Dictionary of Rhetorical Terms - Video Notes (Vocabulary Flashcards)

A set of vocabulary flashcards covering key rhetorical and stylistic terms from the lecture notes.

Abstract

A word signifying a general idea or concept that is intangible.

Concrete

A word referring to tangible things perceivable by the senses.

Colloquialism

Casual or informal words/phrases used in everyday speech; may originate from a dialect.

Archaism

An old-fashioned word or expression no longer in common usage.

Connotation

The implied or suggested meaning of a word beyond its dictionary definition.

Denotation

The literal, dictionary definition of a word.

Dialect

A regional or social variety of a language.

Jargon

Specialized language of a profession or group; can sound pretentious if used to exclude others.

Neologism

A newly coined word or phrase.

Idiom

An expression whose meaning cannot be deduced from the literal words; figurative meaning.

Euphemism

A mild or indirect term substituted for a harsh or blunt one.

Ambiguity

Deliberate creation of multiple meanings in a statement.

Anaphora

Exact repetition of the same word or phrase at the start of successive sentences or clauses.

Epistrophe

Repetition of a word at the end of successive clauses or sentences.

Antithesis

Contrast of ideas using parallel structure.

Aphorism

A short, pithy statement expressing a general truth.

Asyndeton

leaving out conjunctions (fanboys) in a list of items.

Polysyndeton

Use of multiple conjunctions (FANBOYS) between list items.

Cataloguing

A listing of items; an enumeration or catalogue-like sequence.

Inversion

Reversal of the usual word order.

Juxtaposition

Placing words or phrases near each other to highlight contrasts or comparisons.

Loose sentence

A sentence where the main idea comes first, followed by subordinate clauses.

Periodic sentence

A long sentence where the main idea appears at the end.

Exclamatory sentence

A sentence that expresses strong emotion and ends with an exclamation point.

Imperative sentence

A sentence that gives a command; can end with a period or exclamation depending on force.

Parallelism

Using the same grammatical pattern in different parts of a sentence; emphasizes equal importance.

Caesura

A pause or break within a line (often in poetry) for effect.

Repetition

Repeated use of a word, phrase, or clause for emphasis.

Rhetorical question

A question asked for effect with no expected answer.

Allusion

A reference to a well-known person, place, event, or work.

Analogy

An extended comparison between two unlike things that share similarities.

Caricature

Exaggerated portrayal of a person for comic or satirical effect.

Hyperbole

Deliberate exaggeration for emphasis.

Imagery

Language that appeals to the senses to create mental pictures.

Irony

A contrast between expectation and reality; includes different types including verbal irony.

Metaphor

A direct comparison where one thing is said to be another.

Metonymy

Substitution of a term closely related to the thing for the thing itself.

Onomatopoeia

Words that imitate the sounds they describe.

Oxymoron

Two contradictory terms joined together.

Paradox

A seemingly contradictory statement that reveals a deeper truth.

Personification

Giving human qualities to nonhuman entities.

Simile

A comparison using like or as.

Synecdoche

A part representing the whole (or vice versa).

Understatement

Portraying something as less significant than it actually is.

Parody

A work that imitates another for comic or critical effect.

Satire

A literary work that ridicules society to provoke change, often using irony or exaggeration.

Allegory

A narrative with literal and symbolic levels that convey a moral or truth.

Sermon

A religious speech meant to be spoken aloud and containing a moral or didactic lesson.

Didactic

Intended to instruct, often in a way that is overly moralizing.

Elegy

A thoughtful poem lamenting someone’s death.

Eulogy

A speech praising the deceased, usually at a funeral.

Narrative

Any writing that relates a sequence of events.

Anecdote

A brief narrative or retelling of a personal or witness account.

Panegyric

A formal expression of high praise.

Polemic

A passionate, strongly worded argument against something.

Diatribe

A bitter, harsh attack on someone or something; more hostile than a polemic.