AP LANG- Rhetorical Terms

allegory

A literary work in which characters, objects, or actions represent abstractions

alliteration

Repetition of consonance sounds at the start of a word or in a stressed syllable (sea shells sea shells)

allusion

A reference to another work of literature, person, or event

ambiguity

multiple meanings of a word,phrase,sentence, or passage

anadiplosis

Repetition of the last word of one clause, that is at the beginning of the following clause (Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate)

analogy

A comparison of two different things that are similar in some way

anaphora

when the exact repetition of words or phrases at the beginning of successive lines or sentences

anecdote

A brief narrative that focuses on a particular incident or event.

anthimera

the substitution of one part of speech for another , often turning a noun into a verb

antithesis

the placing of contrasting words or ideas to give a feeling of balance

aphorism

A brief statement, usually one sentence long, that expresses a general principle or truth of a moral principle

apostrophe

A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person or a personified abstraction, such as liberty or love.

asyndeton

Commas used (with no conjunction) to separate a series of words, speeds up flow of sentence

polysyndeton

Deliberate use of many conjunctions (w and x and y and z)

atmosphere

the mood created by the entirety of a literary work; partly by setting

chiasmus

A statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is structurally reversed ("Susan walked in, and out rushed Mary.")

clause

an expression including a subject and predicate but not constituting a complete sentence

colloquial/colloquialism

The use of slang or informalities in speech or writing.

coherence

A principle demanding that the parts of any composition be arranged so that the meaning of the whole may be immediately clear and intelligible.

conceit

A fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects.

conduplicatio

repeats a key word (not just the last word) from a preceding phrase, clause, or sentence, at the beginning of the next phrase

connotation

An implied meaning of a word. non-literal

denotation

Literal meaning of a word; defintion

diction

A writer's or speaker's choice of words

didactic

words have the primary aim of teaching or instructing, especially the teaching of moral or ethical principles.

distinctio

the writer elaborates on the definition of the word to clear misunderstanding

epistrophe

Repetition of the same word or group of words at the ends of successive clauses (they saw no evil, they heard no evil)

epithet

device that involves the attaching a descriptive adjective to a noun to create a vivid picture and bring it to life

eponym

referring to a specific famous person to link his or hers attributes with someone else (Gary was an Abe Lincoln in debate class)

euphemism

A polite phrase to cover something unpleasant

exemplum

Citing an example to explain; using an illustrative story, either true or fictitious

exposition

Background information presented in a literary work; to explain

extended metaphor

A metaphor developed at great length, occurring frequently in or throughout a work.

figurative language

language not meant to be interpreted literally

figure of speech

A device used to produce figurative language.

generic conventions

The traditions for each genre. These conventions help to define each genre

genre

A category or type of literature (or of art, music, etc.) characterized by a particular form, style, or content.

homily

a sermon or morally instructive lecture, a platitude

hyperbaton

Separation of words which belong together, often to emphasize the first of the separated words or to create a certain image. (-)

hyperbole

A figure of speech that uses exaggeration to express strong emotion, make a point, or evoke humor

hypophora

Asking a question, then answering it

imagery

Description that appeals to the senses (sight, sound, smell, touch, taste)

inference/infer

A logical conclusion based on observations

invective

a strong denunciation or condemnation; abusive language

irony/ironic

A statement that means the opposite of what it seems to mean; uses an undertow of meaning

juxtaposition

Placement of two things closely together to emphasize comparisons or contrasts

litotes

A figure of speech consisting of an understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite. (it was hard; it was not easy)

loose sentence

A complex sentence in which the main clause comes first and the subordinate clause follows

metaphor

A comparison that establishes a figurative identity between objects being compared.

metonymy

A figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it is closely associated (such as "crown" for "royalty").

mood

grammatical verbal units and speaker's attitude; literary meaning for the atmosphere or emotional aura of work

narrative

telling of a story

onomatopoeia

A figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words (buzz hiss, hum)

oxymoron

A figure of speech that combines opposite or contradictory terms in a brief phrase (jumbo shrimp)

paradox

A statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.

parallelism

Phrases or sentences of a similar construction/meaning placed side by side, balancing each other

parenthesis

An insertion of material that interrupts the typical flow of a sentence.

parody

A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule.

pedantic

showing off learning; bookish;using advanced words (used by nerds)

periodic sentence

A sentence that presents its central meaning in a main clause at the end.

personification

A figure of speech in which an object or animal is given human feelings, thoughts, or attitudes

point of view

the perspective from which a story is told

predicate adjective

An adjective, group of adjectives, or adjective clause that follows a linking verb.

predicate nominative

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

procatalepsis

Address the objection and further own argument; like hypophora but w/out the question

prose

Any writing that is not poetry; mainly referred to fiction and nofiction

repetition

duplicated use of sounds, words, or ideas for effect and emphasis.

rhetor

the speaker

rhetoric

this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.

rhetorical modes

The flexible term describes the variety, the conventions, and the purposes of the major kinds of writing.

rhetorical question

A question asked merely for rhetorical effect and not requiring an answer

sarcasm

Bitter or cutting speech; speech intended by its speaker to give pain to the person addressed.

satire

A literary work that criticizes human misconduct and ridicules vices, stupidities, and follies.

semantics

The analysis of the meaning of language, especially of individual words.

style

kinda like the attitude of signature of an author that he uses to serve his purpose.

subject complement

Noun or adjective that renames or modifies the subject; connected by a linking verb

subordinate clause

phrase that cannot stand alone

syllogism

A form of deductive reasoning in which pieces of evidence are used to create a new conclusion: man is mortal, socrates is a man, therefore socrates is mortal

symbol/symbolism

Generally, anything that represents itself and stands for something else.

synecdoche

. a figure of speech that utilizes a part as representative of the whole. "All hands on deck" is an example.

syntax

Language rules that govern how words can be combined to form meaningful phrases and sentences

theme

central idea or message of a work

thesis

thesis statement is the sentence or group of sentences that directly expresses the author's opinion, purpose, meaning, or position and is usually judged by analyzing how accurately, effectively, and thoroughly a writer has proven the thesis.

tone

A writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.

transition

A word or phrase that links different ideas

trope

A figure of speech using words in nonliteral ways, such as a metaphor

understatement

A statement which lessens or minimizes the importance of what is meant.

undertone

an attitude that may lie under the ostensible tone of the piece

unreliable narrator

An untrustworthy or naïve commentator on events and characters in a story.

wit

amusing language that surprises and delights

zeugma

A trope in which one word, usually a noun or the main verb, governs two other words not related in meaning.