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4770694699AllegoryA narrative in which the characters, behavior, and even the setting demonstrate multiple levels of meaning and significance. Often allegory is a universal symbol or personified abstraction, such as Cupid portrayed as a chubby angel with a bow and arrows.0
4770694700AlliterationWords used in quick succession and begin with letters belonging to the same sound group; a repetition of similar sounds/letters in the sentence. (Wicked witch of the west went her own way.)1
4770694701AllusionA passing reference to a commonly-known historical, cultural, religious, literary, or mythical person, place, event, or work of art, whereby the reader must make the connection within the current text.2
4770694704AnaphoraThe deliberate repetition of the first part of the sentence in order to achieve an artistic effect; most commonly found in the Bible (O Lord,.for I am weak. O Lord, heal me. O Lord, have mercy on me.)3
4770694708AntithesisParallel structures of the contrasted phrases or clauses, i.e. the structures of phrases and clauses are similar in order to draw the attention of the listeners or readers; Ex: "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."4
4770701637AphorismA concise statement designed to make a point or illustrate a commonly held belief. "Spare the rod and spoil the child."5
4770694709ApostropheWhen the speaker talks to someone or something that is obviously not present.6
4770704210Appeals to authority, emotion, or logicRhetorical arguments in which the speaker claims to be an authority or expert in a field, attempts to play upon the emotions, or appeals to the use of reason. Classically trained rhetoricians identify these appeals with their Greek names (ethos, pathos, and logos).7
4770694710AssonanceThe repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds, usually in successive or proximate words. "She sells seashells by the seashore."8
4770694713AsyndetonAuthor purposely leaves out conjunctions in the sentence, while maintaining the grammatical accuracy of the phrase; shortening the statement for greater impact; "Reduce, reuse, recycle."9
4770694714AttitudeThe sense expressed10
4770694715cacophonyTremendous noise, disharmonious sound11
4770694716characterizationActions, dialogue, and narrative description that reveal a sense of a character's personality to the reader.12
4770694717circumlocutionan indirect or wordy way of expressing an idea which leaves the reader perplexed; exaggeratedly long and complex sentences in order to convey a meaning that could have otherwise been conveyed through a shorter, much simpler sentence13
4770694718climaxthat point in a plot that creates the greatest intensity, suspense, or interest. Also called "turning point"14
4770694719colloquialCharacteristic of ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing15
4770694720concessionAn argumentative strategy by which a speaker or writer acknowledges the validity of an opponent's point.16
4770694721conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects; unusual and unlikely comparisons between two things17
4770694722connotationassociations people make with words that go beyond the literal or dictionary definition18
4770694723contextThe parts before or after a word or statement that influence its meaning19
4770694724counter argumentan argument or set of reasons put forward to oppose an idea or theory developed in another argument.20
4770694725cumulative sentencea sentence in which the main independent clause is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases21
4770694726denotationDictionary definition of a word; literal meaning22
4770694727denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot23
4770694728detailThe facts revealed by the author or speaker that support the attitude or tone in a piece of poetry or prose.24
4770694729dictionA writer's or speaker's choice of words25
4770694730elegya mournful, melancholy, or plaintive poem, especially a funeral song or a lament for the dead.26
4770694731ellipsisin a sentence, the omission of a word or words replaced by three periods ...27
4770694732epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society28
4770694733ethosOne of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle. Ethos is basically an appeal to credibility. The writer is seeking to convince you that he or she has the background, history, skills, and/or expertise to speak on the issue.29
4770694734euphemismFrom the Greek for "good speech," euphemisms are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept - POLITICALLY CORRECT30
4770694735expositionBackground information presented in a literary work.31
4770694736foreshadowingForeshadowing is used to suggest an upcoming outcome to the story; builds suspense/anxiety32
4770694737genreA category of artistic composition, as in music or literature, characterized by similarities in form, style, or subject matter.33
4770694738horative sentenceSentence that exhorts, urges, retreats, implores, or calls to action;34
4770694739hyperboleA figure of speech using deliberate exaggeration or overstatement. (The literal Greek meaning is "overshoot.") Hyperboles often have a comic effect; however, a serious effect is also possible. Often, hyperbole produces irony.35
4770694740imageryuse of words and phrases to create "mental images" for the reader; helps the reader visualize more realistically the author's writings through the usage of metaphors, allusions, descriptive words and similes36
4770694741imperative sentencesgives a command or request; often subject is understood and sentence ends with !37
4770694742inversionA sentence in which the verb precedes the subject.38
4770694743verbal ironySarcasm; what is said is the opposite of what is meant39
4770694744juxtapositionplacing an idea next to its opposite to emphasize contrast and comparison40
4770694745Litotesan understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by negating its opposite. Ex: "Not bad" looking41
4770694746logosAn appeal to reason. Logos is one of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle. It occurs when a writer tries to convince you of the logic of his argument. writers may use inductive argumentation or deductive argumentation, but they clearly have examples and generally rational tome to their language. The problem with logos is that is can appear reasonable until you dissect the argument and then find fallacies that defeat the viability of the argument on the reader's eyes. Of course, that presupposes that the readers is able to identify the fallacies.42
4770694747metaphorA figurative comparison of two unlike things without using the word like or as43
4770694748metonymy(mĕtŏn′ ĭmē) A term from the Greek meaning "changed label" or "substitute name," metonymy is a figure of speech in which the name of one object is substituted for that of another closely associated with it. For example, a news release that claims "the White House declared" rather than "the President declared" is using metonymy; Shakespeare uses it to signify the male and female sexes in As You Like It: "doublet and hose ought to show itself courageous to petticoat." The substituted term generally carries a more potent emotional impact.44
4770694749moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader; using specific diction, description, setting, and characterization to create the atmosphere45
4770694750motifA recurring theme, subject or idea46
4770694751mytha traditional story, especially one concerning the early history of a people or explaining some natural or social phenomenon, and typically involving supernatural beings or events.47
4770694752narrativea fiction, nonfiction, poetic, or dramatic story, actual or fictional, expressed orally or in text.48
4770694753non sequiturA statement that does not follow logically from evidence49
4770694754occasionthe time and place a speech is given or a piece is written50
4770694755onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Ex: buzz, hiss, hum, crack, whinny, and murmur.51
4770694756organizationIn a composition, the arrangement of ideas, incidents, evidence, or details in a perceptible order in a paragraph or essay.52
4770694757oxymoronA figure of speech consisting of two apparently contradictory terms; The richest literary oxymora(paradoxes) seem to reveal a deeper truth through their contradictions. Ex: "without laws, we can have no freedom." Shakespeare's Julius Caesar also makes use of a famous oxymoron: "Cowards die many times before their deaths"53
4770694758paceSpeed with which the author delivers the story controlled by language, mood, emotion played out in speech, dialogue, descriptions.54
4770694759parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson55
4770694760paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.56
4770694761parallel structurerepetition of the same pattern of words or phrases within a sentence or passage to show that two or more ideas have the same level of importance.57
4770694762parodyA humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing58
4770694763pastoralA work of literature dealing with rural life59
4770694764pathosAn appeal to emotion. This is one of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle. Typically, pathos arguments may use loaded words to make you feel guilty, lonely, worried, insecure, or confused.60
4770694765periodic sentenceThe opposite of loose 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. The effect of a periodic sentence is to add emphasis and structural variety. It is also a much stronger sentence than the loose sentence. (Example: After a long, bumpy flight and multiple delays, I arrived at the San Diego airport.)61
4770694766personaAn individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.62
4770694767personificationauthor presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions.63
4770694768point of viewPerspective from which a story is told; omniscient point of view= the person telling the story or narrator knows everything that's going on in the story; first- person point of view the narrator is a character in the story; limited third-person point of view the narrator is outside the story- like an omniscient narrator- but tells the story from the vantage point of one character."64
4770694769polemica controversial argument, esp. attacking a particular opinion65
4770694770propagandaA negative term for writing designed to sway opinion rather than present information.66
4770694771prosewritten or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure.67
4770694772purposeOne's intention or objective in a speech or piece of writing.68
4770694773refutationThe part of an argument wherein a speaker or writer anticipates and counters opposing points of view.69
4770694774repetitionRepeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for effect and emphasis70
4770694775rhetoricFrom the Greek for "orator," this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.71
4770694776rhetorical appealsRhetorical techniques used to persuade an audience by emphasizing what they find most important or compelling. The three major appeals are to ethos (character), logos (reason), and pathos (emotion).72
4770694777rhetorical questionA question whose answer is assumed; a rhetorical question is designed to force the reader to respond in a predetermined manner and to propel an argument emotionally.73
4770694778rhetorical triangleA diagram that represents a rhetorical situation as the relationship among the speaker, the subject, and the audience ex:Aristotelian triangle74
4770694779satireA work that reveals a critical attitude toward some element of human behavior by portraying it in an extreme way. It doesn't simply abuse (as in invective) or get personal (as in sarcasm). It targets groups or large concepts rather than individuals.75
4770694780simileA comparison of two things using like or as76
4770694781soliloquyA dramatic or literary form of discourse in which a character talks to himself or herself or reveals his or her thoughts without addressing a listener.77
4770694782symbolismAn ordinary object with an extraordinary significance78
4770694783synecdocheA figure of speech in which a part is used for the whole (as hand for sailor), the whole for a part (as the law for police officer), the specific for the general (as cutthroat for assassin), the general for the specific (as thief for pickpocket), or the material for the thing made from it (as steel for sword).79
4770694784syllogismA form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.80
4770694785syntaxLanguage rules that govern how words can be combined to form meaningful phrases and sentences81
4770694786thesisFocus statement of an essay; premise statement upon which the point of view or discussion in the essay is based.82
4770694787toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.83
4770694788transitionA word or phrase that links one idea to the next and carries the reader from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph84
4770694789voiceIn grammar, a term for the relationship between a verb and a noun (active or passive voice). In rhetoric, a distinctive quality in the style and tone of writing.85
4770694790zeugmaArtfully using a single verb to refer to two different objects in an ungrammatical but striking way, or artfully using an adjective to refer to two separate nouns, even though the adjective would logically only be appropriate for one of the two. Ex:"If we don't hang together, we shall hang separately!"86

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