AP Lang -- Rhetorical Terms

Allegory

The device of using character and/or story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction in addition to the literal meaning. The allegorical meaning usually deals with moral truth or a generalization about human existence.

Alliteration

The repetition of initial consonants in successive words.

Allusion

A direct or indirect reference to something which is commonly known.

Ambiguity

The multiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, sentence, or passes.

Anadiplosis

The repetition of a word or words in successive clauses in such a way that the second clause starts with the same word which marks the end of the previous clause.

Analogy

A similarity or comparison between two different things or their relationship to comprehend an idea or make writing more vivid.

Anaphora

One of the devices of repetition in which the same expression is repeated at the beginning of two or more lines, clauses, or sentences.

Anecdote

A short narrative detailing particulars of an interesting episode or event.

Antecedent

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

Antistrophe

A rhetorical device that involves the repetition of the same words at the end of consecutive phrases, clauses, sentences, and paragraphs.

Antithesis

Figure of balance in which two contrasting ideas are intentionally juxtaposed, usually through parallel structure.

Aphorism

A terse statement of known authorship which expresses a general truth or moral principle.

Apostrophe

A figure of speech that addresses an absent person, an imaginary person, or an abstraction that cannot answer back.

Archaism

A figure of speech in which a used word or phrase is considered very old fashioned and outdated.

Assonance

The repetition of the same vowel sounds in succession.

Asyndeton

The omission of conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses to emphasize something.

Atmosphere

The emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work, usually to foreshadow events.

Balanced Sentence

A sentence consisting of two or more clauses that are parallel in structure, for example: “Control it before it controls you.”

Cacophany

The use of words with sharp, harsh, hissing and unmelodious sounds primarily made of consonants to achieve desired results.

Catachresis

A harsh metaphor involving the use of a word incorrectly. For example: “I listen vainly, but with thirsty ear.”

Chiasmus

A figure in speech in which two successive phrases or clauses are parallel in syntax, but reverse the order of the analogous words. For example: “Pleasure’s a sin, and sometimes sin’s a pleasure.”

Clause

A grammatical unit that contains a subject and a predicate (verb). An independent clause can express a complete thought but a dependent clause cannot, sometimes purposely, and must be accompanied by an independent clause.

Colloquial

The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.

Coherence

A principle demanding that the parts of any composition be arranged so that the meaning of the whole may be immediately clear and intelligible.

Conceit

A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy to display cleverness.

Connotation

The non-literal, associative meaning of a word.

Consonance

The repetitive sounds produced by consonants within a sentence or phrase in successive words. For example: “A quietness distilled/As Twilight long begun…”

Denotation

The strict, dictionary definition of a word.

Diacope

The repetition of a word or phrase after an intervening word or phrase.

Diction

An author’s word choices with regard to clarity or efficiency, contributing to the author’s style.

Didactic

Works that have the primary aim of teaching, especially related to morals.

Ellipsis

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

Enumeration

Figure of amplification in which a subject is divided into constituent parts or details in a list.

Expletive

Figure of emphasis in which a single word or short phrase, usually interrupting normal speech, is used to lend emphasis to the words on either side of the expletive such as certainly or of course.

Euphemism

A replacement for a less agreeable or offensive word to adhere to social norms or add humor.

Exposition

In essays it is used to explain something, but in drama it is the introductory material.

Extended Metaphor

A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout the work.

Figurative Language

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

Figure of Speech

A device used to produce figurative language, usually using comparison, such as metaphor, paradox, and synecdoche.

Generic Conventions

The traditions of a genre.

Genre

The main category into which a literary work fits, between prose, poetry, and drama, but can be subdivided.

Homily

Any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice.

Hyperbole

A deliberate exaggeration to either produce a comic, ironic, or serious effect.

Hypophora

Figure of reasoning in which one or more questions is/are asked and then answered, usually used at the beginning of a paragraph to explain an idea.

Imagery

The sensory details used to describe, arouse emotion, or represent abstractions. Physically, may appeal to the five senses but also suggest complex themes.

Inference

A reasonable conclusion from the information presented.

Invective

An emotionally violent, verbal denunciation using strong, abusive language.

Irony

A contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant, such as in verbal irony, situational irony where the opposite occurs as what is expected, or dramatic irony where the audience knows more than the characters.

Juxtaposition

When two words or ideas are placed close together to compare or contrast.

Litotes

A point is affirmed by negating its opposite to assert an underlying point, such as, not uncommon or he’s no fool.

Loose Sentence

A type of sentence in which the main idea comes first, followed by dependent grammatical units such as phrases and clauses to create a loose style.

Metaphor

A figure of speech using implied comparison without like or as.

Metonymy

A figure of speech in which the name of one obkect is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.

Mood

The use of grammatical verbal units to add an attitude to writing or in literature, the atmosphere of the work.

Narrative

The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events.

Onomatopoeia

A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated by the sounds of words.

Oxymoron

The grouping of apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox.

Paradox

A statement that appears to be self-contradictory or opposed to common sense but open closer inspection contains some degree of truth or validity.

Parallelism

Also meaning parallel structure, the grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, sentences, or paragraphs to give structural similarity, emphasis, or rhythm.

Parody

A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.

Pedantic

Words, phrases, or a general tone that is overly scholarly or academic.

Periodic sentence

A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main independent clause at the end to emphasize a point or add structural variety.

Personification

The endowment of human traits or qualities to a concept, animal, or inanimate object.

Polysyndeton

Figure of addition and emphasis which intentionally employs a series of conjunctions not normally found in successive words to add emphasis and enumeration.

Point of View

The perspective from which a story is told; including first person “I”, third person pronouns, and third person omniscient versus limited omniscient.

Praeterito/Paraleipsis

The device of giving emphasis by professing to say little or nothing about the subject such as “not to mention” or “to say nothing”.

Predicate adjective

An adjective or group or adjectives that follow a linking verb and act as the predicate, not grouped with the subject. “My dog is fat, slow, and shaggy.”

Predicate nominative

A noun or group of nouns that names the subject following a linking verb. “My dog is a labrador retriever.”

Prose

One of the main divisions of genre including fiction and non-fiction where the printer determines the length of the line.

Repetition

The duplication of any element of language, such as a word or a phrase. It is used in alliteration, and assonance etc.

Rhetoric

The principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.

Rhetoric modes

Variety and conventions of the major kinds of writing; exposition is to explain and analyze, argumentation is to prove the validity of an idea, persuasion is argumentation to urge action, description is to re-create a thing so that the reader can picture it being described, and narration is to tell a story or sequence of event.

Rhetorical Question

Poses an often yes or no question that is used for emphasis or to conclude a fact.

Sarcasm

Bitter, caustic language meant to hurt or ridicule someone or an idea.

Satire

A work that targets human vices and follies or social conventions for reform or ridicule using hyperbole, caricature, understatement, or sarcasm.

Simile

A comparison of two unlike things using like or as.

Semantics

The study of the meaning of words, history, psychology, their relations, and their connotations.

Style

An evaluation of the sum of the choices an author makes in blending diction, syntax, or other literary devices or to classify and compare a group of authors to analyze their time period or movement.

Subject complement

The word or a clause that follows a linking verb that completes the subject of the sentence by renaming it or describing it.

Subordinate Clause

A dependent clause with a subject and predicate that cannot stand alone in a sentence with a subordinating conjunction.

Syllogism

A deductive system of formal logic that presents two premises that inevitably lead to a sound conclusion, such as “all men are mortal; Socrates is a man; therefore, Socrates is mortal".

Symbolism

Anything that represents itself and stands for something else, usually an abstraction. Grouped into natural symbols, conventional symbols from a group, or literary symbols.

Synecdoche

The part stands in for the whole.

Syntax

The way an author chooses to join words into phrases, clauses, and sentences rather than individual words with diction.

Theme

The central idea or message of a work, either directly stated or indirectly.

Thesis

A sentence or a group of sentence arguing an opinion used in expository or argumentative writing.

Tone

The author’s attitude towards his material and/or the audience, such as somber, sardonic, formal, or playful.

Transition

A word or phrase that links different ideas as seen in expository and argumentative writing such as furthermore, consequently, or nevertheless.

Understatement

The ironic minimizing of fact to create humor; the opposite of hyperbole.

Undertone

An attitude that may lie under the ostensible tone of the piece.

Wit

Intellectually amazing language that surprises and delights but historically, language that demanded quick perception.