Flashcards AP Lang Rhetorical Devices | Quizlet

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds for emphasis or rhythm

Allusion

A reference to another work, historical event, or figure to enhance meaning

Analogy

A comparison between two things to clarify or explain an idea

Anaphora

Repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses

Antithesis

Contrasting ideas expressed in parallel structure to highlight differences

Anecdote

A short, illustrative story used to make a point or connect with the audience

Asyndeton

Omission of conjunctions for dramatic effect or speed

Call to Action

A concise prompt designed to spur an immediate response from an audience, guiding them toward a specific action.

Chiasmus

Reversal of grammatical structure in successive phrases or clauses

Concession

Acknowledging a point made by the opposing side before refuting it

Ethos

Establishing credibility or ethical appeal

Hyperbole

Deliberate exaggeration for emphasis or effect

Hypophora

A rhetorical device where a speaker or writer asks a question and then immediately answers it

Imagery

Words that trigger the reader to feel, smell, or hear what the characters in the story are experiencing at a given moment

Irony

Expressing meaning by using language that signifies the opposite, often for humor or emphasis

Juxtaposition

Placing contrasting elements side by side for effect

Logos

Appealing to logic or reason

Metaphor

Comparing two unlike things directly to convey meaning

Metonymy

Using a related object or concept to represent something (e.g., "the crown" for a king)

Oxymoron

Combining contradictory terms for effect (e.g., "deafening silence")

Parallelism

Using the same grammatical structure in successive phrases or sentences

Pathos

Appealing to emotion to persuade an audience

Polysyndeton

Using multiple conjunctions for emphasis or pacing

Repetition

Repeating words or phrases to emphasize key ideas

Rhetorical Question

Asking a question to make a point rather than to get an answer

Simile

Comparing two unlike things using "like" or "as"

Understatement

Deliberately presenting something as less significant than it is