AP Language and Composition | Rhetoric Device Terms

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active voice

the subject of the sentence performs the action. the more direct and preferred style of writing in most cases

ex: “Anthony drove Toni searched for the house”

allusion

indirect reference to something (usually a literary text, although it can be other things commonly known, such as plays, songs, historical events) with which the reader is supposed to be familiar

alter-ego

a character that is sued by the author to speak the author’s own thoughts; when an author speaks directly to the audience through a character.

ex: Shakespeare’s “The Tempest” Shakespeare talks to his audience about his upcoming retirement via Prospero

antecedent

the word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.

ex: If I could command the wealth of all the world by lifting my finger, I would not pay such a price for it

classicism

art or literature characterized by a realistic view of people and the world; sticks to traditional themes and structures

comic relief

when a humorous scene is inserted into a serious story, in order to lighten the mood somewhat.

ex: “gatekeeper scene” from Macbeth

diction

word choice, particularly as an element of style. Different types of words have significant effect on meaning.

when describing (blank), describe the type of (blank)

colloquial

ordinary or familiar type of conversation. A common or familiar type of saying.

connotation

rather than the dictionary definition, the associations suggested by a word. Implied meaning rather than literal meaning.

denotation

the literal, explicit meaning of a word, without its connotations

jargon

the diction used by a group which practices a similar profession or activity.

vernacular

1.) language or dialect of a particular country

2.) language or dialect of a regional clan or group

3/) plain everyday speech

didactic

term used to describe fiction, nonfiction or poetry that teaches a specific lesson or moral or provides a model of correct behavior or thinking

adage

a folk saying with a lesson

allegory

a story, fictional or non fictional, in which characters, things, and events represent qualities or concepts. the interaction of these characters, things, and events is meant to reveal an abstraction or a truth

aphorism

a terse statement which expresses a general truth or moral principal. can be a memorable summation of the author’s point

ellipsis

the deliberate omission of a word or phrase from prose done for effect by the author.

euphemism

a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for generally unpleasant words or concepts. sometimes used for political correctness, or to exaggerate correctness to add humor

figurative language

writing that is not meant to be taken literally

analogy

a comparison of one pair of variables to a parallel set of variables. when a writer uses this, they argue that the relationship between the first pair of variables is the same as the relationship between the second pair of variables

hyperbole

exaggeration

idiom

a common, often used expression that doesn’t make sense if you take it literally

metaphor

making an implied comparaision, not using “like”, “as”, or other such words.

metonymy

replacing an actual word or idea, with a related word or concept.

synecdoche

a kind of metonymy when a whole is represented by naming one of its parts, or vise versa

similie

using such words as “like” or “as” to make a direct comparison between two very different things

extended metaphor

when the implied comparison (without like or as) is continued later in the written work.