English Terms

English terms and definition for the first vocabulary test.

Rhetoric

The language a writer or speaker uses to persuade an audience.

Rhetorical Situation

The context of a text that shapes its meaning and message.

Author

The person who creates the text, shaping its ideas or arguments.

Audience

The group who the author is trying to persuade.

Context

The historical and societal events and norms that are happening when the story takes place or when it was written and published.

Purpose

What the author is trying to do with their piece.

Message

The central argument the author wants the

audience to take away.

Exigence

The motivation behind why the author

wrote their piece.

Ethos

Use of language to appeal to authority.

Pathos

Use of language to appeal to emotions.

Logos

Use of language to appeal to logic.

Tone

The author's attitude, expressed through diction and syntax, towards a piece or audience.

Mood

The atmosphere or emotional feeling that a reader experiences from a piece.

Diction

The choice and use of words and phrases in speech or writing.

Syntax

The arrangement of words and sentence structure to convey meaning, emotion, and emphasis.

Denotation

The dictionary definition of a word or phrase, lacking any emotional association or deeper meaning.

Connotation

The implied meaning of a word or phrase.

Rhetorical Question

A question, not meant to be answered literally, that is prompted to make you think about the mentioned topic.

Simile

Direct comparison between two unrelated things using like or as.

Metaphor

Direct comparison between two unlike things without using "like" or "as," asserting that one thing is another.

Personification

Human actions or characteristics attributed to non-human entities.

Symbolism

An object, person, scene, or action represents something beyond its literal meaning, conveying deeper themes and concepts.

Understatement

The deliberate representation of something as being less important than it actually is, for ironic, humorous, or emphatic effect.

Hyperbole

Use of extreme exaggeration to create emphasis and evoke strong emotions or a humorous or dramatic effect.

Paradox

A statement that appears contradictory or contrary to common sense but reveals a deeper, underlying truth upon closer inspection.

Anecdote

A short, personal story used to illustrate a point, make an argument more relatable, and create an emotional connection with the audience.