AP English Language Rhetorical Devices (Flashcards)

AP English Language Rhetorical Devices (Flashcards)

Allusion

• Definition: A brief, indirect reference to a well-known person, event, story, or work. Allusions rely on the audience’s shared knowledge (for example, calling someone “a real Good Samaritan” alludes to the biblical parable)grammarly.com.

• Rhetorical Purpose: Allusions evoke familiar ideas or images to add meaning without lengthy explanation. By tapping into shared cultural or literary references, an author can make an argument more powerful, relatable, and emotionally resonantgrammarly.com.

• Example: Saying “He met his Waterloo” alludes to Napoleon’s defeat and emphasizes a decisive loss.

Analogy

• Definition: A comparison between two dissimilar things to explain or clarify. An analogy is a literary technique comparing two unrelated objects or ideas for their shared qualitiesliteraryterms.net.

• Rhetorical Purpose: Analogies help make complex or unfamiliar ideas understandable by relating them to something familiar. They strengthen an argument by showing connections and parallel reasoning between concepts, thus making a persuasive point more logically clearliteraryterms.net.

• Example: “Raising children is like gardening – you must nurture them daily, and with patience they will grow.”

Anaphora

• Definition: The repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentencesmerriam-webster.com. For example, “We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields…”

• Rhetorical Purpose: Anaphora creates a strong rhythm and emphasis. By repeating a key word or phrase, an author draws attention to an idea, building momentum and evoking emotion or resolvegrammarly.com. It often heightens passion or urgency, making the repeated concept more memorable (Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I have a dream” speech is a famous example)grammarly.com.

• Example: “We will win this battle. We will win this war. We will win the peace.”

Antithesis

• Definition: A figure of speech that juxtaposes two sharply contrasting ideas in parallel structurebyjus.com. For example, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.”

• Rhetorical Purpose: Antithesis highlights differences to make a point more striking. By placing opposing ideas side by side, it underscores a contrast or conflict, clarifying distinctions and emphasizing the author’s messagebyjus.com. This dramatic contrast can make arguments more compelling by showing two extremes or alternatives clearly.

• Example: “To err is human; to forgive, divine.”

Asyndeton

• Definition: The deliberate omission of conjunctions (such as and, but, or) in a series of related clausesliteraryterms.net. Example: “I came, I saw, I conquered.” (No “and.”)

• Rhetorical Purpose: Asyndeton speeds up the rhythm of a sentence and can create a sense of urgency or drama. By omitting conjunctions, an author forces the reader to focus on each element in the list or series. This can emphasize the magnitude or intensity of the items listed, making the statement more impactfulliteraryterms.net. It often conveys a rapid-fire, spontaneous tone or highlights the buildup of ideas.

• Example: “She ran, jumped, laughed for joy.”

Polysyndeton

• Definition: The use of many conjunctions between clauses or words, often more than neededliteraryterms.net. For example: “He ran and jumped and laughed and cheered.”

• Rhetorical Purpose: Polysyndeton adds deliberate emphasis and rhythm. Repeated conjunctions can slow down a sentence and draw attention to each element. This can make a list feel more solemn or weighty, and it can emphasize the quantity or importance of each itemliteraryterms.net. For instance, “and” repeatedly underscores each point, making them individually stand out.

• Example: “We laughed and we cried and we danced until dawn.”

Hyperbole

• Definition: Exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literallymerriam-webster.com. For instance, “I’ve told you a million times.”

• Rhetorical Purpose: Hyperbole emphasizes a point by overstating it. It creates strong feelings or impressions, highlighting the importance or intensity of an idea. By using deliberate exaggeration, an author can dramatize a situation or emotion, often making the argument more vivid or memorablelitcharts.com.

• Example: “I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”

Irony

• Definition: A contrast between expectation and reality, where the actual meaning is different from what’s said or expectedlanguagetool.org. For example, saying “What a pleasant day!” during a storm is verbal irony.

• Rhetorical Purpose: Irony highlights discrepancies and can add humor or sarcasm. By expressing something opposite to what one means (verbal irony) or by setting up an outcome contrary to expectations (situational irony), an author draws attention to a truth. This indirect approach can underscore the author’s point, make criticisms sharper, or expose contradictions in an argumentlanguagetool.org.

• Example: Calling a clumsy person “the next Einstein” is ironic, emphasizing the opposite of intelligence.

Metaphor

• Definition: A figure of speech that directly compares two unlike things by stating one is the other, highlighting similaritiesmerriam-webster.com. For example, “Time is a thief.”

• Rhetorical Purpose: Metaphors create vivid imagery and understanding by linking abstract or complex ideas to familiar concepts. By describing one thing in terms of another, an author can illustrate a point more powerfully and symbolically. Metaphors help convey emotions and abstract ideas through concrete images, adding depth and resonance to the argumentgrammarly.comgrammarly.com.

• Example: “The classroom was a zoo,” suggesting it was very noisy and chaotic.

Simile

• Definition: A comparison of two unlike things using “like” or “as”merriam-webster.com. For example, “She’s as brave as a lion.”

• Rhetorical Purpose: Similes make comparisons explicit, highlighting resemblance directly. By linking one idea to another in a clear way, they create vivid images that clarify or emphasize a trait or situation. Similes often make descriptions more expressive and relatable, helping readers quickly understand a concept by comparing it to something familiargrammarly.com.

• Example: “He ran like the wind,” emphasizing great speed.

Personification

• Definition: Attributing human qualities or actions to non-human things or abstractionsbyjus.com. For example, “The sun smiled down on us.”

• Rhetorical Purpose: Personification makes descriptions more engaging and relatable by giving lifelike qualities to objects or ideas. It can add emotion and intimacy to a narrative, helping readers connect with inanimate elements. By humanizing something, an author can create empathy or deepen the meaning of that conceptbyjus.com.

• Example: “The desk groaned under the heavy books,” emphasizing its burden.

Imagery

• Definition: Descriptive language that appeals to the senses to create mental images. Imagery uses vivid details (visual, auditory, tactile, etc.) to paint a picture in the reader’s mindstudiobinder.com.

• Rhetorical Purpose: Imagery immerses readers in a scene or idea by evoking sensory experiences. It enhances the reader’s emotional and intellectual engagement, making arguments more persuasive by appealing to their senses and feelingsstudiobinder.com. Vivid imagery can clarify concepts and make descriptions more memorable.

• Example: “The crimson sunset spilled across the horizon, burning the sky with orange and red hues.”

Parallelism

• Definition: Using the same grammatical structure in successive phrases, clauses, or sentences. (E.g., “To err is human; to forgive, divine.”)litcharts.com.

• Rhetorical Purpose: Parallel structure creates balance and rhythm in writing. By repeating forms, it makes the message more persuasive and easier to follow. Parallelism can also highlight a comparison or build on an idea by presenting related concepts in a consistent waylitcharts.com. This symmetry often makes arguments more impactful and memorable.

• Example: “Easy come, easy go.”

Rhetorical Question

• Definition: A question asked for effect, not requiring an answermerriam-webster.com. For example, “Who doesn’t want to be successful?”

• Rhetorical Purpose: Rhetorical questions engage readers and provoke thought. They emphasize a point by highlighting an issue or assumption. By asking a question that implies its own answer, an author can reinforce an argument or introduce a topic without stating it bluntlymerriam-webster.com. This can make the writing more persuasive and interactive.

• Example: “What better evidence could there be?” (implying the evidence given is definitive.)

Anecdote

• Definition: A short, personal story relevant to the topicliteraryterms.net. Often drawn from the author’s experience or a real event.

• Rhetorical Purpose: Anecdotes illustrate a point in a relatable way, often evoking emotion or building rapport with the audience. A well-chosen story can humanize the argument and make abstract ideas concrete. By sharing a personal or vivid example, an author can persuade readers through pathos or credibilityliteraryterms.net.

• Example: “When I first learned to drive, I was terrified of parallel parking – that memory reminds me how we overcome challenges with practice.”

Diction

• Definition: The author’s choice of words or level of language. Diction refers to the style of wording based on audience and purposegrammarly.comgrammarly.com.

• Rhetorical Purpose: Word choice shapes tone and can subtly influence meaning. By selecting formal or informal language, connotative words, or technical terms, an author can appeal to ethos (credibility) or pathos (emotion) and clarify arguments. Effective diction conveys attitude (e.g. friendly vs. authoritative) and can add depth or nuance to the argumentgrammarly.com.

• Example: An author might use academic diction (precise, formal language) to sound credible, or colloquial diction to connect with a casual audience.

Tone

• Definition: The author’s attitude toward the subject or audience, conveyed through word choice and style. Tone expresses how the author feels (e.g. serious, sarcastic, enthusiastic)owl.purdue.edu.

• Rhetorical Purpose: Tone sets the mood and influences how readers perceive the argument. A suitable tone (earnest, ironic, confident, etc.) can engage the audience and reinforce the message. For example, a friendly tone can build rapport, while a solemn tone can underscore importance. Through tone, an author aligns their persona with the purpose and guides readers’ emotional response.

• Example: A pleading tone might include words like “please” and “urgent,” whereas a humorous tone uses sarcasm or wit.

Ethos (Appeal to Credibility)

• Definition: Establishing the author’s credibility or moral authority, often by aligning with values the audience holdspressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu.

• Rhetorical Purpose: Ethos builds trust. By demonstrating expertise, honesty, or shared values, the author persuades readers to accept the argument as “right.” This can involve citing qualifications, using respectful language, or referencing common ideals. Essentially, ethos shows the audience that the speaker is trustworthy and worth listening topressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu.

• Example: A doctor writing about health uses medical credentials to establish ethos (“As a surgeon with 20 years’ experience, I recommend…”).

Pathos (Appeal to Emotion)

• Definition: Appealing to the audience’s emotions (e.g., fear, pity, pride) to persuade. Pathos taps into feelings to support the argumentpressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu.

• Rhetorical Purpose: Pathos creates an emotional connection, making the audience care about the issue. By using vivid imagery, personal stories, or emotive language, an author can evoke sympathy, anger, joy, etc. This emotional engagement makes the argument more compelling and memorable. For example, describing suffering or triumph can inspire readers to agree or take action.

• Example: A charity ad showing a sad child to elicit sympathy and donations is an appeal to pathos.

Logos (Appeal to Logic)

• Definition: Using logical reasoning, facts, statistics, or well-structured arguments to persuadepressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu.

• Rhetorical Purpose: Logos appeals to the audience’s rationality. By providing evidence (data, examples, expert testimony) and sound logic, an author makes a case that should seem reasonable and convincing. A strong logical appeal uses clear organization and objective information to support claimspressbooks.ulib.csuohio.edu. This helps readers follow the argument and accept the conclusions based on reason rather than emotion.

• Example: Citing research data on recycling rates to argue for environmental action is an appeal to logos.