Literary & Rhetorical Terms in Night

A set of flashcards covering key literary and rhetorical terms relevant to the study of Night.

Memoir

A first-person narrative of personal experience focused on a specific period or theme.

Narrator / Point of View

First-person retrospective narration where the adult Wiesel reflects on his younger self.

Testimony

A firsthand account given as evidence, carrying the weight of witness and moral obligation to truth.

Anaphora

Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses for emphasis.

Imagery

Language that appeals to the senses to create vivid mental pictures.

Ellipsis / Omission

Gaps and silences in the text that are deliberate rhetorical choices.

Symbolism

The use of objects, people, or events to represent larger ideas.

Epiphany

A sudden realization or moment of insight that serves as a turning point.

Motif

A recurring element that develops thematic meaning throughout the text.

Allegory

A narrative with a second, symbolic meaning, operating as a moral parable.

Irony

A contrast between appearance and reality.

Pathos

An appeal to emotion, generated through restraint and specificity of detail.

Foreshadowing

Hints or clues about what will happen later in the narrative.

Understatement

Describing something as less significant than it is, intensifying effect.

Juxtaposition

Placing contrasting elements side by side to highlight differences.

Theme

The central ideas explored in a text.

Tone

The author’s attitude toward the subject, often spare and restrained.

Characterization

How an author develops characters, often revealed through action.

Diction

Word choice, emphasizing minimal and precise language.

Setting

The time and place that represents different stages of dehumanization.

Syntax

Sentence structure, often characterized by short, declarative sentences.

Structure

How the text is organized, mirroring the dismantling of Wiesel’s world.

Dehumanization

The process by which individuals are stripped of their human identity.

Frame Narrative

A story within a story that establishes context for an inner story.

Rhetorical Situation

The context of communication, including author, audience, purpose, subject, and occasion.

Occasion

The specific moment or event that prompted the writing.

Ethos

An appeal to credibility or character.

Exigence

The problem or need that prompts a piece of writing.

Rhetorical Question

A question asked for effect rather than to receive an answer.

Logos

An appeal to logic or reason.

Voice

The distinctive style and personality that comes through in writing.

Purpose

The reason the author wrote the text.

Unique Punctuation

Deliberate use of unconventional punctuation to create meaning.

Audience

The intended reader of the text.

Parallelism

Repetition of grammatically similar structures to create rhythm, emphasis, or balance.