Rhetorical Terms AP Lang

Logos

A rhetorical appeal to reason or logic.

Pathos

A rhetorical appeal to emotion.

Ethos

A rhetorical appeal to credibility or ethical character.

Loose Sentence Structure

A sentence structure characterized by a main clause followed by additional information, making it appear more casual.

Periodic Sentence Structure

A sentence structure that presents the main clause at the end, often creating suspense.

Parallel Structure/Parallelism

The repetition of a grammatical structure in a sentence, creating symmetry.

Repetition

The exact repetition of words for emphasis.

Euphony

Words that sound pleasant together, creating a harmonious effect.

Cacophony

Words that create a harsh, discordant sound when used together.

Assonance

The repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words.

Alliteration

The repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words close to each other.

Consonance

The repetition of consonant sounds in close proximity.

Anaphora

The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses.

Ellipsis

The omission of words that are understood in context.

Juxtaposition

Placing two contrasting ideas or images side by side for comparison.

Asyndeton

A rhetorical device in which conjunctions are omitted from a series.

Apostrophe

Addressing someone who is not present or talking to an abstract idea.

Metonymy

Substituting a word or phrase with something closely related.

Allusion

A brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary or political significance.

Allegory

A narrative that uses symbolic figures and actions to convey deeper meanings.

Euphemism

A mild or indirect word or expression substituted for one considered to be too harsh.

Onomatopoeia

Words that phonetically imitate or resemble the sound they describe.

Imagery

Language that appeals to the senses and creates mental images.

Hyperbole

Exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally.

Understatement

A figure of speech in which a writer or speaker deliberately makes a situation seem less important.

Litotes

A form of understatement that uses negation to express a positive idea. (It’s not the Best weather today)

Oxymoron

A figure of speech that juxtaposes contradictory terms.

Paradox

A statement that appears contradictory but reveals a truth.

Montage

A combination of several images or ideas presented in a single work.

Epithet

A descriptive term accompanying or occurring in place of a name.

Malapropism

The unintentional misuse of a word by confusion with one that sounds similar.

Didactic

Intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive.

Exegesis

A critical interpretation or analysis of a text.

Invective

Insulting, abusive, or highly critical language.

Exigence

An issue, problem, or situation that causes or prompts someone to write or speak.

Elliptical Structure

A construction in which words are omitted because they are understood from context.

Expose

To reveal an issue or point out a problem.

Restatement

Rephrasing important ideas in different words to reinforce them.

Adage

A proverb or short statement expressing a general truth.

Conceit

An extended metaphor that compares two very different things.

Circumlocution

The use of many words to express an idea that could be conveyed with fewer.

Apollonian

Representing the noble qualities of humanity and enlightenment.

Dionysian

Representing the primal, instinctual aspects of humanity, often associated with unrestrained desires.