Rhetorical Terms Flashcards

Flashcards for reviewing rhetorical terms and their definitions.

Allegory

Using characters or story elements symbolically to represent abstract concepts in addition to the literal meaning; e.g., Animal Farm

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring words; reinforces meaning, unifies ideas, supplies musicality, echoes sense of the passage.

Allusion

A reference to an event, book, myth, place, or artwork presumed to be commonly known; gives authority, makes connections, creates memorable phrases.

Ambiguity

Multiple meanings of a word, phrase, or passage, either intentional or unintentional; e.g., 'We saw her duck.'

Analogy

Similarity or comparison between two different things; explains the unfamiliar through familiar concepts, makes writing more vivid.

Anaphora

Repetition of the same expression at the beginning of lines, clauses, or sentences; creates memorable, powerful effects.

Anecdote

A short narrative about an interesting event; provides concrete examples, humanizes abstract concepts.

Antecedent

The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun; often tested on the AP exam.

Antithesis

Juxtaposition of contrasting ideas through parallel structure; e.g., 'We must learn to live together as brothers or perish together as fools.'

Aphorism

A terse statement expressing a general truth or moral principle; e.g., 'I think, therefore I am.'

Apostrophe

Direct address to an absent or imaginary person; displays intense emotion.

Asyndeton

Omitting conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses; creates a sense of urgency and multiplicity.

Atmosphere

The emotional mood created by a work, influenced by setting and descriptive elements.

Chiasmus

Parallel phrases in reverse order; e.g., 'Pleasure's a sin, and sometimes sin's a pleasure.'

Clause

A grammatical unit with a subject and a verb; can be independent (complete thought) or dependent (requires an independent clause).

Colloquialism

Informal language or slang in writing; creates conversational tone.

Coherence

Clarity in the arrangement of parts in composition.

Conceit

An extended metaphor or surprising analogy.

Connotation

The implied, suggested meaning of a word.

Denotation

The literal, dictionary definition of a word.

Diacope

Repetition of a word or phrase after an intervening word.

Diction

Author's word choices influencing style and effectiveness.

Didactic

Works primarily aimed to teach or instruct, especially moral principles.

Enumeratio

Amplification through detailing components or listing parts of a subject.

Expletive

Figure of emphasis; a word or phrase interrupting normal speech for emphasis.

Euphemism

A less offensive term substituted for a harsh one.

Exposition

The explanatory component of a composition or initial part of a drama.

Extended Metaphor

A metaphor developed at great length throughout a work.

Figurative Language

Writing that intends to be imaginative and vivid.

Figure of Speech

Devices producing figurative language, e.g., metaphor, simile, hyperbole.

Generic Conventions

Traditions that define each genre, helping differentiate various writing forms.

Genre

Major categories in literature, such as prose, poetry, and drama.

Homily

A serious talk or lecture offering moral or spiritual advice.

Hyperbole

Deliberate exaggeration for effect

Hypophora

A question posed and then answered by the same speaker.

Imagery

Descriptive language appealing to the senses, creating emotional responses.