Rhetorical Terms List #4

Parody

A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.  As comedy, parody distorts or exaggerates distinctive features of the original.  As ridicule, it mimics the work by repeating and borrowing words, phrases, or characteristics in order to illuminate weaknesses in the original.  Well-written parody offers enlightenment about the original, but poorly written parody offers only ineffectual imitation.  Usually an audience must grasp literary allusion and understand the work being parodied in order to fully appreciate the nuances of the newer work.  Occasionally, however, parodies take on a life of their own and don’t require knowledge of the original

Pedantic

An adjective that describes words, phrases, or general tone that is overly scholarly, academic, or bookish.

Periodic sentence

A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end.  This independent clause is preceded by a phrase or clause that cannot stand alone.  For example:  “Ecstatic with my AP score, I let out a loud, joyful shout!”  The effect of a periodic sentence is to add emphasis and structural variety.  It is also a much stronger sentence than the loose sentence.

Personification

A figure of speech in which the author presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions.

Polysyndeton

 Figure of addition and emphasis which intentionally employs a series of conjunctions (FANBOYS: for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so) not normally found in successive words, phrases or clauses; the deliberate and excessive use of conjunctions in successive words or clauses.  The effect is a feeling of multiplicity, energetic enumeration, and building up – a persistence or intensity.

Point of view

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

Predicate adjective

 One type of subject complement is an adjective, group of adjectives, or adjective clause that follows a linking verb.  It is the predicate of the sentence, and modifies, or describes the subject.

Predicate nominative

 A second type of subject complement - a noun, group of nouns, or noun clause that names the subject.  It follows a linking verb and is located in the predicate of the sentence.

Prose

 One of the major divisions of genre, prose refers to fiction and non-fiction, including all its forms.  In __ the printer determines the length of the line; in poetry, the poet determines the length of the line

Repetition

The duplication, either exact or approximate, of any element of language, such as a sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern.

Rhetoric

From the Greek for “orator,” this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.

Rhetorical modes

his flexible term describes the variety, the conventions, and purposes of the major kinds of writing.  The four most common __ and their purposes are as follows:  (1)  The purpose of exposition (or expository writing) is to explain and analyze information by presenting an idea, relevant evidence, and appropriate discussion.  The AP language exam essay questions are frequently expository topics.  (2) The purpose of argumentation  is to prove the validity of an idea, or point of view, by presenting sound reasoning, discussion, and argument that thoroughly convince the reader.  Persuasive writing is a type of argumentation having an additional aim of urging some form of action.  (3)  The purpose of description is to recreate, invent, or visually present a person, place, event or action so that the reader can picture that being described.  Sometimes an author engages all five senses in description;  good descriptive writing can be sensuous and picturesque.  Descriptive writing may be straightforward and objective or highly emotional and subjective.  (4) The purpose of narration is to tell a story or narrate an event or series of events.  This writing mode frequently uses the tools of descriptive writing. These four modes are sometimes referred to as mode of discourse.

Rhetorical Question

differs from hypophora in that it is not answered by the writer because its answer is obvious or obviously desired, and usually just a yes or no answer would suffice.  It is used for effect, emphasis, or provocation, or for drawing a conclusionary statement from the facts at hand.

Sarcasm

From the Greek meaning “to tear flesh,” sarcasm involves bitter, caustic language that is meant to hurt or ridicule someone or something.  It may use irony is a device, but not all ironic statements are __, that is, intended to ridicule.  When well done, __ can be witty and insightful;  when done poorly, it’s simply cruel

Rhetorical Question

We shrink from change; yet is there anything that can come into being without it?  What does Nature hold dearer, or more proper to herself? Could you have a hot bath unless the firewood underwent some change?  Could you be nourished if the food suffered no change?  Do you not see, then, that change in yourself is the same order, and no less necessary to Nature?  --Marcus Aurelius