RA Terms Finale

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Allegory

Using characters or stories to represent abstract ideas or moral truths.

Alliteration

Repetition of initial consonant sounds in nearby words (e.g., "she sells sea shells").

Allusion

A reference to something commonly known (e.g., historical, literary, or mythological).

Ambiguity

Multiple meanings of a word, phrase, or passage (e.g., "We saw her duck").

Analogy

Comparing two things to explain something unfamiliar (e.g., ignorance and shipwrecks).

Anaphora

Repeating the same words at the start of lines or sentences for emphasis (e.g., "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times").

Anecdote

A short, interesting story to illustrate a point.

Antecedent

The word a pronoun refers to in a sentence.

Antithesis

Juxtaposing contrasting ideas in a balanced way (e.g., "Hope for the best; prepare for the worst").

Aphorism

A short, witty statement of truth or principle (e.g., "If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it").

Apostrophe

Addressing an absent person or abstract concept (e.g., "O Captain! My Captain!").

Asyndeton

Omitting conjunctions in a list for emphasis (e.g., "He received medals, honors, titles").

Atmosphere

The emotional mood of a work, often set by setting and description.

Chiasmus

Reversing the structure of phrases (e.g., "The land was ours before we were the land’s").

Clause

A group of words with a subject and verb; independent clauses can stand alone, but dependent ones cannot.

Colloquialism

Use of informal or slang language (e.g., regional dialects).

Coherence

Logical and clear organization of ideas in writing.

Conceit

An extended, clever metaphor comparing dissimilar things (e.g., "My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun").

Connotation

Implied meaning or emotional association of a word.

Denotation

Literal dictionary definition of a word.

Metaphor

A figure of speech using implied comparison of seemingly unlike things or the substitution of one for the other, suggesting some similarity.

Metonymy

A figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it.

Mood

The atmosphere of the narrative, affecting the reader emotionally and psychologically.

Narrative

The telling of a story or an account of an event or series of events.

Onomatopoeia

A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words.

Oxymoron

A figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms to suggest a paradox.

Paradox

A statement that appears self-contradictory but contains some degree of truth.

Parallelism

The grammatical or rhetorical framing of words, phrases, or sentences with structural similarity.

Parody

A work that closely imitates another's style or content for comic effect or ridicule.

Pedantic

Describes words, phrases, or tone that is overly scholarly or academic.

Periodic sentence

A sentence that presents its central meaning at the end, preceded by a phrase or clause that cannot stand alone.

Personification

A figure of speech giving human attributes to concepts, animals, or inanimate objects.

Polysyndeton

Deliberate use of excessive conjunctions in successive words or clauses.

First person POV

Narration using the first-person pronoun "I," can be protagonist or observer.

Second person POV

Narration addressing the reader with the pronoun "you."

Third person omniscient

A narrator with godlike knowledge presenting thoughts of all characters.

Third person limited omniscient

A narrator presenting the thoughts of only one character.

Prose

Fiction and non-fiction texts that are not verse/poetry.

Repetition

Duplication of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, or sentence.

Rhetoric

The art or skill of effective communication, especially to persuade or influence.

Rhetorical modes

Variety and conventions of major kinds of writing, including exposition, argumentation, description, and narration.

Rhetorical Question

A question that is not meant to be answered because the answer is obvious.

Sarcasm

Bitter language meant to hurt or ridicule, often witty.

Satire

Writing that ridicules human vices or social conventions through irony, wit, or hyperbole.

Semantics

The study of word meanings, development, connotations, and relationships.

Style

An author’s unique blend of diction, syntax, and literary devices.

Subordinate Clause

A clause with a subject and verb that cannot stand alone.

Syllogism

Deductive reasoning with two premises leading to a conclusion.

Symbol/Symbolism

Concrete objects or actions representing abstract ideas.

Synecdoche

A metaphor where a part represents the whole or vice versa.

Syntax

How words are grouped into phrases and sentences, influencing tone and meaning.

Theme

The central idea or insight into life a work offers.

Thesis

A sentence or group of sentences expressing the main idea in writing.

Tone

The author’s attitude towards the subject or audience.

Understatement

Presenting something as less significant for humor or emphasis.

Undertone

A hidden attitude beneath the apparent tone.

Wit

Clever and surprising language that delights with intellectual humor.