Rhetorical Terms Quiz #2

allusion

A reference to a person, place, or event (outside the text) meant to create an effect or enhance the meaning of an idea.

analogy

A comparison that points out similarities between two dissimilar things; a passage that points out several similarities between two unlike things is called an extended analogy.

anaphora

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

anecdote

A brief narrative often used to illustrate an idea or make a point

antimetabole

The repetition of words in successive clauses, but in transposed order.

antithesis

A rhetorical opposition or contrast of ideas by means of a grammatical arrangement of words, clauses, or sentences.

aphorism

A short, pithy statement of generally-accepted truth or sentiment.

apostrophe

An utterance that addresses a person not present or a personified thing.

clause

A structural element of a sentence, consisting of a grammatical subject and predicate.

independent/main clauses

Clauses that may stand on their own as complete sentences. (She walked.)

dependent/subordinate clauses

Nouns and modifiers that make up incomplete sentences that may not stand alone grammatically.

conjunctions

Important connectors with clauses.

subordinating conjunctions (SWABI)

Join two complete thoughts into one sentence (since, when, after, because, if)

conjunctive adverbs (THAMO)

Used to show the relationship between two thoughts (therefore, however, also, meanwhile, otherwise).

dramatic irony

A circumstance in which the audience or reader knows more about the situation than a character.

epistrophe

A stylistic device. The repetition of words or phrases at the end of clauses or sentences.

euphemism

A mild or less negative usage for a harsh or blunt term.

epigram

A concise but ingenious, witty, and thoughtful statement

epigraph

A type of epigram written on an object (coin, building, book), often before the start of  a novel or short story; gives the reader a hint about what’s to come.

irony

A mode of expression in which the intended meaning is the opposite of what is stated, often implying ridicule or light sarcasm; a state of affairs or events that is the reverse of what might have been expected.

metonymy

A figure of speech that uses the name of one thing to represent something else with which it is associated. (The White House says…)

paradox

A statement that seems self-contradictory but is nevertheless true.

parallel structure

The structure required for expressing two or more grammatical elements of equal rank. Coordinate ideas, compared and contrasted ideas, and correlative constructions call for parallel structure.

polysyndeton

The repetition of conjunctions in close succession. (Ex: We have ships and men and money.)

predicate

The part of the sentence that is not the grammatical subject. It often says something about the subject.

predicate nominative

A noun that provides another name for the subject. (Lynn is the president of the company.)

predicate adjetive

An adjective that describes the subject. (Harold is courageous.)

rebuttal/refutation

The part of discourse wherein opposing arguments are anticipated and answered.

thesis/claim

The main idea of a piece of discourse; the statement or a proposition that a speaker or writer wishes to advance, illustrate, prove, or defend.

symbolism

The use of one object to evoke ideas and associations, not literally part of the original object.

synecdoche

A figure of speech in which a part signifies the whole (fifty masts for fifty ships) or the whole signifies the part (days for life). Also when the name of the material stands for the thing itself (pigskin for football).

verbal irony

A discrepancy between the true meaning of a situation and the literal meaning of the written or spoken words

adverb clause

Modifies (describes) a verb, adjective, or another adverb. Answers questions like When? Why? Where? How? Under what condition?

adverb trigger words

Because, since, if when, while, after, before, although, unless.

adjective clause

Modifies (describes) a noun or pronoun. Answers Which one? or What kind?

adjective trigger words

Who, whom, whose, which, that, where.

noun clause

Acts like a noun. Can be the subject, direct object, or object or a preposition (renames or says what it was).

noun trigger words

That, what, who, when, where, why how.