Terms : Hide Images
| 3660141519 | Diction | the author's choice of words that creates tone, attitude, and style, as well as meaning Ex.: 1. The dreary, dark clouds rolled in on the same day I had to see the horrendous dentist. 2. Hopping down from the bed, the children skipped to see what Santa had brought them. | 0 | |
| 3660141520 | Syntax | The grammatical structure of prose and poetry Ex.: 1. Having skipped breakfast, the boy was ravenous by lunchtime. 2. The boy was ravenous by lunchtime because he had skipped breakfast. | 1 | |
| 3660141521 | Tone | Attitudes and presuppositions of the author that are revealed by their linguistic choices (diction, syntax, rhetorical devices) Ex.: 1. The stupid boys would pay for the destruction of the kiosk. 2. The child would grow strong with the love of her mother guiding her through the tough times. | 2 | |
| 3660141522 | Imagery | visually descriptive or figurative language, especially in a literary work Ex.: 1. The long, golden grass swayed as the wind blew through the valley. 2. The dark shadows in the night sent shivers up their spines. | 3 | |
| 3660143346 | Figurative Language | using figures of speech to be more effective, persuasive Ex.: 1. In the sea of people, the small child was as hard to find as a needle in a hay stack. 2. You have asked that question a thousand times! | 4 | |
| 3660143347 | Point of View | Who tells a story and how it is told. (1st, 2nd, 3rd limited, 3rd omniscient) Ex.: 1. My day was going great until I threw up in class. 2. She was very upset after finding out she was failing the class. | 5 | |
| 3660143348 | Detail | an individual feature, fact, or item. Ex.: 1. The red coat was left on the chair by the window. 2. She had long, golden hair. | 6 | |
| 3660144914 | Pacing | how quickly or how slowly the writer takes a reader through a story Ex.: 1. He slowly made his way to the door, twisted the doorknob, and opened the door. 2. He jumped from building to building, knocking out bad guy to bad guy, until he made it to his destination. | 7 | |
| 3660144915 | Shift | A change in mood accompanied by a change in nuance. Ex.: 1. She walked out of her cold, dark house into the bright, warm summer day. 2. It was a good day until the war began. | 8 | |
| 3660144916 | Connotation | The emotional definition of a word Ex.: 1. It was sad to leave home to live in a house far away. 2. My mom sometimes told me of my birth mother who I have never met. | 9 | |
| 3660144917 | Denotation | the dictionary meaning of a word Ex.: 1. If by giving me the cookie was a sign of peace, I guess my sister has decided to forgive me. 2. The cat ran up the tree. | 10 | |
| 3660146369 | Theme | The central idea or message of a work, the insight it offers into life. Usually unstated in fictional works, but in nonfiction may be directly stated, especially in expository or argumentative writing Ex.: 1. True love exists. 2. If you work hard enough, you can reach your goal. | 11 | |
| 3660146370 | Abstract | existing in thought or as an idea but not having a physical or concrete existence Ex.: 1. Imaginary friends are common among young children. 2. Love can be seen between two people who care about each other. | 12 | |
| 3660146371 | Ad hominum | appealing to personal considerations (rather than to fact or reason) Ex.: 1. I skipped swim practice because I didn't feel like going. 2. I would still go on the trip even though there are many reasons why I should not. | 13 | |
| 3660148019 | Allegory | a work in which the characters and events are to be understood as representing other things and symbolically expressing a deeper, often spiritual, moral, or political meaning Ex.: 1. One of the characters in The Lord of the Flies is an allegory to Jesus Christ because he was a martyr. 2. The movie Ants is an allegory to communism. | 14 | |
| 3660148020 | Allusion | a reference made to something that is not directly mentioned Ex.: 1. He lied so much that I am surprised his nose hasn't grown. 2. I was then stuck between a rock and a hard place. | 15 | |
| 3660148021 | Alliteration | a poetic or literary effect achieved by using several words that begin with the same or similar consonants Ex.: 1. The cute cat coughed up a hair ball. 2. The more money made, the more money to spend. | 16 | |
| 3660150925 | Apostrophe | the addressing of an absent person as if present or of an object or abstract idea as if capable of understanding Ex.: 1. It seemed as if the love in the house had packed it's bags and left. 2. I stood face to face with fear as I stood on the high dive. | 17 | |
| 3660150926 | Aphorism | a short statement of a general truth or idea Ex.: 1. The dog is all bark and no bite. 2. Easier said than done. | 18 | |
| 3660150927 | Analogy | a comparison between two things that are similar in some way, often used to help explain something or make it easier to understand Ex.: 1. The blanket is soft like lambs' wool. 2. The sand felt as hot as coals. | 19 | |
| 3660152191 | Anaphora | repetition of a word or expression at the beginning of successive phrases, clauses, sentences, or verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect Ex.: 1. This is not the time for fun and games. This is not the time to lounge around. This is not the time to be letting grades slide. 2. We said we would see each other again. We said we would do all the things we had planned. We said we wouldn't forget each other. | 20 | |
| 3660152192 | Anastrophe | the reversal of the normal order of words Ex.: 1. It was the boy that I seek. 2. Into the lake the boy jumped. | 21 | |
| 3660152193 | Anecdote | a brief narrative that focuses on a particular incident or event Ex.: 1. It reminded me of the time I had cracked a raw egg on my head thinking it was boiled. 2. One time, walking down the hall, I had seen friends saying goodbye and I realized I didn't have any. | 22 | |
| 3660154787 | Antithesis | the complete or exact opposite of something; a use of words or phrases that contrast with each other to create a balanced effect Ex.: 1. The good side and bad side. 2. "It was the best of times it was the worst of times" | 23 | |
| 3660154788 | Argument | Intellectual based persuasion Ex.: 1. People should have equal opportunities to succeed in life. 2. With the amount of fast food restaurants, there is no wonder why so many people are obese. | 24 | |
| 3660158073 | Asyndeton | the omission of conjunctions in sentence constructions in which they would usually be used Ex.: 1. The town was quiet, no one was outside, all the lights were out. 2. The pool was cold, the swimmers were tired, the day was long. | 25 | |
| 3660159837 | Cacophony | tremendous noise, disharmonious sound Ex.: 1. The nasal voice of the teacher, annoyed many of the students. 2. The girls clothing was left moist after running through the rain. | 26 | |
| 3660159838 | Chiasmus | a statement consisting of two parallel parts in which the second part is structurally reversed Ex.: 1. Don't let life control you, control your life. 2. Some people love to hate as must as they hate to love. | 27 | |
| 3660159839 | Colloquialism | informal words or expressions not usually acceptable in formal writing Ex.: 1. I would so not want to be you. 2. It's whatever. | 28 | |
| 3660161296 | Conceit | a fanciful, particularly clever extended metaphor Ex.: 1. Life is like a roller coaster. 2. Love is like a warm blanket. | 29 | |
| 3660161297 | Concession | Something given up or yielded Ex.: 1. It is true that some people need guns to defend themselves out in the wild, but most people do not. 2. Some students need their cell phones to contact their parents, however they do not need them in the classroom. | 30 | |
| 3660161298 | Concrete | details that are measurable and specific Ex.: 1. The unemployment rate in California is at 6.3%. 2. The black bear is the most common bear. | 31 | |
| 3660164336 | Cumulative sentence | a sentence in which the main independent clause is elaborated by the successive addition of modifying clauses or phrases Ex.: 1. I could tell my dog was tired by her drooping tail, closing eyes, and slow breathing. 2. Arden hills is a great place for weddings, birthday parties, and other ceremonies. | 32 | |
| 3660164337 | Didactic | having the primary purpose of teaching or instructing Ex.: 1. The giant panda is the most endangered species of bear on the planet. 2. You will make a right turn at the end of the street. | 33 | |
| 3660164338 | Digression | a message that departs from the main subject Ex.: 1. Swimming can be great with a little bribery such as the good chicken pot pie from KFC. 2. The presidential debates came on the brand new eighty inch TV with the new wireless speakers. | 34 | |
| 3660164348 | Ellipsis | the omission of a word or phrase that is grammatically necessary but can be deduced from the context Ex.: 1. I'm not sure what the right answer is... 2. She paused,"...what was the question again?" | 35 | |
| 3660166141 | Epiphany | a moment of sudden revelation or insight Ex.: 1. That's when she realized she had made a mistake. 2. I suddenly realized what he had meant. | 36 | |
| 3660166142 | Ethos | an appeal based on the character/reputation/ credibility of the speaker Ex.: 1. As your doctor, I can recommend procedures that could reduce your chance of getting cancer. 2. "As your mother you must do as I say." | 37 | |
| 3660166143 | Euphemism | a more acceptable and usually more pleasant way of saying something that might be inappropriate or uncomfortable Ex.: 1. She is on the heaver side. 2. My grandmother passed away. | 38 | |
| 3660166144 | Euphony | any agreeable (pleasing and harmonious) sounds Ex.: 1. The lush forest was green and beautiful. 2. The luxurious vacation we went on was very peaceful. | 39 | |
| 3660168160 | Fallacies | Way of supporting facts that are not logically sound. Ex.: 1. I can't say there is no life outside of Earth because there's no evidence against it. 2. If my dog didn't eat my homework, then who did? | 40 | |
| 3660168161 | Genre | The major category into which a literary work fits. The basic divisions of literature are prose, poetry, and drama. Ex.: 1. Fantasy 2. Narrative | 41 | |
| 3660168162 | Homily | this term literally means "sermon," but more informally, it can include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual advice. Ex.: 1. wedding homily 2. hot topics (ie abortion) | 42 | |
| 3660168163 | Hyperbole | deliberate exaggeration or overstatement Ex.: 1. There are a thousand things wrong with what you just said. 2. I could eat a cow. | 43 | |
| 3660169401 | Invective | an emotionally violent, verbal denunciation or attack using strong, abusive language Ex.: 1. You must be a chicken if you aren't willing to jump of the bridge. 2. You can't be telling the truth because your a filthy liar. | 44 | |
| 3660169402 | Inversion | the reversal of the normal order of words Ex.: 1. It is the force you have. 2. In the pool is where I am. | 45 | |
| 3660169403 | Irony | The use of reversal, when what is said in a message is in conflict with the truth, character, ect. Ex.: 1. Soft as a needle. 2. The class was as well behaved as untrained dogs. | 46 | |
| 3660170834 | Litotes | A deliberate understatement that serves as a statement Ex.: 1. You won't be sorry. 2. It won't be the worst thing ever. | 47 | |
| 3660170835 | Logos | an appeal based on logic or reason Ex.: 1. I will not jump off the bridge because I would hurt myself. 2. In order to get good grades, I must take this time to study. | 48 | |
| 3660170836 | Metaphor | a comparison of two unlike things, not using like or as Ex.: 1. The wind is a whisper that flows through the trees. 2. The tea is a fire as it burns my tongue. | 49 | |
| 3660170837 | Metonymy | substituting the name of an attribute or feature for the name of the thing itself Ex.: 1. Would you lend a hand? 2. Put on your listening ears. | 50 | |
| 3660172689 | Motif | a recurring theme, subject or idea Ex.: 1. what goes around, comes around 2. lying is never good | 51 | |
| 3660172690 | Non sequitur | something that does not logically follow Ex.: 1. He's wearing orange, so he must like oranges. 2. She likes the sun, so she must only go outside when it is sunny. | 52 | |
| 3660172691 | Onomatopoeia | a figure of speech in which natural sounds are imitated in the sounds of words. Ex.: 1. buzz 2. splash | 53 | |
| 3660174440 | Oxymoron | a figure of speech wherein the author groups apparently contradictory terms. Ex.: 1. jumbo shrimp 2. tiny giant | 54 | |
| 3660174441 | Parallelism | the use of successive verbal constructions in poetry or prose that correspond in grammatical structure, sound, meter, meaning Ex.: 1. You need to go quickly and quietly. 2. I washed the dishes while he vacuumed the floor. | 55 | |
| 3660174442 | Parody | A work that closely imitates the style or content of another with the specific aim of comic effect and/or ridicule Ex.: 1. Hunger Pains is a parody of Hunger games. 2. They are making a parody of Fifty Shades of Grey called Fifty Shades of Black. | 56 | |
| 3660174494 | Paradox | paradox a statement or proposition that seems self-contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a possible truth. Ex.: 1. I am nobody. 2. Saying goodbye is always bittersweet. | 57 | |
| 3660176097 | Pathos | an appeal based on emotion Ex.: 1. The cute puppy was left on the side of the road. 2. Having no family, he had no where to go. | 58 | |
| 3660176098 | Pedantic | The attempt of using elevated language. It is overly educated and does not fit. Ex.: 1. She would not stop talking about the math problems she was able to complete. 2. The teacher would not stop talking about his trip. | 59 | |
| 3660177989 | Periodic sentence | a complex sentence in which the main clause comes last and is preceded by the subordinate clause Ex.: 1. Even with the thunder and lightning, swim practice was not canceled. 2. Rain or shine, we will be in that pool. | 60 | |
| 3660177990 | Personification | assigning human qualities to inanimate objects or concepts. Ex.: 1. The trees sang in the wind. 2. The pen plopped onto the floor and rolled away. | 61 | |
| 3660177991 | Persuasion | the action or fact of persuading someone or of being persuaded to do or believe something Ex.: 1. I have a cough, congestion, and muscle aches, so I must be sick. 2. If you give me the candy, I will do your homework. | 62 | |
| 3660179652 | Polysyndeton | using several conjunctions in close succession, especially where some might be omitted Ex.: 1. I had to wash the dishes and scrub the floors and wash the windows and dust the furniture. 2. They own a Lamborghini and a Bentley and a BMW and a Mercedes, and a Ferrari. | 63 | |
| 3660179653 | Repetition | The duplication, either exact or approximate, or any element of language, such as sound, word, phrase, clause, sentence, or grammatical pattern. Ex.: 1. No matter how strenuous, you must do it. No matter how much you don't want too, you must do it. No matter how long it will take, you must do it. 2. We always go to the movies they want to go to. We always eat at the restaurants they want to. We always do everything they want to. | 64 | |
| 3660179654 | Sarcasm | bitter, caustic language designed to hurt or ridicule someone or something. Often satirical or verbally ironic Ex.: 1. Of course you can't reach it, you're too short. 2. I'm sure that would be great for you! | 65 | |
| 3660179655 | Satire | A work that targets human vices and follies or social institutions and convention for reform or ridicule. Often uses imitation, irony, and/or sarcasm Ex.: 1. Jealousy is something that all humans experience. 2. The characters were there to represent the common lies we tell. | 66 | |
| 3660180963 | Simile | a comparison using like or as Ex.: 1. light as a feather 2. bright like the sun | 67 | |
| 3660180964 | Syllepsis | a construction in which one word is used in two different senses Ex.: 1. We ate toast and coffee for breakfast. 2. My roommate and I shared a room and life. | 68 | |
| 3660183222 | Syllogism | a three-part deductive argument in which a conclusion is based on a major premise and a minor premise Ex.: 1. I usually leave my house at 4:55. I usually on time. Therefore I will usually be on time if I leave my house at 4:55. 2. I pet my dog. She falls asleep. Therefore if I pet my dog, she will fall asleep. | 69 | |
| 3660183223 | Symbol | Anything that represents, stands for, something else. Usually concrete—such as an object, action, character, or scene—that represents something more abstract Ex.: 1. The olive branch is a symbol of peace. 2. The hawk is a symbol of war. | 70 | |
| 3660184740 | Synecdoche | Part as representative of the whole Ex.: 1. That is a nice set of wheels. 2. We will need a headcount. | 71 | |
| 3660184741 | Style | design or make in a particular form Ex.: 1. word choice 2. sentence fluency | 72 | |
| 3660184742 | Tautology | (logic) a statement that is necessarily true Ex.: 1. In my opinion, he is wrong. 2. I heard it with my own ears, I know it is true. | 73 | |
| 3660186762 | Understatement | the opposite of exaggeration. It is a technique for developing irony and/or humor where one writes or says less than intended Ex.: 1. It flooded so you can tell it rained a little more than usual. 2. The snow is often white. | 74 |
