Rhetorical Structure and Stylistic Elements

Rhetoric

The entire process of written communication; tools that enable a writer to present ideas to an audience effectively.

Style

The way an author presents his/her ideas through the use of diction, syntax, imagery, structure, and content all create a style.

allusion

a direct or indirect reference contained in a work that is presumably commonly known, such as an event, a book, myth, place, or work of art. Allusions can be historical (like referring to Hitler), literary (like referring to Odysseus in The Odyssey), religious (like referring to Noah and the flood), or mythical (like referring to Zeus).

analogy

a comparison between two different things in order to highlight some point of similarity. Analogy is not the same as metaphor. In argumentation and persuasion, analogy is often used as some form of reasoning in which one thing is compared to or contrasted with another in certain respects, based on the known similarity or dissimilarity in other respects. Metaphor, simile, and analogy are all comparisons, but they're not exactly the same. One point to remember is that metaphors and similes are figures of speech, while an analogy is a type of argument. A metaphor is something, a simile is like something, and an analogy explains how one thing being like another helps explain them both. One may use metaphors and similes to create an analogy.

Examples:

• Metaphor: Time is a thief.

• Simile: Time is like a thief.

• Analogy: Time is like a thief in that thieves steal physical objects and time steals moments of our lives.

• Metaphor: Joe is a pig.

• Simile: Joe is as dirty as a pig.

• Analogy: Joe's sense of personal hygiene is on the same level as a pig that rolls around in dirt and mud all day.

anecdote

a story told by the author to illustrate a point.

antithesis

two contrasting images in which the ideas are balanced by words, phrases, or paragraphs (a type of parallelism).

Example:

“We may not be able to prepare the future for our children, but we can at least prepare our children for the future.”

connotation

images rather than literal meaning (figurative language). Connotation may involve ideas, emotions, or attitudes.

colloquialism

slang or informality in speech or writing. Not generally acceptable for formal writing, colloquialisms give a work a conversational, familiar tone.

denotation

the literal or dictionary definition of a word, devoid of any emotion, attitude, or color.

dialogue

conversation between two or more people.

diction

the author’s choice of words that creates tone, attitude, style and meaning. You should be able to describe an author’s diction (for example, formal or informal, ornate, or plain,) and understand the ways in which diction can complement an author’s purpose.

imagery

effect of sensory images in literature. Pay attention to how the author creates imagery and the effect of that imagery.

juxtaposition

placing dissimilar items, descriptions, or ideas close together or side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.

parallelism

the repetition of similar or equivalent syntactical constructions (words, phrases, clauses, or an entire sentence) often for rhetorical effect.

Example:

“I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, a state sweltering with the heat of injustice, sweltering with the heat of oppression, will be transformed into an oasis of freedom and justice. I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will no be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!”

- Martin Luther King, Jr.

point of view

the method of narration in a literary work.

• The first-person narrator tells the story with the first-person pronoun, “I,” and is a character in the story. This character can be the protagonist (hero or heroine), a participant (a character in a secondary role), or an observer (the character who merely watches the action).

• The third-person narrator relates the events with the third-person pronouns, “he,” “she,” and “it.” Be aware of two main subdivisions: omniscient and limited omniscient. In the third-person omniscient POV, the narrator, with godlike knowledge, presents the thoughts and actions of any or all characters. This all-knowing narrator can reveal what each character feels and thinks at any given moment. The third person limited-omniscient POV, as its name implies, presents the feelings and thoughts of only one character, and only the actions of the remaining characters. Use these definitions for the multiple-choice section of the exam. In the essay portion, however, when you are asked to analyze an author’s point of view, address the author’s attitude.

repetition

The duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern for emphasis and effect. See parallelism.

rhetorical question

any question asked for a purpose other than to obtain information the question asks.

Example:

“Why are you so happy?”

• This is not a genuine request for an answer. However, the question as a grammatical form has important rhetorical dimensions. For example, it can be used as a method of discourse: “You see he [John] does not believe I am sick! And what can one do?” (Gilman). This rhetorical question has an ethical dimension, since to ask this way generally endears the speaker to the audience and so improves his/her credibility or ethos.

structure

the organization and form of literacy work.

symbolism

an object, action, character, or scene that represents something more abstract.

syntax

the way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses and sentences. Syntax is similar to diction, but you can differentiate the two by thinking of syntax as referring to groups of words while diction refers to individual words. Expect questions about how an author manipulates syntax and how it produces effects.

theme

the central idea or message of a work; the insight it offers into life.

tone

the author’s attitude toward his/her subject/material, audience or both. Use adjectives to describe an author’s tone and expect it to be complex.

figurative language

writing or speech that is not intended to carry literal meaning and is usually meant to be imaginative and vivid.

Examples:

❖ alliteration: the repetition of initial consonant sounds.

• Example: “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”

❖ assonance: the repetition of words beginning with vowels

❖ hyperbole: extreme exaggeration; opposite of understatement

❖ metaphor: a figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things (without using “like” or “as”), suggesting some similarity.

❖ metonymy: a figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.

• Example: A news release claims that “the White House declared” rather than “the President declared” is using metonymy.

❖ onomatopoeia: sound words- crash, hiss, boom

❖ simile: a direct comparison of two unlike objects using “like” or “as”

❖ synecdoche: identifying something by a part or piece of it

• Example: Using the phrase Nice wheels! (instead of saying Nice car!)