AP Lang - Rhetorical devices

Diction

Word choice

Syntax

Sentence structure and formulation

Imagery

Images conjured that assist the reader in visualization of a scene, a taste, touch, or smell

Simile

Figurative language that makes a comparison using like or as

Metaphor

Figurative language that makes comparisons without like or as

Personification

Inanimate objects are given human characteristics

Tone

Words that describe the author’s feelings or general sentiment as the piece is being read

Connotation

Refers to an association, or effect, that the word provokes

Denotation

Refers to the literal meaning of a word

Allusion

A reference to an outside source

Anecdote

A short account of a particular incident or event

Hyperbole

When a writer deliberately exaggerates or overstates

Irony

When words are meant to convey the opposite of their literal meaning

Satire

Is a text or performance that uses irony, devising or wit to expose or attack human vise, foolishness, or stupidity

Paradox

A paradox in literature refers to the use of concepts or ideas that are contradictory to one another, yet, when placed together hold significant value on several levels.

Parallelism

A grammatical or structural similarity between sentences

Chiasmus

Reversal of grammatical structures in successive clauses

Anaphora

Repetition of the same group of words at the beginning of successive clauses

Isocolon

A rhetorical device that involves a succession of sentences, phrases or clauses of grammatical equal length

Antithesis

A rhetorical device in which two opposite ideas are put together in a sentence to achieve a contrasting effect

Assonance

Is the repetition of vowel sounds at the beginning or in the middle of two or more adjacent words

Alliteration

Is the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning or in the middle of two or more adjacent words

Euphemism

Polite, indirect expressions, which replace words and phrases considered harsh and impolite, or which suggest something unpleasant

Colloquialism

A word or phrase that is not formal or literary, typically one used in ordinary or familiar conversation, also can be considered as regional slang or diction

Oxymoron

Words that have apparently contradictory meanings are places near each other

Ellipsis

Is any omission of words, the meaning of which is provided by the overall context of the passage. Also, the use of the . . . to notify the reader a piece of text has been omitted

Epanalepsis

Repetition of a word at the end of a clause that occurred at the beginning of a clause.

Anadiplosis

Repetition of the last word of one clause at the beginning of the following clause.

Antimetabole

Repetition of words in successive clauses, in reverse grammatical order. Produces an impressive turn of phrase.

Polyptoton

Repetition of words derived from the same root.

Anastrophe

A scheme in which the writer inverts the words in a sentence, saying, or idea. By invert, we mean that the words are written out of order. Poets often use anastrophe in order to help maintain rhythm or a rhyme scheme

Parenthesis

A form of interruption or interjection as when the author wishes to include some form of commentary about the subject. Commonly marked with dashes or parenthesis.

\-\[insert words\]- or (insert words)

Apposition

A grammatical construction where two nouns are placed beside each other in a sentence so that one describes or defines the other

Asyndeton

The omission of conjunctions between related clauses or phrases

Polysyndeton

The addition of conjunctions after every term