Rhetorical Terms

Alliteration

repeats the same starting sound in a group of close words

ex: Peter Piper pickled a peck of pickled peppers

Analogy

comparison between two different things to show how alike they in some way

ex: the brain is like a computer

Apostrophe

(‘) punctuation mark used to show ownership or create contractions

ex: the dog’s toy or don’t = do not

Colloquialism

informal word or phrase used in casual conversation

ex: y’all, gonna, wanna

Connotation

an emotional or cultural idea that a word suggests beyond its strict dictionary definition

ex: slim vs. skinny, slim has a positive connotation

denotation

literal exact dictionary definition, no emotional feelings, cultural hints, or hidden meanings

ex. house vs home, house is denotation unlike home which sounds friendly

ethical appeal

method of persuasion based on the author or speakers credibility, character, or authority

ex. “according to a study” as a doctor with 20 years

Euphemism

a polite, mild, or indirect word or phrase to replace one that’s too harsh, blunt, or offensive

ex: “passed away” instead of saying someone died

Extended metaphor

detailed comparison of 2 things that goes for many sentences, paragraphs, or pages

Genre

a category of art, writing, film, or music

ex: books; fantasy, mystery, romance

Hubris

extreme of excessive pride, self-confidence, or arrogance. Where a characters state of over-confidence usually leads to mistakes or failure

Hyperbole

a figure of speech that uses extreme exaggeration to make a point

ex: i’m so hungry I could eat a horse

Image

A visual copy or picture of a person, object, or scene

Metaphor

comparison of 2 different things by stating one thing is another

ex: time is a thief

Mood

the emotional vibe a writer creates for the reader through setting and words

Motif

a repeated idea, image, sound, or design in a story, song, or piece of art that helps show a bigger meaning

Onomatopoeia

a word that copies or mimics the natural sound of the thing it describes

ex: animals: meow, woof, Impacts: bang, Machines: beep

Paradox

a statement or situation that seems to go against common sense or logic, but actually reveals a hidden truthP

Parody

creative work that copies, imitates, or mocks another work, person, or style to be funny or make a point

ex: saturday night live making fun of pop culture

Pathos

communication and literature technique that appeals to an audiences emotions to persuade or touch them

ex: an animal shelter showing a sad dog to make viewers sad

protagonist

the main character in a story, book, movie, or play who drives the plot forward and experiences the central conflict

ex: katniss everdeen in hunger games

rhetoric

the art of effective or persuasive speaking and writing

ex: ethos, pathos, logos: Mark Antonys funeral speech for Julius Ceasar

Stereotype

widely held fixed generalization about a particular group of people or things

ex: thinking all old people don’t know how to use technology

Synedoche

a figure of speech where a part of something is used to represent the whole, or the whole is used to represent the a part

Theme

The central idea, underlying message, or deeper truth that a writer explores in a story

Ex: 1984, totalitarian control works best when people stop thinking and give up their personal privacy