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AP Language Rhetorical Terms/Devices Flashcards

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7430743743adagea proverb or wise saying commonly used (ex: Things are not always as they seem.)0
7430743744allegorya story in which people, things and happenings have a hidden or symbolic meaning.(fables, parables, apologue have meanings on two or more levels.)1
7430743745alliterationwords 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.)2
7430743746allusiona 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.3
7430743747ambiguitymultiple meanings, either intentional or unintentional, of a word, phrase, passage or sentence; can lead reader toward uncertainty of meaning4
7430743748analogyestablishing a relationship based on similarities between two concepts or ideas; helps convey meaning of a new idea5
7430743749anaphorathe 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.)6
7430743750anecdoteshort and interesting story or an amusing event often proposed to support or demonstrate some point and make readers and listeners laugh; Anecdotes can include an extensive range of tales and stories7
7430743751antecedentword, phrase, or clause that is replaced by a pronoun8
7430743752antimetabolerepetition of words in reverse grammatical order; Ex: "Fair is foul and foul is fair."9
7430743753antithesisparallel 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."10
7430743754apostrophespeaker talks to someone or something that is obviously not present11
7430743755appositivea renaming of a noun or noun phrase immediately after first stating the noun12
7430743756archetypeA detail, image, or character type that occurs frequently in literature and myth and is thought to appeal in a universal way to the unconscious and to evoke a response13
7430743757argumenta statement put forth and supported by evidence14
7430743758asyndetonauthor purposely leaves out conjunctions in the sentence, while maintaining the grammatical accuracy of the phrase; shortening the statement for greater impact; "Reduce, reuse, recycle."15
7430743759audiencethose to whom a piece of literary work is being presented16
7430743760cacophonyTremendous noise, disharmonious sound17
7430743761characterizationActions, dialogue, and narrative description that reveal a sense of a character's personality to the reader.18
7430743762circumlocutionan 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 sentence19
7430743763climaxthat point in a plot that creates the greatest intensity, suspense, or interest. Also called "turning point"20
7430743764colloquialCharacteristic of ordinary conversation rather than formal speech or writing21
7430743765concessionAn argumentative strategy by which a speaker or writer acknowledges the validity of an opponent's point.22
7430743766conceitA fanciful expression, usually in the form of an extended metaphor or surprising analogy between seemingly dissimilar objects; unusual and unlikely comparisons between two things23
7430743767connotationassociations people make with words that go beyond the literal or dictionary definition24
7430743768contextThe parts before or after a word or statement that influence its meaning25
7430743769counter argumentan argument or set of reasons put forward to oppose an idea or theory developed in another argument.26
7430743770cumulative sentencea sentence in which the main independent clause is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases27
7430743771denotationDictionary definition of a word; literal meaning28
7430743772denouementan outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot29
7430743773detailThe facts revealed by the author or speaker that support the attitude or tone in a piece of poetry or prose.30
7430743774dictionA writer's or speaker's choice of words31
7430743775elegya mournful, melancholy, or plaintive poem, especially a funeral song or a lament for the dead.32
7430743776ellipsisin a sentence, the omission of a word or words replaced by three periods ...33
7430743777epicA long narrative poem, written in heightened language, which recounts the deeds of a heroic character who embodies the values of a particular society34
7430743778ethosOne of the fundamental strategies of argumentation identified by Aristotle. 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.35
7430743779euphemismFrom the Greek for "good speech," euphemisms are a more agreeable or less offensive substitute for a generally unpleasant word or concept - POLITICALLY CORRECT36
7430743780expositionBackground information presented in a literary work.37
7430743781hyperboleA 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.38
7430743782imageryuse 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 similes39
7430743783imperative sentencesgives a command or request; often subject is understood and sentence ends with !40
7430743784inversionA sentence in which the verb precedes the subject.41
7430743785verbal ironySarcasm; what is said is the opposite of what is meant42
7430743786juxtapositionplacing an idea next to its opposite to emphasize contrast and comparison43
7430743787logosAn 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.44
7430743788metaphorA figurative comparison of two unlike things without using the word like or as45
7430743789metonymy(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.46
7430743790moodFeeling or atmosphere that a writer creates for the reader; using specific diction, description, setting, and characterization to create the atmosphere47
7430743791motifA recurring theme, subject or idea48
7430743792narrativea fiction, nonfiction, poetic, or dramatic story, actual or fictional, expressed orally or in text.49
7430743793non sequiturA statement that does not follow logically from evidence50
7430743794occasionthe time and place a speech is given or a piece is written51
7430743795onomatopoeiaA figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Ex: buzz, hiss, hum, crack, whinny, and murmur.52
7430743796organizationIn a composition, the arrangement of ideas, incidents, evidence, or details in a perceptible order in a paragraph or essay.53
7430743797oxymoronA figure of speech consisting of two apparently contradictory terms; Usually reveals a deeper truth through the contradiction. 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"54
7430743798paceSpeed with which the author delivers the story controlled by language, mood, emotion played out in speech, dialogue, descriptions.55
7430743799parableA simple story used to illustrate a moral or spiritual lesson56
7430743800paradoxA statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth.57
7430743801parallel 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.58
7430743802parodyA humorous or satirical imitation of a serious piece of literature or writing59
7430743803pathosAn 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
7430743804personaAn individual's characteristic pattern of thinking, feeling, and acting.61
7430743805personificationauthor presents or describes concepts, animals, or inanimate objects by endowing them with human attributes or emotions.62
7430743806point 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."63
7430743807polemica controversial argument, esp. attacking a particular opinion64
7430743808propagandaA negative term for writing designed to sway opinion rather than present information.65
7430743809prosewritten or spoken language in its ordinary form, without metrical structure.66
7430743810purposeOne's intention or objective in a speech or piece of writing.67
7430743811refutationThe part of an argument wherein a speaker or writer anticipates and counters opposing points of view.68
7430743812repetitionRepeated use of sounds, words, or ideas for effect and emphasis69
7430743813rhetoricFrom the Greek for "orator," this term describes the principles governing the art of writing effectively, eloquently, and persuasively.70
7430743814rhetorical 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).71
7430743815rhetorical 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.72
7430743816rhetorical triangleA diagram that represents a rhetorical situation as the relationship among the speaker, the subject, and the audience ex:Aristotelian triangle73
7430743817satireA 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.74
7430743818simileA comparison of two things using like or as75
7430743819symbolismAn ordinary object with an extraordinary significance76
7430743820synecdocheA 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).77
7430743821syllogismA form of deductive reasoning consisting of a major premise, a minor premise, and a conclusion.78
7430743822syntaxLanguage rules that govern how words can be combined to form meaningful phrases and sentences79
7430743823thesisFocus statement of an essay; premise statement upon which the point of view or discussion in the essay is based.80
7430743824toneA writer's attitude toward his or her subject matter revealed through diction, figurative language, and organization on the sentence and global levels.81
7430743825transitionA word or phrase that links one idea to the next and carries the reader from sentence to sentence, paragraph to paragraph82
7430743826voiceIn 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.83

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