AP Lang Rhetorical Terms

Asyndeton: Definition

Omitting conjunctions between words, phrases, or clauses (opposite of polysyndeton).

Asyndeton: What It Does

Gives the effect of multiplicity and that a list is incomplete, Strengthens a climax, Synonymity

Asyndeton: Example

She likes pickles, olives, raisins, dates.

Polysyndeton: Definition

The use of a conjunction between each word, phrase, or clause (opposite of asyndeton).

Polysyndeton: What It Does

Multiplicity, Encompass something complex, Calls attention to each item in a list

Polysyndeton: Example

He drank a soda and orange juice and water and wine.

Amplification: Definition

Repeating an expression while adding more detail to it, in order to emphasize something that would otherwise be passed over.

Amplification: What It Does

Emphasizes

Amplification: Example

I ate a lot of ice cream - mountains of creamy, luscious ice cream, dripping with syrup.

Parallelism: Definition

Recurrent syntactical similarity

Parallelism: What It Does

Shows that parts of sentences are equal in importance, Adds balance and rhythm

Parallelism: Example

These critics - who point out beauties, who discover faults, and who discuss application of rules - usually are correct.

Antithesis: Definition

Joins two opposing ideas together often in a parallel structure

Antithesis: What It Does

Establishes a clear & contrasting relationship between 2 ideas, Makes/clarifies differences

Antithesis: Example

If we try, we might succeed; if we do not try, we cannot succeed.

Anaphora: Definition

Repetition of the same word or words at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, or sentences.

Anaphora: What It Does

Emphasis

Anaphora: Example

Will he read the book? Will he learn? Will he live according to what he learned?

Understatement: Definition

Deliberately expresses an idea as less important than it actually is.

Understatement: What It Does

Ironic emphasis, Politeness

Understatement: Example

The gradual emergence of a little-understood variant of coronavirus somewhat interrupted daily life in 2020.

Chiasmus: Definition

(AB -> BA) Flipping the second part of a sentence's structure. (Reverse parallelism).

Chiasmus: What It Does

Emphasis, Balancing

Chiasmus: Example

Ask not what your country (A) can do for you (B) you, ask what you can do for (B) your country (A)

Rhetorical Question: Definition

A question asked by the writer which is not answered

Rhetorical Question: What It Does

Effect, emphasis, or provocation

Rhetorical Question: Example

If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?

Analogy: Definition

Compares two things, alike in some aspects, to explain or clarify some unfamiliar idea by showing how the idea is similar to a familiar one.

Analogy: What It Does

Simplifies, clarifies

Analogy: Example

"Structure of an atom is like a solar system. Nucleus is the sun and electrons are the planets revolving around their sun."

Metaphor: Definition

Compares two things by speaking of one in terms of the other. Asserts that one thing is another thing.

Metaphor: What It Does

Explains, clarifies, touches the readers imagination

Metaphor: Example

He was a star.

Simile: Definition

A comparions between two things that resemble each other in at least one way,

Simile: What It Does

Clarifies

Simile: Example

He was like a star.

Personification: Definition

Represents an animal or inanimate object as having human attributes

Personification: What It Does

Clarifies, provides a literary quality

Personification: Example

The coffee is strong enough to get up and walk away.

Hyperbole: Definition

Deliberately exaggerates conditions (opposite of understatement)

Hyperbole: What It Does

Emphasis, Effect

Hyperbole: Example

There are a 1,000,000 reasons why more research is needed on solar energy.

Allusion: Definition

A short reference to a famous person, event, or text.

Allusion: What It Does

Efficiently deepens understanding by using something the audience is already familiar with

Allusion: Example

Plan ahead: it wasn't raining when Noah built the ark.

Oxymoron: Definition

A paradox reduced to 2 words

Oxymoron: What It Does

Effect, complexity, emphasis, wit

Oxymoron: Example

Jumbo Shrimp

Parenthesis: Definition

A word, phrase, or sentence inserted as an aside in the middle of a sentence

Parenthesis: What It Does

Emphasis as the jumping into (or out of) the sentence gets the reader's attention

Parenthesis: Example

Alex Morgan (who is not related to Mr. Morgan) is perhaps the most famous DBHS alum.

Alliteration: Definition

The recurrence of initial consonant sounds (usually limited to two words)

Alliteration: What It Does

Calls attention, emphasis

Alliteration: Example

The proposed bill was a baffling, bewildering 800 pages in length.

Onomatopoeia: Definition

The use of words whose pronunciation imitates the sound of the word described

Onomatopoeia: What It Does

Adds liveliness and "flavor"

Onomatopoeia: Example

The customer smacked her lips and slurped down the rest of the milkshake.

Apostrophe: Definition

A direct address to a person or personified thing (e.g. God, liberty, fate, etc.).

Apostrophe: What It Does

Displays intense emotion and invokes a higher power

Apostrophe: Example

"Liberty, O glorious triumph of man, O mighty force that ends all tyranny! Wherever man shakes off his shackles, there you dwell!"

Exemplum: Definition

Citing an example that illustrates the point

Exemplum: What It Does

Provides an example for support and better understanding

Exemplum: Example

"For instance, the German government printed endless quantities of paper money in the 1920s."

Diction: Definition

A writer's or speaker's choice of words

Diction: What it does

The connotation of specific word choice can elicit an emotion or feeling in the audience that another word wouldn't.

Diction: Example

Describing someone as "slim" has a flattering connotation. Describing someone as "gaunt" has an unflattering connotation. Both could describe the same person.

Persona: Definition

the aspect of a speaker's character that is presented to or perceived by the audience

Persona: What It Does

A speaker can create a persona that heightens the persuasive effect on the audience.

Persona: Example

A politician from Chicago gives a speech in Arkansas using a southern accent and frequent use of the word "y'all."

Concession: Definition

An acknowledgment that an opposing viewpoint has merit. This is best followed up by a rebuttal.

Concession: What It Does

Demonstrates the speaker's objectivity, fairness, and consideration of other opinions.

Concession: Example

"While I admit that hybrid cars have higher carbon production costs than conventional automobiles, this is dramatically offset by the much-smaller lifetime carbon footprint of the vehicles."

Polemic: Definition

An overly-aggressive argument that does not acknowledge any other viewpoints and sometimes even attacks the speaker him/herself.

Polemic: What It Does

Generally detracts from a person's persuasiveness and shows a lack of discipline. Alienates the audience.

Polemic: Example

"People who disagree with me are profoundly and willfully stupid."

Speaker: Definition

The person or entity delivering the message or making the argument. This includes a specific persona the individual may be adopting.

Occasion: Definition

The time and place a text is written, produced, or delivered. This includes the context surrounding the text's production, e.g. the events the speaker was responding to

Audience: Definition

The intended readers, listeners, or spectators of someone's argument.

Purpose: Definition

What the speaker wants the audience to do/get out of the writing. It is the primary goal or agenda of the text.

Subject: Definition

The topic of the text, e.g. the benefits of local over centralized government

Tone: Definition

the attitude of a writer, usually implied, toward the subject or audience