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4554632532AllegoryA narrative in which the characters, behavior, and even the setting demonstrate multiple levels of meaning and significance. Often is a universal symbol or personified abstraction.0
4554632533AlliterationThe sequential repetition of a similar initial sound, usually applied to consonants, usually in closely proximate stressed syllables.1
4554632534AllusionA literary, historical, religious, or mythological reference.2
4554632535AnaphoraThe regular repetition of the same words or phrases at the beginning of successive phrases or clauses.3
4554632536AntithesisThe juxtaposition of sharply contrasting ideas in balanced or parallel words, phrases, grammatical structure, or4
4554632537AphorismA concise statement designed to make a point or illustrate a commonly held belief.5
4554632538ApostropheAn address or invocation to something inanimate.6
4554632539Appeal to...authority, emotion, or logicRhetorical argue nets in which the speaker claims to be an authority or expert in a field, or attempts to play upon the emotions, or appeals to the use of reason.7
4561637918AssonanceThe repetition of identical or similar vowel sounds, usually in successive or proximate words.8
4561637919AsyndetonA syntactical structure in which conjunctions are omitted in a series, usually producing more rapid prose.9
4561637920AttitudeThe sense expressed by the tone of voice or the mood of a piece of writing; the author's feelings towards his or her subject, characters, events, or theme. It might even be his or her feelings for the reader.10
4561637921Begging the questionAn argumentative ploy where the arguer sidesteps the question or the conflict, evades or ignores the real question.11
4561637922CannonThat which has been accepted as authentic.12
4561637923ChiasmusA figure of speech and generally a syntactical structure wherein the order of the terms in the first half of a parallel clause is reversed in the second.13
4592226815ClaimIn argumentation, an assertion of something as fact.14
4592226816ColloquialA term identifying the diction of the common, ordinary folks, especially in a specific region or area.15
4592226817Comparison and ContrastA mode of discourse in which two or more things are related to each other through similarities and/or differences.16
4592226818ConnotationThe implied, suggested, or underlying meaning of a word or phrase.17
4592226819ConceitA comparison of two unlikely things that is drawn out within a piece of literature. In particular an extended metaphor within a poem. However, can also be used in non-fiction and prose.18
4592226820ConsonanceThe repetition of two or more consonants with a change in the intervening vowels.19
4592226821ConventionAn accepted manner, model, or tradition.20
4592226822CritiqueAn assessment or analysis of something, such as a passage of writing, for the purpose of determining what it is, what its limitations are, and how it conforms to the standard of the genre.21
4592226823Deductive Reasoning (Deduction)The method of argument in which specific statements and conclusions are drawn from general principles.22
4592226824Dialectthe language and speech idiosyncrasies of a specific area, region, or group.23
4703158357DictionThe specific word choice an author uses to persuade or convey tone, purpose, or effect.24
4592226825Didactic(From Greek, meaning "good teaching") Writing or speech is this when it has an instructive purpose or a lesson. It is often associated with a dry, pompous presentation, regardless of its innate value to the reader/listener.25
4593757389ElegyA poem or prose work that laments, or mediates upon the death of a person or persons. Sometimes will end with words of consolation.26
4593757390EpistropheIn rhetoric, the repetition of a phrase at the end of successive sentences.27
4593757391EpitaphWriting in praise of a dead person, most often inscribed upon a headstone.28
4593757392EthosIn rhetoric, the appeal of a text to the credibility and character of the speaker, writer, or narrator.29
4593757393EuphemismAn indirect, kinder, or less harsh or hurtful way of expressing unpleasant information.30
4593757394ExpositionThe interpretation or analysis of a text.31
4593757395EulogyA speech or written passage in praise of a person; an oration in honor of a deceased person. Does not lament, but praises.32
4593757396Extended MetaphorA series of comparisons within a piece of writing.33
4593757397Figurative Language/ Figure of SpeechIn contrast to literal, has levels of meaning expressed through personification, metaphor, hyperbole, irony, oxymoron, etc...34
4593757398Flashback(Also known as retrospection) An earlier event is inserted into the normal chronology of the narration.35
4593757399GenreA type or class of literature, such as epic, narrative, poetry, biography, history, etc...36
4593757400HomilyA sermon, but more contemporary uses include any serious talk, speech, or lecture involving moral or spiritual life.37
4593757401HyperboleOverstatement characterized by exaggerated language, usually to make a point or draw attention.38
4614930136ImageryAny sensory detail or evocation in a work; more narrowly, the use of figurative language to evoke a feeling, call an idea to mind, or to describe an object.39
4614930137Inductive Reasoning (Induction)The method of reasoning or argument in which general statements and conclusions are drawn from specific principals.40
4614930138InferenceA conclusion or proposition arrived at by considering facts, observations, it some other specific data.41
4614930139IronyThe contrast between what is stated explicitly and what is really meant the intended meaning is often the opposite of what is stated.42
4614930140Verbal IronyWhat the author/narrator says is actually the opposite of what is meant.43
4614930141Situational IronyWhen events end up the opposite of what is expected.44
4614930142Dramatic IronyFacts and situations are known to the reader or audience but not the characters.45
4614930143IsocolonParallel structure in which the parallel elements are similar not only on grammatical structure, but also in length.46
4614930144JargonSpecialized or technical language of a trade, profession, or similar group.47
4614930145JuxtapositionThe location of one thing adjacent with another to create an effect, reveal an attitude, or accomplish some other purpose.48
4594092348LitoteA figure of speech that emphasizes its subject by conscious understatement.49
4594092349Loose SentenceA long sentence that starts with its main clause, which is followed by several dependent clauses and modifying phrases.50
4594092350MetaphorOne thing pictured as if it were something else, suggesting a likeness or analogy. Is an implicit comparison or identification of one thing with another, without the use of a verbal signal such as like or as.51
4594092351MetonymyA figure of speech in which an attribute or commonly associated feature is used to name or designate something.52
4594092352Mode of DiscourseThe way in which information is presented in written or spoken form.53
4594092353MoodA feeling or ambience resulting from the tone of a piece as well as the writer/narrator's attitude and point of view. Establishes atmosphere.54
4594092354NarrativeA mode of discourse that tells a story of some sort and is based on sequences of connected events, usually presented in a straightforward, chronological framework.55
4594092355OnomatopoeiaA word capturing or approximating the sound of what it describes.56
4594092356OxymoronA figure of speech that combines two apparently contradictory elements.57
4594092357ParadoxA statement that seems contradictory bit may be true. For example, during the 1960's was said that war protestors would "fight for peace."58
4594092358Parallel StructureThe use of similar forms in writing nouns, verbs, phrases, or thoughts. For example, "Jane enjoys reading, writing, and skiing." In prose, recurrent syntactical similarity where several parts of a sentence or several sentences are expressed alike to show that their ideas are equal in importance.59
4594092359PathosThat element in literature that stimulates pity or sorrow. In argument or persuasion it tends to be the evocation of pity from the reader/listener. Think of it as the "poor starving children" approach to convincing you.60
4594092360Periodic SentenceA long sentence in which the main clause is not completed until the end. For example, "The child, who looked as if she were being chased by demons, frenzied and ignoring all hazards, ran."61
4594092361PersonificationTreating an abstraction or nonhuman object as if it were a person by endowing it with human features or qualities. William Wordsworth speaks of stars " tossing their heads in sprightly dance."62
4594092362Point of ViewThe relation in which a narrator/author stands to a subject of discourse. In nonfiction it requires the reader to establish the historical perspective of what is being said.63
4594092363ProseThe ordinary form of written language without metrical structure in contrast to verse and poetry.64
4594092364RealismAttempting to describe nature and life without idealization and with attention to detail. Mark Twain is an author of this school. Thoreau, with his romantic outlook on nature, is not.65
4594092365Rebuttal/RefutationAn argument technique wherein opposing arguments are anticipated and countered.66
4594092366RhetoricThe art of using words to persuade in writing or speaking. All types of writing may seek to persuade and some study these genres for their persuasive qualities.67
4594092367Rhetorical QuestionA question that is asked simply for the sake of stylistic effect and is not expected to be answered.68
4594092368SarcasmA form of verbal irony in which apparent praise is actually critical. Can be light, and gently poke fun at something, or it can be harsh, caustic, and mean.69
4614962038SatireA literary work that holds up human failings to ridicule and censure. Jonathan Swift and George Orwell were masters of this.70
4614962039SimilieA direct, explicit comparison of one thing to another, usually using the words like or as to draw the connection.71
4614962040StyleThe manner in which a writer combines and arranges words, shapes ideas, and utilizes syntax and structure.72
4614962041SymbolismUse of a person, place, thing, event, or pattern that figuratively represents or stands for something else. Often the thing or idea represented is more abstract or general than the symbol, which is concrete.73
4614962042SynecdocheA figure of speech in which a part signifies the whole, such as fifty masts representing fifty ships.74
4614962043SyntaxThe way words are put together to form phrases, clauses, and sentences. Is sentence structure an show it influences the way the reader receives a particular piece of writing. It is important in establishing the tone of a piece and the attitude of the author/narrator.75
4614962044ThemeThe central or dominant idea or focus of a work. The statement a passage makes about its subject.76
4703158358ToneThe attitude the narrator or writer takes toward a subject and theme; the tenor of a piece of writing based on particular stylistic devices employed by the writer. Reflects attitude.77
4614962045VoiceThe acknowledged or unacknowledged source of the words of the story; the speaker's or narrator's particular take on an idea based on particular passages and how all the elements of the style of the piece come together to express his or her feelings.78
4614962046ZeugmaA grammatically correct construction in which a word, usually a verb or adjective, is applied to two or more nouns without being repeated. Often used to comic effect. ( The thief took my wallet and the bus.)79

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