Rhetorical Devices and Literary Terms

Ad Hominem

• Definition: An ad hominem argument is an attempt to discredit someone’s argument by attacking their character rather than addressing the argument itself.

Literary Devices Definitions

1. Ad Hominem

   • Definition: An attack directed against a person's character rather than their argument.

2. Allegory

   • Definition: A device using character and story elements symbolically to represent an abstraction alongside the literal meaning.
   • Example: George Orwell's "Animal Farm" symbolizes the rise of Stalinism.

3. Alliteration

   • Definition: The repetition of initial consonant sounds in neighboring words.
   • Example: "She sells sea shells by the sea shore."

4. Allusion

   • Definition: A reference to something commonly known (event, book, myth, place, artwork).
   • Example: Referring to Sherlock Holmes implies intelligence and detective skills.

5. Ambiguity

   • Definition: Multiple meanings of a word or phrase, whether intentional or unintentional.
   • Importance: Can create depth or confusion in writing.

6. Analogy

   • Definition: A comparison between two different things to explain a concept.
   • Example: Comparing life to a box of chocolates: "You never know what you're gonna get."

7. Anaphora

   • Definition: The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences.
   • Example: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…"

8. Antecedent

   • Definition: The word, phrase, or clause referred to by a pronoun.
   • Example: In "David lost his hat," "David" is the antecedent for "his."

9. Antithesis

   • Definition: The juxtaposition of contrasting ideas in balanced phrases or clauses.
   • Example: "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times."

10. Aphorism

    • Definition: A concise statement of a general truth or moral principle.
    • Example: "Actions speak louder than words."

11. Apostrophe

    • Definition: A figure of speech that directly addresses an absent or imaginary person.
    • Example: "O, Death, where is thy sting?"

12. Appeal to Authority

    • Definition: Argument where the speaker cites an expert.

13. Argument

    • Definition: Claims backed by reasons and supported by evidence.

14. Assonance

    • Definition: The repetition of vowel sounds within a group of words.
    • Example: “The early bird catches the worm.”

15. Asyndeton

    • Definition: Omitting conjunctions between parts of a sentence.
    • Example: "I came, I saw, I conquered."

Literary Elements Definitions

1. Atmosphere

   • Definition: The emotional mood created by the entirety of a literary work, influenced by setting and descriptive choices.

2. Chiasmus

   • Definition: A figure of speech wherein two successive phrases are parallel in structure but reverse the order of words.
   • Example: "Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You."

3. Coherence

   • Definition: The arrangement of parts in a composition that ensures clarity and intelligibility.

4. Conceit

   • Definition: An extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects.
   • Example: Comparing love to an overly complicated math problem.

5. Connotation

   • Definition: The implied or associative meaning of a word beyond its literal definition.
   • Example: "Home" denotes warmth, comfort, and security.

6. Denotation

   • Definition: The strict, literal definition of a word without emotional undertones.
   • Example: The denotation of "home" is simply a place where someone lives.

7. Diacope

   • Definition: Repetition of a word or phrase with one or more intervening words.
   • Example: “The horror! The horror!”

8. Diction

   • Definition: The writer’s word choices concerning correctness and effectiveness.
   • Impact: Diction can greatly affect tone and style.

9. Didactic

   • Definition: A term referring to literature intended to instruct or teach.

10. Enumeration

    • Definition: A figure of amplification where a subject is divided into parts or details, listing causes, effects, or consequences.
    • Example: Listing the benefits of exercise as including improved mood, better physical health, and increased energy.

Figures of Speech Complexities

1. Expletive

   • Definition: An interruptive word or phrase used to lend emphasis to surrounding words.

2. Euphemism

   • Definition: A more agreeable or less offensive substitute for unpleasant words.
   • Example: Saying “passed away” instead of “died.”

3. Exposition

   • Definition: Background information provided in a literary work.

4. Extended Metaphor

   • Definition: A metaphor developed at length, carrying through multiple sentences or the entire work.

5. Figurative Language

   • Definition: Writing or speech intended to be imaginative and vivid.

6. Genre

   • Definition: A major category of literature characterized by specific conventions and traditions.
   • Examples: Prose, poetry, drama.

7. Homily

   • Definition: A serious talk or lecture offering moral or spiritual advice.

8. Hyperbole

   • Definition: Deliberate exaggeration for humorous or dramatic effect.
   • Example: I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.

Other Literary Concepts Definitions

1. Imagery

   • Definition: The use of vivid and descriptive language to create mental images that evoke emotional responses.

2. Irony

   • Definition: A contrast between what is said and what is meant, including verbal, dramatic, and situational irony.

3. Juxtaposition

   • Definition: The placement of contrasting ideas or images close together to highlight differences.

4. Litotes

   • Definition: A form of understatement by negating the opposite.
   • Example: “Not bad” to mean “good.”

5. Loose Sentence

   • Definition: A type of sentence where the main clause comes first, followed by subordinate elements.

6. Metaphor

   • Definition: A figure of speech implying a comparison without using “like” or “as.”
   • Example: “Time is a thief.”

7. Metonymy

   • Definition: A figure of speech using the name of one thing to represent something closely associated with it.
   • Example: “The Crown” for the monarchy.

8. Mood

   • Definition: The atmosphere or emotional quality of a piece of writing.

9. Paradox

   • Definition: A statement that seems contradictory but reveals a truth upon reflection.
   • Example: “Less is more.”

10. Parallelism

    • Definition: The use of similar grammatical structures in successive phrases or clauses.
    • Example: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

11. Personification

    • Definition: Attributing human traits to non-human things or abstract concepts.
    • Example: The wind whispered through the trees.

12. Rhetorical Question

    • Definition: A question posed for emphasis or persuasive effect rather than to elicit an answer.
    • Example: “Isn't it a bit late to be asking that question?”

13. Satire

    • Definition: Humorous or ironic criticism of societal norms and conventions.

14. Synecdoche

    • Definition: A figure of speech in which a part represents the whole.
    • Example: “All hands on deck!”

15. Theme

    • Definition: The overarching message or central idea explored in a literary work.