Rhetorical Terms Quiz #2 for AP English Language

Verbal Irony

When you say something and mean the opposite/something different

Dramatic Irony

When the audience of a drama, play, movie, etc. knows something that the character doesn't and would be surprised to find out

Situational Irony

Found in the plot (or storyline) of a book, story, or movie. Sometimes it makes you laugh because it's funny how things turn out

The outcome of a situation is the opposite of what is expected

Denotation

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

Connotation

Rather than the dictionary definition (denotation), the associations suggested by a word. Implied meaning rather than literal meaning (For example, "policeman," "cop," and "The Man" all denote the same literal meaning of police officer, but each has a different connotation)

Vernacular

1. Language or dialect of a particular country

2. Language or dialect of a regional clan or group

3. Plain everyday speech

Mood

The atmosphere created by the literature and accomplished through word choice (diction). Syntax is often a creator of mood since word order, sentence length and strength and complexity also affect pacing and therefore mood. Setting, tone, and events can all affect the mood

Juxtaposition

Placing things side by side for the purposes of comparison. Authors often use juxtaposition of ideas or examples in order to make a point

Polysyndeton

When a writer creates a list of items which are all separated by conjunctions. Normally, a conjunction is used only before the last item in a list. Examples of polysyndeton: "I walked the dog, and fed the cat, and milked the cows." Polysyndeton is often used to slow down the pace of the writing and/or add an authoritative tone

Satire

A work that reveals a critical attitude toward some element of life to a humorous effect. It targets human vices and follies, or social institutions and conventions. Good satire usually has three layers: serios on the surface; humorous when you discover that it is satire instead of reality; and serious when you discern the underlying point of the author