (beginning of every word)

Simile

A direct comparison of ulike things using “like” or “as”

Metaphor

An indirect comparison of unlike things

Symbolism

Use of a physical object,character or setting to represent an abstract idea or to parallel a chacter: colors can symbolic

Hyperbole

A deliberate exaggeration for effect

Analogy

Comparing 2 things that have at least 1 thing in common. ( similes & metaphors can sometimes be a analogy)

Allusion

An indirect reference to a person, place, event or thing in history, a work of art, or literature

give insight to authors belief and values

ex: down the rabbit hole - alice in wonderland

Juxtaposition

putting images/words/ideas side by side in order to CONTRAST them

ex: geico ad

Rhetorical question

A question that expects no answer (obvious or implied)

Ex: How long will it take to make a difference?

Parallel Structure

Repetition of words/phrases/ideas in which each item in the series in grammatically equal

ex: pay,bear,meet,support,oppose

Anaphora

Repetition of a word/phrase at the beginning of successive sentences or clauses (exact words appear)

ex: we shall fight.. we shall fight

Antithesis

Contrasting or opposing ideas next to phrases,clauses or sentences

ex: best and worst , one step and giant leap

Understatement

When the author assigns less significance to an event or thing than it deserves

ex: hurricane floyd drizzled

Syntax

the way words are arranged within a sentence

ex: juxtaposition, rhetorical question, repetition, parallel structure, anaphora, antithesis, unbderstatment

Tone

Author’s attitude towards subject,characters,event

didls drive tone

creates mood

Conceited

inflated opinion of themselves

condesending

belifting language

Didactic

reaching morallesson

Eumphemistic

polite/indirect expression

ex: a better place instead of dead

Ironic

contrast between what’s stated explicitly

Pedantic

academic scholarly

Satirical

humor,irony,exaggeration used to CRITICIZE human flaw/stupidity

Ex: Animal farm

Whimsical

light hearted imaginary

Concession

ADMITTING to the validity of the other side

ex:admitting the opponets’s side is correct when arguing

Refutation

Acknowledging your opponent’s argument (counterargument) then CHALLENGING

Allegory

a longish story, the elements of which (characters,setting,etc) contribute to commentary on politics.society, morality, etc

ex: animal farm- “ The allegorical importance of this piece is centered around the Napoleon the fascist pig

Parable

A short allegory ( they teach moral)

“ The tortoise and the hare” is a short parable exploring the destructive qualities of arrogance

Aphorism

a pithy observation that contains a general truth

ex: the simplis questions are the hardest to answer

Cacophony

words that can sound harsh; can be subjective

usually hard sounds like f,p,c,k.x do the trick!

ca-caw!, cackle!,Smack!,Squak!

Epigraph

The use of a quote at the beginning of a work that hints at its theme

ex: To kill a mockingbird: lawyers, I suppose were children once.”

Euphemism/Euphemistically

metaphors used to describe things thst are taboo or don’t sound pleasant

ex: “don’t we took care of him”, “she’s under the weather” and “sleeping w fishes”

Euphony/Euphonious

words that are pleasant to the ear (usually grouped tgt)

ex: floating,whisper,delicacy

Paradox

A statement used to contradict itself, but turns to have a rational meang.

ex: big parites r so intimate

Oxymoron

2 words/phrases of opposite meanings

ex: love and hate, defening silence

Syllogism

a form of reasoning where a conclusion is drawn from a major premise and a minor premise

ex: Major premise- All childerns are from hell, Minor premise- honey boo bo is a child

conclusion: all childern are from hell