Literary and Rhetorical Devices: Point of View, Narration, and Sentence Structure

Point of view

In literature, the perspective from which a story is told.

First person narrator

Tells the story with the first person pronoun, 'I,' and is a character in the story.

Third person narrator

Relates the events with the third person pronouns 'he,' 'she,' and 'it.'

Third person omniscient

The narrator presents the thoughts and actions of any or all characters.

Third person limited omniscient

Presents the feelings and thoughts of only one character.

Predicate nominative

A noun, group of nouns, or noun clause that renames the subject.

Prose

Refers to fiction and nonfiction, including all its forms.

Proverb

A short pithy statement of a general truth that condenses common experiences into memorable form.

Pun / paronomasia

A humorous play on words, using similar-sounding or identical words to suggest different meanings.

Rebuttal or refutation

The part of discourse wherein opposing arguments are anticipated and answered.

Repetition

The duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language.

Rhetor

The speaker who uses elements of rhetoric effectively in oral or written text.

Rhetoric

Describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.

Rhetorical modes

Describes the variety, the conventions, and the purposes of the major kinds of writing.

Exposition

The purpose is to explain and analyze information by presenting an idea, relevant evidence, and appropriate discussion.

Argumentation

The purpose is to prove the validity of an idea by presenting sound reasoning, discussion, and argument.

Descriptive writing

Writing that engages all five senses to describe an event or action.

Narration

The purpose is to tell a story or narrate an event or series of events.

Rhetorical question

A question to which the audience already knows the answer; asked merely for effect.

Sarcasm

Bitter, caustic language meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something.

Satire

A work that targets human vices and follies for reform or ridicule.

Semantics

The branch of linguistics that studies the meaning of words and their relations.

Sentence structure

The arrangement of the parts of a sentence.