English 11 stylistic and rhetorical devices midterm

allusion

A brief reference to a person, place, thing, or idea of historical, cultural, literary, or political significance, often used to create a connection or provide context.

analogy

a comparison between two things for the purpose of explanation or clarification, usually with the use of words like or as.

anaphora

the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences, often used for emphasis or to create a rhythmic effect.

apostrophe

a figure of speech in which a speaker directly addresses an absent or imaginary person, or a personified abstraction, often used to express emotion.

asyndeton

a rhetorical device that omits conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses, creating a concise and impactful expression.

anecdote

a short and interesting story about a real incident or person, often used to illustrate a point or engage the audience.

appeal to emotion (pathos)

a rhetorical strategy that seeks to persuade an audience by eliciting emotional responses, often through storytelling or vivid imagery.

appeal to ethos

a rhetorical strategy that establishes credibility and trustworthiness in the speaker or writer, persuading the audience through authority or ethical appeal.

appeal to logic (logos)

a rhetorical strategy that uses reasoning, facts, and logical arguments to persuade an audience, often appealing to their intellect.

chiasmus

a rhetorical device in which words, grammatical structures, or concepts are repeated in reverse order, creating a balanced effect, such as in the phrase "ask not what your country can do for you—ask what you can do for your country."

concession

a rhetorical strategy where the speaker acknowledges a point made by the opposing side, often to strengthen their own argument.

connotation

refers to the emotional, historic, and sensual (relating to senses) associations of a word

counterclaim

a claim made to rebut an opposing argument, demonstrating the complexity of the issue.

diction

the choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing.

hyperbole

a deliberate exaggeration

imagery

the use of vivid and descriptive language to create mental images and evoke sensory experiences.

juxtaposition

the placement of two or more ideas, themes, or characters side by side to highlight contrasts or similarities.

kairos

the opportune moment for persuasion or action.

metaphor

the comparison between two different things without the use of life or as

parallelism or parallel structure

a rhetorical device that involves using the same grammatical structure in a series of phrases or clauses to create rhythm and clarity.

polysyndeton

a rhetorical device that uses multiple conjunctions in close succession to emphasize a point or create a specific rhythm.

rebuttal

a response to counter an argument or claim, often used in debates or persuasive writing to address opposing viewpoints.

repetition

a rhetorical device that involves the deliberate use of the same word or phrase multiple times to emphasize an idea or create a sense of rhythm.

rhetorical questions

questions asked for effect rather than to elicit an answer, often used to provoke thought or highlight a point.

syntax

the arrangement of words and phrases to create well-formed sentences in a language.